Group Size: 22 to 38 participants
Price: $11,990 per person double occupancy / $3,990 single supplement
Co-sponsored with: Harvard Exclusive*
*On August 12, 2025, Harvard will share the eclipse viewing site at the Leyenda del Paramo winery with three other professor-led educational groups from MIT, Princeton, and Yale. The site will not be open to any other visitors or groups.
Trip Overview
- Witness the August 12, 2026 Total Solar Eclipse from the best possible vantage point at the Leyenda del Paramo vineyard as it sweeps across the Iberian Peninsula, followed by a spectacular sunset celebration complete with star gazing.
- Stay three nights at the Parador de Leon, a 12th century convent converted into a luxury hotel. Explore the beautiful city of Leon, combining stunning historical architecture with an irresistible energy as an important stop on the Camino de Santiago and situated 100% in the path of totality.
- Be part of a thousand-year-old pilgrimage with a chance to walk various segments of the historic Camino de Santiago.
- Encounter the beauty of Madrid’s elegant squares and tree-lined Paseo del Prado, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Spend two nights at the Marqués de Riscal Vineyard Hotel, a luxury hotel designed by Frank Gehry, from to tour the vineyards, sample the wine, and enjoy sweeping views of the La Rioja province.
- Enjoy memorable meals, showcasing the rich tapestry of regional cuisine from tapas tasting in Madrid to a wine pairing dinner at Marqués de Riscal Winery.
Schedule by Day
Pricing
- $11,990 per person double occupancy
- $3,990 single supplement
In addition to the $1,000 per person deposit made to Harvard Alumni Travels at the time of registration, the tour operator for this program, Criterion Travel, will be collecting another $1,000 deposit upon registration. Another $4,000 per person deposit will be made approximately one year from departure (August 7, 2025).
Accommodations
- Two nights at the Westin Palace Madrid
- Three nights at Parador de León
- Two nights at Hotel Marques de Riscal
Optional Post-Trip Extension
San Sebastian, August 15-17, 2026
$3,290 per person double occupancy / $990 single supplement
- two hotel nights at Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra
What to Expect
This program includes busy pacing and may involve exposure to the outdoors, full days of touring, and walking up to two hours.
On August 12, 2026, Harvard will view the eclipse at the Leyenda del Paramo winery. The site will be shared with three other professor-led educational groups from MIT, Princeton, and Yale but each group will have a designated area. The site will not be open to any other visitors or groups. The total number of eclipse viewers, including trip staff, will be approximately 210. The winery has perfect west-facing views for the eclipse with more than 14,000 square feet of multiple viewing areas, including a patio area with electrical power access called the “Geek Pit” for eclipse fanatics to set up their equipment. In addition to the above, there is a massive field located right in front of the winery, also perfect for viewing. The indoor air-conditioned facilities are very large with a barrel room for tastings, a wine chemistry lab guests can visit, a huge tank room that will be beautified for both a panel discussion during the day and a special sit-down post-eclipse celebratory dinner, ample modern restrooms, and smaller sitting, tasting and conference areas. While we have chosen a location along the center line with the highest probability of clear skies for the eclipse, we must acknowledge that weather conditions are inherently unpredictable. In the event of overcast skies or other atypical weather patterns, please note that we cannot guarantee clear visibility of the eclipse. Nonetheless, we have designed a comprehensive program of activities and lectures that will proceed regardless of weather conditions on the day of the eclipse.
