A few months ago, we shared why August 12, 2026, will be one of the most extraordinary evenings Mallorca has experienced in over a century. If you haven’t read it yet, our previous article explains why this eclipse is so rare, why Mallorca sits in the perfect location to experience it and what makes a sunset total eclipse so special.
Now that the countdown has truly begun, it’s time to focus on something even more important:
How can you make the most of it?
Watching a total solar eclipse isn’t difficult. However, a little planning can make the difference between an unforgettable experience and spending the evening sitting in traffic or discovering too late that a nearby hill has hidden the sun just before totality.
Here’s everything we’d recommend if you’re planning to experience the eclipse in Mallorca.
Before You Go: A Quick Checklist
A little preparation goes a long way.
Before heading out on August 12, make sure you’ve covered the essentials:
- Buy certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses.
- Choose a viewing location with a completely unobstructed view towards the west.
- If possible, visit your chosen spot the evening before to see exactly where the sun sets.
- Leave earlier than you think you will need to.
- Bring water, sunscreen and something comfortable to sit on while you wait.
- Stay after sunset if you can, the Perseid meteor shower will make the evening even more memorable.
The Most Important Thing Isn’t Where You Are But What You Can See
Mallorca lies directly within the path of totality, but simply being on the island doesn’t guarantee the perfect view.
Unlike many eclipses, this one happens just before sunset. By the time totality begins, the sun will already be sitting very low above the western horizon.
That means even something as ordinary as a hotel rooftop, a small hill or a line of pine trees can block the final moments of the eclipse.
The best viewpoint isn’t necessarily the highest one, it’s the one with the clearest and widest view across the sea.
If you have time, visit your chosen location at sunset the evening before. It’s the easiest way to check whether anything will block your view when the big moment arrives.
Our Favourite Viewing Areas
Many of our homes are located close to quiet stretches of coastline with excellent sunset views, making them an ideal base for eclipse evening.
Santanyí & Ses Salines
The southeast of Mallorca is one of our favourite areas for eclipse night.
This stretch of coastline offers beautiful coves, open sea views and a much more relaxed atmosphere than some of the island’s busiest sunset locations.
Some excellent places to consider are:
- Cap de ses Salines
- Cala Mondragó
- Cala Santanyí
- Cala Figuera
One thing we particularly like about this area of Mallorca is that visitors naturally spread out across many different beaches and viewpoints. Rather than everyone gathering in one place, you’ll usually find plenty of quieter spots where you can simply sit back and enjoy the evening.
Many of our holiday homes are only a short drive, or even a pleasant walk, from these locations.
If you’re staying in the southeast, there’s rarely any need to head towards Palma or the Serra de Tramuntana. The coastline here offers plenty of excellent viewpoints without spending hours on the road.
Port d’Andratx
If you’re looking for a more dramatic setting, Port d’Andratx is another fantastic choice.
Its natural orientation towards the western Mediterranean has made it one of the island’s most recommended locations for watching the eclipse. The combination of rugged coastline, sea views and the marina creates a spectacular backdrop for such a rare event.
Expect a livelier atmosphere than in the southeast, but also one of Mallorca’s most unforgettable settings.
Expect More Traffic Than a Typical August Evening
Interest in the eclipse has grown significantly, and popular coastal viewpoints are expected to be considerably busier than on a typical August evening.
Our advice is simple:
- Decide where you’ll watch the eclipse before the day itself.
- Leave early rather than trying to time your arrival perfectly.
- Once you’ve found your spot, stay there and enjoy.
Most of the times, the best experience comes from not chasing the “perfect” viewpoint at the last minute.
Don’t Leave Eclipse Glasses Until the Last Minute
Certified eclipse glasses are fundamental.
Only glasses that comply with ISO 12312-2 provide safe protection to look directly at the sun.
Regular sunglasses, even several pairs together, are never safe.
As demand increases in the weeks leading up to the eclipse, we’d recommend buying your glasses from trusted retailers such as opticians or science museums rather than unfamiliar online sellers.
One Extraordinary Evening, Two Astronomical Events
The eclipse isn’t the only reason to look up that night.
The dates around 12-13 August also coincide with the annual Perseid meteor shower, one of the year’s most spectacular displays of shooting stars.
If you’re staying somewhere with relatively little light pollution, such as the countryside around Santanyí or the hills near Andratx, you may be able to enjoy both events in a single evening.
It’s not often that nature puts on two such remarkable shows back-to-back.
Stay Close to the Experience
One of the biggest advantages of staying outside Mallorca’s busiest urban areas isn’t just the scenery.
It’s avoiding the stress.
While many visitors will spend part of the afternoon driving between viewpoints or searching for somewhere to park, many of our guests are already just minutes from excellent viewing locations.
Some can even watch the eclipse from their terrace before taking a short stroll to the coast as the sun begins to set.
That’s one of the things we love most about our homes. They don’t just give you somewhere to stay, but let you experience Mallorca at its best, without feeling rushed.
Make the Most of a Once-in-a-Lifetime Evening
For most of us, August 12, 2026, will be the only opportunity we’ll ever have to witness a total solar eclipse over Mallorca.
A little preparation is all it takes to make sure it’s an evening you’ll remember for years to come.
If you’re still planning your August stay, choosing the right location can make the whole experience much more relaxed. Our homes in Santanyí, Ses Salines, Cala d’Or and Port d’Andratx place you close to some of the island’s best viewing areas; without the need to spend eclipse evening driving across Mallorca.
Browse our homes in Santanyí, Cala d’Or & Ses Salines
Browse our homes in Port d’Andratx
However you choose to experience it, we hope August 12 becomes one of those evenings you’ll still be talking about many years from now.
