If you were one of the millions of people looking skywards for the solar eclipse this August, you might want to think twice before throwing those eclipse glasses away.
Because on 2 August 2027, there’s an even bigger one coming, and this time, southern Spain has a front row seat.
A total solar eclipse will sweep across parts of Spain, with the path of totality passing through the far south of the country. Popular destinations around the Costa del Sol and southern Andalucía will be ideally placed to experience one of nature’s most spectacular events.
And for travellers from the UK, there’s another advantage: it’s all just a short flight and a hire car away.
So, what makes the 2027 eclipse so special?
There’s a very big difference between a partial eclipse and a total solar eclipse.
During a partial eclipse, some of the Sun remains visible. During totality, the Moon completely covers the bright face of the Sun.
For a few extraordinary moments, daylight fades, temperatures can noticeably drop and the Sun’s normally invisible outer atmosphere – the corona appears around the Moon.
It’s something relatively few people ever get to experience from their own back garden.
In 2027, however, you can go looking for it.
Fly into Málaga, pick up a car and follow the eclipse
For UK travellers, Málaga Airport provides a convenient gateway to the eclipse.
Rather than choosing one hotel and hoping you’ve picked the perfect location months in advance, hiring a car gives you the freedom to explore the region and decide where you want to experience totality.
You could base yourself around Málaga and make a holiday of it, or head west along the Costa del Sol towards Marbella and Estepona, continuing towards Gibraltar, Tarifa and Cádiz.
In other words, your eclipse trip could quite easily become a road trip.
Málaga → Marbella → Estepona → Gibraltar → Tarifa → Cádiz
Not a bad itinerary for a few days in the Spanish sunshine, with a total solar eclipse thrown in.
Why a hire car could be particularly useful on eclipse day
Normally, hiring a car on the Costa del Sol is about having the freedom to find a quieter beach, visit a mountain village or avoid planning your holiday around bus timetables.
On 2 August 2027, that flexibility could become even more useful.
Cloud is the enemy of any eclipse watcher. You can plan the perfect viewing location months in advance, but ultimately the weather gets the final say.
With a hire car, you’re not necessarily committed to watching from the balcony of your hotel.
As eclipse day approaches, you can check the local forecast and choose a suitable viewing location within the path of totality.
Of course, thousands of other people may have exactly the same idea.
Roads around popular viewing areas could become extremely busy, so this isn’t an invitation to start chasing gaps in the clouds five minutes before totality. Plan your location in advance, leave early and allow considerably more travelling time than you normally would.
Make a holiday of it
The nice thing about the 2027 eclipse is that you don’t have to build an entire trip around those few minutes of darkness.
You’re already on the Costa del Sol in August.
Spend a few days in Málaga, drive down to Marbella, explore the whitewashed villages of Andalucía, head into the mountains or continue along the coast towards Gibraltar and Cádiz.
A rental car also opens up places that can be harder to reach when you’re relying entirely on public transport.
And once the eclipse is over and everyone else is staring at the photographs on their phones, you can carry on with your holiday.
Don’t leave the car hire until the last minute
There’s one thing we’d recommend not doing: arriving at Málaga Airport on eclipse weekend and assuming there’ll be endless rental cars waiting for you.
A total solar eclipse in one of Europe’s biggest holiday destinations is likely to attract plenty of additional visitors.
And 2 August falls right in the middle of the summer holiday season, when demand for car hire in southern Spain is already high.
If you’re thinking about travelling specifically for the eclipse, it makes sense to arrange your flights, accommodation and car rental well ahead of time.
Booking earlier also gives you a better chance of finding the type of vehicle you actually want rather than simply taking whatever is left.
Where should you stay?
There’s no single correct answer.
If you want restaurants, nightlife and plenty to do before and after eclipse day, Málaga or Marbella could make an excellent base.
If you’re turning it into a longer road trip, you could spend a few nights travelling west along the coast.
The important thing is to make sure your chosen eclipse-day location is inside the path of totality. Being close isn’t enough.
Even a 99% partial eclipse is still a partial eclipse.
For the full experience – including seeing the solar corona – you need to be somewhere the Moon completely covers the Sun.
That’s another reason having your own transport makes sense.
A quick word about eclipse glasses
We weren’t joking about keeping them.
Proper solar viewing glasses will be essential during the partial phases of the eclipse. Normal sunglasses aren’t safe for looking directly at the Sun, regardless of how dark they are.
Make sure your eclipse glasses are from a reputable supplier, meet the appropriate safety standard and aren’t damaged or scratched.
During the brief period of complete totality, and only while the Sun is completely covered, solar viewers can be removed. They need to go straight back on as soon as the bright Sun begins to reappear.
One date. One car. One very memorable road trip.
There are plenty of reasons to visit southern Spain in August.
In 2027, you can add standing beneath the shadow of the Moon during a total solar eclipse to the list.
Fly into Málaga, collect your hire car and you’ve got the freedom to turn the occasion into something much bigger than a few minutes looking at the sky.
Explore the Costa del Sol. Head into Andalucía. Find your eclipse spot. Stay for the beaches, food and sunshine.
And whatever you do…
don’t throw those eclipse glasses away just yet.
Planning a Spanish road trip in 2027?
With Paragon Rent a Car, you can compare car rental options for your trip and find a vehicle that suits your plans – whether you’re staying on the Costa del Sol or taking to the road in search of the perfect place to experience totality.
Start planning your Spanish road trip with Paragon Rent a Car.we’d
