The longest totality anywhere on the Spanish mainland
Totality begins at 10:45:10 and ends at 10:49:48 (Spanish mainland time, CEST). Maximum eclipse is at 10:47:28, with the sun 38° above the horizon. The partial phases run from 09:40 to 12:00.
Tarifa is the southernmost point of mainland Europe and, on 2 August 2027, the best place on the Spanish mainland to watch the eclipse. The centre line of the path runs through the Strait of Gibraltar just to the south, so Tarifa collects 4 minutes 38 seconds of totality. That is more than two and a half times what Cádiz gets, and it is not far off the maximum available anywhere in Spanish territory.
Only Ceuta does better on Spanish soil, with 4 minutes 48 seconds. On the peninsula itself, nothing beats Tarifa.
The peninsula record, thanks to the centre line offshore
Mid morning, over the sea to the east
The Moroccan coast is 14 km away across the Strait
A seven kilometre arc of sand running north west from the town. There is space here for a very large crowd and the views run from the town out to the dunes. It is the obvious choice and it will be busy, but it is big enough to absorb the numbers.
The kitesurfing end of the coast, with the big dune at Valdevaqueros behind it. Climbing the dune gives you a wide view over the Strait, and on a clear morning the Rif mountains of Morocco are plainly visible on the far side.
The island at the tip of the town is a military site and normally closed, but the causeway and the harbour area around it are the true southern edge of Europe. Higher up, the Mirador del Estrecho on the N-340 towards Algeciras gives a panorama of the whole Strait from about 300 metres. It is a small pull-in and it will be full hours in advance.
Twenty minutes west, Bolonia gets 4 minutes 30 seconds and comes with a Roman town on the beach and another enormous dune. It is one of the most striking places on this coast to watch an eclipse.
Tarifa is the windiest place in Spain. The levante blows from the east and the poniente from the west, and one of them is usually blowing. Wind is not a problem for seeing the eclipse, but it will knock over tripods, blow sand into camera gear and make a flimsy parasol useless. Bring something that can be pegged down.
Partial phases run from about 09:40 to 12:00. Totality in Tarifa begins at 10:45:10 and ends at 10:49:48, with maximum eclipse at 10:47:28. These are Spanish mainland times. Tarifa is one of the first places in the path to go dark, several seconds before the rest of the Costa de la Luz.
Car: Tarifa is on the N-340 between Algeciras and Cádiz. The road is single carriageway for much of the way and it is the only road in. Expect it to be very slow on eclipse morning. Arrive the day before if you possibly can.
Bus: regular coaches from Algeciras, Cádiz, Seville and Málaga. Slower than driving, but you are not the one hunting for a parking space.
Plane: Gibraltar airport is 45 minutes away, Jerez about two hours, Málaga about two hours.
Accommodation: Tarifa is small and it sells out in August in a normal year. If the town is full, look at Algeciras, La Línea or Vejer, all inside the path with more than four minutes of their own.