Group Size: Up to 30 Harvard participants
Price: Starting from $9,990 per person, double occupancy
Co-sponsored with: Criterion Travel Guests
Single Occupancy Sold out!
Trip Overview
Join us in northern Spain in 2026 to experience a Total Solar Eclipse as it sweeps across the Iberian Peninsula. Our exclusive viewing location aligns closely with the eclipse’s path of totality, plunging us into total eclipse darkness for one minute and thirteen seconds. What’s more, with 2026 marking the peak solar activity in the Sun’s eleven year cycle, the extent of the elusive solar corona may be at its stunning best.
As this Total Solar Eclipse is happening just one hour before sunset, the Moon’s shadow will overtake us from horizonto-horizon with breathtaking speed, travelling faster than 4,000 miles-perhour. Our eclipse experience will end with a marvelous sunset view of the Moon’s “last bite” of the Sun, hovering just over the local horizon.
- Witness the August 12, 2026 Total Solar Eclipse from our strategically situated vantage point at the Tiedra Astronomy Center, directly in the path of totality where we can experience totality for one minute and thirteen seconds.
- Explore the beauty of historic towns, enjoy early entry for a guided tour of the Prado Museum, and see the iconic Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
- Enjoy memorable meals showcasing the rich tapestry of regional cuisine, from tapas in Madrid to lunch at a caserio in Bilbao, as well as unique local wines while staying in the Zamora wine region.
Schedule by Day
Pricing
- $9,990 per person, double occupancy
- $11,990 single occupancy
Accommodations
- Hotel Wellington, Madrid (three nights)
- Valbusenda Hotel Bodega & Spa, Zamora (two nights)
- Hotel Melia Bilbao, Bilbao (two nights)
What to Expect
This is a moderately strenuous, fast-paced program that requires participants to be in good health and able to keep up with the group without assistance from tour staff. To make the most of what each locale has to offer, each day of the program (other than the arrival and departure days) features a full schedule of local touring, with relatively early departures from the hotels and activities scheduled throughout the day and into the evening.
Travel on land will be by modern air-conditioned motorcoach. Most drives by motorcoach will last under an hour at a time, with a few longer ones noted here. On August 11, we drive an hour and a half from Madrid to Segovia where we tour the old town and have lunch, then continue another two to two and a half hours to Zamora. On August 13, we drive two to two and a half hours to Burgos where we tour the medieval city and have lunch, then continue for another one and a half to two and a half hours to Bilbao. Eclipse traffic is extremely unpredictable, and every effort will be made to minimize travel times.
Daily activities can involve up to two miles of walking, and some walking tours may entail navigating relatively uneven terrain or moderate inclines/declines. Some buildings may not have elevators, and you may occasionally encounter steps without handrails.
On August 12, you will view the eclipse at the Tiedra Astronomy Center. The site will be shared with another professor-led educational group from Carleton. The site will not be open to any other visitors or groups. The total number of eclipse viewers, including trip staff, will be approximately 100. The astronomy center has perfect west-facing views for the eclipse with multiple viewing areas, including an area with electrical power for eclipse fanatics to set up their equipment.
While we have chosen a location 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.
