Reservations of tourist flats for the next total solar eclipse in Spain are already reaching exorbitant prices.
The astronomical event will reoccur on August 2, 2027, with the province of Cadiz set to enjoy some of the best views in the country.
But anyone hoping to make a trip of it may want to start saving now.
Tourist apartments and holiday homes across the province are already being snapped up more than 11 months in advance, while some of the properties that remain available are being advertised for eye-watering sums.
In Cadiz city, a search on Booking.com for the nights surrounding the eclipse shows some apartments near the beach costing as much as €16,319 for two people staying for two nights.
The booking platform also warns that 99% of its accommodation is already unavailable for the selected dates, suggesting demand is exceptionally high.
The situation becomes even more extreme further down the coast.
In Barbate, one two-bedroom property has appeared on the platform priced at a staggering €40,000 for a single night between August 1 and 2.
Curiously, the same property does not appear to be available on other dates.
Elsewhere, particularly around Vejer de la Frontera, a number of apartments are being advertised for between €25,000 and €30,000 over the eclipse period.
Even the ‘cheapest’ options are thousands of euros
Travellers searching for something more affordable may also be in for a shock.
In Cadiz city, one of the cheapest options currently showing for two people staying from August 1 to 3 is an apartment near Plaza Virgen de Loreto priced at around €3,600.
The scale of the eclipse premium becomes clear when looking just a few days later.
For a comparable stay immediately after the event, the price of the same accommodation falls to around €450.
The huge disparity suggests property owners are already anticipating an influx of so-called astro-tourists hoping to position themselves inside the path of totality.
Among the most sought-after locations are expected to be Cadiz city and the wider Bay of Cadiz, including El Puerto de Santa Maria.
Beaches including La Caleta and Valdelagrana could provide particularly impressive settings, while the Costa de la Luz and areas around Tarifa, Barbate and Vejer are also likely to attract eclipse watchers.
Why Cadiz will be one of the places to be
The August 2027 eclipse will be particularly significant for southern Spain because the path of totality will cross the region.
Unlike a partial eclipse, observers within that narrow band will see the Moon completely cover the Sun for a brief period, plunging the landscape into an eerie twilight in the middle of the day.
Cadiz province will therefore find itself in a privileged position for one of nature’s most dramatic spectacles.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
