There is still a year left to witness what will be the “eclipse of the century.” On August 2, 2027, the phenomenon will be visible from practically all of Spain, but only in southern Andalusia, Ceuta, and Melilla will the Moon completely cover the Sun, plunging the day into night. Still recovering from the eclipse of last August 12, reservations for houses, apartments, and rooms have already skyrocketed in provinces such as Cádiz, Málaga, Granada, and Almería. And with them, the prices.
Spending a night in a “three-bedroom apartment near the beach” in Tarifa costs 12,500 euros. The accommodation, with capacity for eight people, is non-refundable. In the same town, another property described as “close to the beach with all comforts” offers up to five beds for 3,750 euros per night.
These are just two examples found on accommodation platforms for the night before the eclipse. There are more expensive and cheaper lodgings, but many are well above the usual price for a night in August. In Tarifa, especially, apartments are highly sought after, as it will be the place on the Spanish mainland where totality lasts the longest: 4 minutes and 38 seconds. The record will be held by Ceuta, with 4 minutes and 48 seconds, according to the National Geographic Institute (IGN). Worldwide, Egypt will be the place where the total eclipse reaches its longest duration, with 6 minutes and 23 seconds.
Hotels block calendars while budgets are still being finalized
The president of Horeca Cádiz – the Hospitality Federation of the province, assures that they expect “high occupancy” due to the date of the eclipse. “Hotels are usually not full in the first days of August. The eclipse also coincides with a weekend and the change of the month, when many guests change.”
The excitement around the eclipse is such that, as they know, at least two hotels in the province had to temporarily close their reservations as early as April, due to the flood of bookings for August 2027. Most have done the same. “There was a risk of running out of rooms to serve their regular customers during that month. Also, hotels have not yet set their prices for next summer because they depend on budgets, which are usually finalized in October.”
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According to data from Ruralidays, a rural house search engine in Andalusia with more than 3,000 accommodations, reservations have increased by 500% compared to the same period last year, initially driven by foreign tourism (87%) before the August 12 eclipse. With the excitement of this last eclipse, Spaniards do not want to miss next year’s and already represent 53.5% of the bookings, according to La Vanguardia.
Although the numbers are still small because these are bookings made a year in advance, the growth is significant. “In Málaga, the expected occupancy already reaches 12%, compared to 6% recorded at the same time last year,” details Félix Zea, CEO and co-founder of Ruralidays.
The Costa del Sol will be another key point to witness the event. The Association of Hotel Entrepreneurs of the Costa del Sol (Aehcos) already notices that demand is being anticipated. In some establishments, which usually have 7% occupancy at this time a year in advance, reservations have already reached 12%. Javier Hernández, its vice president, assures that service packages are being offered in conjunction with the eclipse. They not only provide “more information” about the event but also offer “complementary services” with the aim of extending the average stay.
OCU warns: once the reservation is made, the price cannot change
Accommodations have the freedom to set whatever prices they want due to the increased demand the eclipse may cause. They can also establish a minimum stay, offer package deals, or even stop accepting reservations for those dates. The condition is that the customer knows before booking how much they will pay and what the accommodation conditions are.
The problem arises when the reservation is already made. “What cannot be done is to cancel existing reservations” without a justified cause, explains Enrique García, spokesperson for the OCU. If an establishment cancels it and then offers the same room for much more money, the customer could claim damages caused by the cancellation. The conditions for cancellation must be included in the contract.
New charges cannot appear after the reservation is closed either. “The price must be fixed and also complete before booking,” García points out. If the accommodation adds any supplement not previously communicated, the consumer can claim.
In case of any problem, the OCU recommends keeping the reservation, contract, and communications with the accommodation. Claims can be made through a consumer association or via arbitration and mediation. If no agreement is reached, the judicial route remains, although it may have costs.
The OCU also calls for cautious interpretation of prices shown on some platforms. García notes that if the number of accommodations analyzed is small compared to the total offer, those data may not reflect the general market situation. Despite everything, he is clear that the eclipse opens an important business opportunity and that “in the end, someone is going to make their August.”
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Antonio de María, from Horeca, considers that the rates of some accommodations advertised for the eclipse are “crazy.” Although he acknowledges that hotel rates will be higher than usual, he does not expect establishments to reach the tens of thousands of euros seen in some ads. He argues that hoteliers should prioritize customer care and loyalty over profit: “I don’t think a hotelier will raise the price for a regular customer who wants to move their vacation a few days forward to see the eclipse.” He believes that although the price will vary, the increase should not be “very exaggerated.”
Rural tourism platforms have seen prices increase by 25%
“The price variation from this year to next is around 25%. Although it is high season, owners are not taking advantage of the expected high demand to apply disproportionate increases,” celebrates the director of Ruralidays, who would see a “reasonable” increase of between 30-35% compared to the usual price.
In a conventional August, the average price of a private house with a pool for six people for a week varies depending on the area of Cádiz. On the coast, it is around 2,300 euros for seven nights, while inland it ranges between 1,200 and 1,500 euros. A quick look at the platform shows how the eclipse has caused prices to rise.
Interest in astrotourism is growing, something José Manuel Núñez, president of the Andalusian Astronomy Network and member of the Malaga Astronomy Association, has been noticing. The network, made up of 15 associations, advises on safety, best places to observe the phenomenon, and even techniques to photograph it.
“We advise organizing outings in advance, especially for tourists who have to travel, because accommodation prices will rise. The sensation of seeing darkness in the middle of the day is impressive. You have to enjoy it because it is rarely seen,” Núñez explains. The eclipse will reach its maximum coverage in Spain around 10:50 a.m., and we will have to wait until 2053 to see another total solar eclipse from Spain.
Looking at the sky in total darkness makes you aware of this pollution and what we are missing
José Manuel Núñez
President of the Andalusian Astronomy Network
This year’s eclipse coincided with the peak of the Perseids. In the heart of the Sierra Morena of Seville, although they knew they could not see it in its entirety, nature and astronomy experts like Naturspirit offered a guided activity to experience it and understand why it was so important. Sierra Morena is the largest Starlight Reserve in the world and offers privileged conditions. “They are very small villages, in very sparsely populated regions, which makes light pollution very low,” explains José Manuel López, director of this small company. They are now considering moving to Cádiz for the total eclipse with a new experience.
“Looking at the sky in total darkness makes you aware of this pollution and what we are missing. Interest in astrotourism has been increasing in recent years. Proof of this is that international associations are already requesting information to know the best locations to see this event,” Núñez concludes.
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