Ceuta Total Eclipse
The Spanish city in Africa, closest to the central line, with the longest totality in Spain.
Ceuta is a Spanish city on the African side of the Strait of Gibraltar, a ferry ride from Algeciras. On Monday 2 August 2027 it gets the longest total eclipse anywhere in Spain: 4 minutes 48 seconds, from 10:45:22 to 10:50:10 local time.
That ranks 1st of the 43 places in Spain in our dataset. Ceuta is only 20 km from the central line, far closer than anywhere on the Spanish mainland. It gets 10 seconds more than Tarifa, the best mainland spot, and 22 seconds more than Algeciras.
Ceuta keeps Spanish time, CEST (UTC+2), like the mainland. Every time on this page applies as written. Morocco, just across the land border, keeps UTC+1 in August, one hour behind. If you are coming from Tangier or elsewhere in Morocco, change your watch.
The eclipse from Ceuta, minute by minute
All times are CEST (UTC+2) on Monday 2 August 2027.
- 09:41 First contact The Moon takes its first bite out of the Sun’s edge. Nothing is visible without eclipse glasses. Put them on now.
- 10:45:22 Totality begins: second contact The last sliver breaks into Baily’s beads, then the diamond ring. When the ring goes out, glasses off.
- 10:47:46 Mid-eclipse Deepest darkness. The corona surrounds a black Sun 38° above the horizon; look for planets and the horizon glow.
- 10:50:10 Totality ends: third contact A second diamond ring flares on the opposite limb. Glasses back on the instant it appears.
- 12:01 Fourth contact The Moon leaves the Sun’s disc and the eclipse is over.
| Eclipse type | Total |
|---|---|
| Duration of totality | 4m 48s |
| Maximum obscuration | 100% |
| Eclipse magnitude | 1.030 |
| Sun’s altitude at maximum | 38° |
| Sun’s azimuth at maximum | 95° |
| Mid-eclipse (UTC) | 08:47:46 |
Ceuta in numbers
Every contact to the second, where the town sits in the path, and how often early August has been clear here.
| Partial eclipse begins | 09:41:02 |
|---|---|
| Totality begins | 10:45:22 |
| Mid-eclipse | 10:47:46 |
| Totality ends | 10:50:10 |
| Duration of totality | 4m 48s |
| Partial eclipse ends | 12:01:13 |
| Distance to the central line | 20 km |
| Distance to the nearest edge (northern limit) | 99 km |
| Rank by duration | 1st of 43 places in Spain in our dataset |
Chance of a clear sky
Period: 26 July to 9 August of every year from 2001 to 2024. The bars show the daily mean cloud cover on 2 August of each year: the taller the bar, the more cloud. On 15 of those 24 days the sky was almost clear.
under 20% 20 to 50% 50% or more
Source: NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg satellite data), daily mean cloud amount for the 1° grid cell (about 100 km) around Ceuta. It is an average over the whole day and a large area, so it cannot see a sea fog on one beach or the cloud at the hour of the eclipse. It is climatology, not a forecast.
Ceuta on the eclipse map
The gold band is the path of totality. Click anywhere to test a spot of your own; a few kilometres genuinely matters.
Where to watch in Ceuta
At totality the Sun is 38° above the horizon, at an azimuth of 95°, almost due east. Ceuta sits on a narrow peninsula that points east into the Mediterranean, ending in Monte Hacho. The hill is far too low to block a Sun that high, so almost any open spot in the city works.
The city beaches
Ceuta has beaches on both sides of its narrow isthmus. On the south side, El Chorrillo faces the sea to the south and east. On the north side, La Ribera lies close to the centre. Both give an open sky. Arrive early, as they are the obvious places to go.
Monte Hacho
The peninsula’s eastern end rises to Monte Hacho, with a fortress at the top and a road around it. The views over the Strait are wide. Space at viewpoints is limited and the road is narrow, so if you go, go early. From the eastern side of the hill, the Sun is right in front of you over open sea.
The Royal Walls
The Murallas Reales, the Royal Walls with their sea moat, cut across the isthmus at the western edge of the old centre. They make a remarkable setting for the partial phase. For totality, find a spot with a clear view east.
Views of Spain across the Strait
On a clear morning you can see the mainland and Gibraltar across the water. During totality the horizon all around will glow with a sunset colour, since the shadow is far wider than the Strait.
Getting there: the ferry from Algeciras
Most visitors reach Ceuta by ferry from Algeciras. Several companies run the crossing, and fast ferries take roughly an hour. Schedules, prices and operators change, so check them when you book.
- Cross the day before. Plan to be in Ceuta by 1 August. A cancelled or delayed ferry on the morning itself would cost you the eclipse.
- Book early. August is the busiest time of year on this route. The Operación Paso del Estrecho, the summer flow of travellers to North Africa, fills many sailings, especially for cars.
- Consider going on foot. Ceuta is small. Foot passenger places are usually easier to get than car places, and you do not need a car on eclipse morning.
- Wind. Strong levante or poniente winds in the Strait can delay or cancel sailings. Another reason to cross early.
- Documents. Ceuta is part of Spain and the EU, but it has a special status, and there are checks at the port. Carry a passport or national ID card, and check current requirements before you travel.
Do not plan to watch from the ferry. A moving, crowded deck is a poor place to watch, and totality lasts only a few minutes of a crossing of about an hour. Watch from dry land.
The land border with Morocco
Ceuta’s land border with Morocco, at El Tarajal, has seen long closures and changing rules in recent years. We cannot say how it will operate in August 2027. If you plan to combine Ceuta with Morocco, check the current situation close to the date, and do not plan to cross it on eclipse morning.
Airports
Ceuta has no commercial airport. The nearest are Gibraltar, Málaga, Jerez and Seville on the Spanish side, all combined with the ferry from Algeciras, and Tangier on the Moroccan side.
Where to stay
Ceuta has a limited number of hotels and apartments for the demand the eclipse may bring. Book as early as you can, with free cancellation.
Ceuta
Sleep here and you have the longest totality in Spain, with no journey on the morning. Search Ceuta for 1 to 3 August 2027.
Algeciras
If Ceuta is full, Algeciras is the ferry port and has more rooms. You would cross early on eclipse morning, which is risky. Or stay and watch there: Algeciras has 4m 26s. See our Algeciras guide. Search Algeciras for 1 to 3 August 2027.
Tarifa
4m 38s on the mainland, only 10 seconds less than Ceuta, and no ferry needed on the day. See our Tarifa guide. Search Tarifa for 1 to 3 August 2027.
These are plain search links, not affiliate links. We do not copy prices, since they change daily and eclipse-week availability will move quickly. Where you can, book a rate with free cancellation.
Weather
In our satellite data 62% of days between 26 July and 9 August, 2001 to 2024, were almost clear in the grid cell around Ceuta, with a daily mean cloud cover under 20%. 10% were half cloudy or worse, and the typical day had 15% cloud. On 2 August itself, 15 of the 24 years were almost clear.
These are averages over a large grid cell and the whole day. Like the rest of the Strait, Ceuta can sit under low cloud when an easterly levante blows. The mainland shores of the Strait score a little better in our data. More detail is on our weather page. Check the AEMET forecast in the days before.
Beyond the eclipse
- The Royal Walls. The fortifications and moat at the entrance to the old centre.
- Monte Hacho. The fortress and the road around the hill, with views over the Strait.
- The seafront. Ceuta has a large seawater park on the waterfront near the port.
- A city of four cultures. Ceuta describes itself this way: Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Hindu communities live side by side in a small city.
For the whole region, see our southern Spain guide, the Spain and Morocco itinerary and the eclipse day planner.
Ceuta eclipse questions
How long is totality in Ceuta?
4 minutes 48 seconds, from 10:45:22 to 10:50:10 local time (CEST, UTC+2) on Monday 2 August 2027. The partial phases run from 09:41:02 to 12:01:13.
Is Ceuta the best place in Spain for the 2027 eclipse?
For duration, yes: 4m 48s is the longest in Spain in our data. Tarifa, on the mainland, gets 4m 38s without a ferry crossing. The 10 second difference is small, so choose on logistics.
Can I take the ferry to Ceuta on eclipse morning?
We strongly advise against it. Summer sailings are busy and wind can delay them. Cross by 1 August and watch from dry land.
Is Ceuta on the same time as Spain or Morocco?
Spain. Ceuta keeps CEST (UTC+2) in August. Morocco keeps UTC+1, one hour behind.
What are the chances of a clear sky in Ceuta?
In satellite data for 26 July to 9 August, 2001 to 2024, 62% of days were almost clear and 10% were half cloudy or worse. On 2 August, 15 of 24 years were almost clear.
Sources
- Our sources and methodology: how the times, durations and cloud figures on this page are made.
- NASA eclipse map for 2 August 2027 (Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC).
- Xavier Jubier’s interactive map, with lunar limb corrections.
- NASA POWER, the source of the cloud climatology.
- Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN), the official Spanish eclipse page, with times for every municipality.
- AEMET municipal forecast, the official Spanish weather service.
- DGT live traffic, for road conditions on the morning.
Compare with nearby options
Tarifa
Where the umbra first touches Europe, on the southern tip of Spain.
Full guide → Total: 4m 26s Southern SpainAlgeciras
The ferry port of the Strait, with a big hotel stock and well over four minutes.
Full guide → Total: 4m 27s Southern SpainGibraltar
The Rock, a British territory inside the path, with nearly four and a half minutes.
Full guide →