Eclipse August 12, 2026 · Spain · National ranking
The 10 best terrain-verified eclipse viewing spots in Spain
Out of 51 ray-cast viewpoints in 11 mountain regions, these have a verified-clear terrain view of the low eclipsed sun — ranked by clearance margin, totality duration and 20-year clear-sky odds.
The August 12, 2026 total eclipse crosses Spain with the sun only 2–12° above the horizon — low enough that the mountain ranges in its path decide who actually sees totality. We ray-cast the real terrain horizon from 51 named viewpoints across 11 mountain regions and ranked the ones with a verified-clear view of the eclipsed sun. 25 spots passed; these are the top 10.
Each verdict comes from ray-casting 360° from the exact coordinate over Mapbox Terrain-RGB elevation data (30 km range) — the same engine as Heliora’s live 3D sky view. Clearance margins under ~1° are flagged marginal: elevation pixels are ~75 m wide and can miss sharp ridge lines, and trees and buildings are not included. Clear-sky odds are 20-year ERA5 climatology (2005–2024, ±3 days around Aug 12, cloud cover ≤20% at the local peak hour) — historical odds, not a forecast.
The top 10 at a glance
| # | Spot | Region | Clearance | Totality | Clear-sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | O Cebreiro | O Courel & Os Ancares | +10.1° | 1m 27s | 46% |
| 2 | Pedrafita do Cebreiro | O Courel & Os Ancares | +9.2° | 1m 26s | 46% |
| 3 | La Granja de San Ildefonso | Sierra de Guadarrama | +7.7° | 1m 04s | 41% |
| 4 | Peñalara | Sierra de Guadarrama | +7.6° | 1m 01s | 46% |
| 5 | Lago Enol | Picos de Europa | +7.6° | 1m 45s | 12% |
| 6 | Puerto de Navacerrada | Sierra de Guadarrama | +7.5° | 51s | 46% |
| 7 | Covaleda | Picos de Urbión & Laguna Negra | +7.4° | 1m 46s | 43% |
| 8 | Pajares (pass) | Cantabrian Mountains | +6.5° | 1m 51s | 21% |
| 9 | Reinosa | Cantabrian Mountains | +5.8° | 1m 39s | 25% |
| 10 | Cangas de Onís | Picos de Europa | +4.8° | 1m 45s | 21% |
The ranking in detail
O Cebreiro Clear view
O Courel & Os Ancares · region ranking
42.708°N, -7.043°W
The eclipsed sun clears the terrain by 10.1° at the critical moment (maximum eclipse 20:29 CEST). Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 46% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Pedrafita do Cebreiro Clear view
O Courel & Os Ancares · region ranking
42.715°N, -7.065°W
The eclipsed sun clears the terrain by 9.2° at the critical moment (maximum eclipse 20:29 CEST). Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 46% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →La Granja de San Ildefonso Clear view
Sierra de Guadarrama · region ranking
40.900°N, -4.006°W
The eclipsed sun clears the terrain by 7.7° at the critical moment (maximum eclipse 20:31 CEST). Terrain hides the sun at 21:19 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:23. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 41% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Peñalara Clear view
Sierra de Guadarrama · region ranking
40.850°N, -3.957°W
The eclipsed sun clears the terrain by 7.6° at the critical moment (maximum eclipse 20:31 CEST). Terrain hides the sun at 21:18 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:23. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 46% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Lago Enol Clear view
Picos de Europa · region ranking
43.270°N, -4.989°W
The eclipsed sun clears the terrain by 7.6° at the critical moment (maximum eclipse 20:27 CEST). Terrain hides the sun at 21:12 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:20. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 12% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Covaleda Clear view
Picos de Urbión & Laguna Negra · region ranking
41.935°N, -2.875°W
The eclipsed sun clears the terrain by 7.4° at the critical moment (maximum eclipse 20:29 CEST). Terrain hides the sun at 21:16 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:21. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 43% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Pajares (pass) Clear view
Cantabrian Mountains · region ranking
43.000°N, -5.764°W
The eclipsed sun clears the terrain by 6.5° at the critical moment (maximum eclipse 20:28 CEST). Terrain hides the sun at 21:10 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:21. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 21% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Reinosa Clear view
Cantabrian Mountains · region ranking
43.000°N, -4.137°W
The eclipsed sun clears the terrain by 5.8° at the critical moment (maximum eclipse 20:28 CEST). Terrain hides the sun at 21:01 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:20. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 25% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Cangas de Onís Clear view
Picos de Europa · region ranking
43.354°N, -5.131°W
The eclipsed sun clears the terrain by 4.8° at the critical moment (maximum eclipse 20:27 CEST). Terrain hides the sun at 21:04 CEST, before the partial phase ends at 21:20. Historical clear-sky odds at peak hour: 21% (20 years of ERA5 data).
See it in 3D at this exact spot →Drop a pin anywhere — Heliora computes the terrain horizon from that exact point and shows whether the eclipsed sun clears it.