Ten million eclipse-seekers book their August bookings in advance, causing a tourism frenzy across rural Spain

Bookings for the August total solar eclipse, which will be visible from parts of Spain and Mallorca, have been a flurry.

The astronomical event, which was last seen from the Iberian Peninsula back in 1912, is expected to attract 10 million tourists.

In Spain, the eclipse of August 12th falls during peak season when many families are on vacation. This is also a time when many villages and towns hold local fiestas.

The path of totality — the narrow strip where the sun will be completely obscured by the moon — will cross Spain from west to east from Galicia in the north west, across central northern and eastern Spain to Mallorca.

The best viewing points will have a maximum duration of around 1 minute 45 seconds. 

Only partially will it be visible on the southern half. 

Hotels and private rental accommodations have raised their prices as a result of the event to maximise profits. Airbnb data shows that searches for bookings have soared by 820 percent in areas where the event will be seen, particularly in rural areas. 

Soria, Valladolid, and Teruel are all places that tourists tend to overlook.  Zaragoza has reported that 96% of the hotels are already booked for this week.

The Spanish Government has forecast that as many as 10 million people will travel to rural areas to view the eclipse.

Officials believe that there could be unprecedented numbers of people in the summer peak season. This would present logistical problems for local services, mobility and transportation. But they also see it as a unique chance to promote “astrotourism” — tourism focused on astronomical phenomena — and strengthen the profile of Spain’s countryside and small towns internationally.

READ MORE: Coming up in 2026: Spain will enjoy its first total solar eclipse in over 100 years – all you need to know to catch the best view

Travel News by The Olive Press.