Benicarló
40.416°, 0.427° · 17 m a.s.l.
Visible
The Sun clears local terrain by 3.38° at C3.
95/100Excellent
100%
You'll see full totality, but the Sun will set before the partial phase ends — an unusually epic finale.
Total eclipse · 100% obscuration
See the eclipse from Benicarló minute by minute
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Photo: Columbusalbus · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
About Benicarló
Benicarló is a municipality in Castellón province, Valencia Community, with 26,655 inhabitants. It sits 17 metres above sea level, on the Mediterranean coastal strip of the Levantine peninsula. Founded in 1236, its urban layout has grown alongside the coast over nearly eight centuries. The low altitude and exposure to the open seaward horizon shape both its climate and the eclipse visibility conditions.
For this eclipse
For the eclipse of 12 August 2026, Benicarló lies within the totality band. Maximum totality occurs at 20:31 local time, with the Sun at 4.4° above the horizon; the clearance relative to the actual terrain relief is 3.4°, sufficient for the solar corona to be fully visible. Since the Sun will be very low, it is wise to choose a location with clear skies and no obstacles to the west-northwest.
The weather in August
August weather in Benicarló follows the Mediterranean pattern: average temperature 25.2 °C, with typical highs of 31 °C and lows of 19.4 °C. Average monthly precipitation is meagre, at 13.2 mm, and the storm risk is classed as low. All of this points to stable observation conditions during totality. Data: AEMET, reference period 1991–2020.
Past eclipses
The last total eclipse seen from Benicarló took place on 30 August 1905, 121 years ago, with a totality duration of approximately 3 minutes and 43 seconds. Just four years before, on 11 November 1901, an annular eclipse occurred with 82.2 % obscuration. After the 2026 eclipse, the next annular eclipse will not arrive until July 2075, and the next total until November 2180.
Direction and altitude of the Sun
At the moment of maximum, 20:31 local time, the Sun is positioned at an azimuth of 286°, equivalent to the west-northwest direction—towards the interior peninsula from Benicarló's coastal strip—and at a height of 4.4° above the horizon. The position so close to the horizon means that any obstacle in that direction—buildings, trees or terrain features—could compromise the visibility of totality.
Editorial text by eclipses.app · Data: Wikidata, AEMET, NASA and astronomy-engine.
Eclipse schedule in Benicarló
| Phase | UTC | Local time | Sun alt. | Sun az. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Partial begins | 17:36 UTC | 19:36 | +14.6° | 277.2° |
| C2 — Totality begins | 18:30 UTC | 20:30 | +4.7° | 285.6° |
| Maximum | 18:31 UTC | 20:31 | +4.5° | 285.7° |
| C3 — Totality ends | 18:32 UTC | 20:32 | +4.4° | 285.9° |
| C4 — Partial ends | 19:22 UTC | 21:22 | -4.2° | 294.1° |
Sun direction and altitude at C4
Look toward WNW (294.1°)
Azimuth at C4
294.1° WNW
Sun altitude at C4
-4.18°
Terrain horizon
1.02°
Sun−terrain margin
+3.38°
What the contact points (C1-C4) mean
A solar eclipse is described by four key moments, the contact points between the discs of the Sun and the Moon:
- C1First contact: the Moon touches the edge of the Sun and the partial eclipse begins.
- C2Second contact: the Moon fully covers the Sun and totality begins.
- C3Third contact: the Sun reappears and totality ends.
- C4Fourth contact: the Moon leaves the Sun's disc and the eclipse ends.
Where the eclipse is only partial, the Moon never fully covers the Sun: only C1 and C4 occur, with no totality in between.
Peaks near Benicarló
| Peak | Elevation | Distance | Azimuth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torreta de Montsià | 763.1 m | 23.6 km | 22° NNE |
| Mola Cima | 749.4 m | 22.8 km | 21° NNE |
| Palleret del Teix | 738.8 m | 24.1 km | 22° NNE |
| la Tenda | 731.7 m | 24.6 km | 22° NNE |
| Tossal d'en Canes | 716.2 m | 20.8 km | 261° W |
| lo Tossal Pelat | 694 m | 20.6 km | 262° W |
| la Talaia Grossa | 636 m | 17.9 km | 263° W |
| lo Molló | 627 m | 19.2 km | 268° W |
Weather in Benicarló in August
Avg. temp.
25.2°C
Max / min
31° / 19.4°
Precipitation
13.2 mm
Storm risk
Low
Station VINARÒS, 15 km away · Period 1991-2020 · Source: AEMET
Historical cloud cover
P25 — clearer days
1%
Median cloud cover
10%
P75 — cloudier days
41%
Source: ERA5 (ECMWF), 10-year average at the eclipse hour.
Other eclipses seen from Benicarló
- Last total eclipseAugust 30, 1905121 years ago
- Last annular eclipseNovember 11, 1901125 years ago
- Next total eclipseNovember 17, 2180
- Next annular eclipseJuly 13, 2075
Solar eclipses computed from astronomical ephemerides for the city's coordinates.
Frequently asked questions about the eclipse in Benicarló
Will the eclipse of August 12, 2026 be visible from Benicarló?
Yes — Benicarló is inside the totality path and the horizon allows the total phase to be fully visible.
What time is the eclipse maximum in Benicarló?
Maximum occurs at 20:31 local time (18:31 UTC) in Benicarló.
Which direction to look to watch the eclipse from Benicarló?
Look WNW (azimuth 286°); the Sun will be 5° above the horizon at maximum from Benicarló.
How long does totality last in Benicarló?
Totality lasts 1 min 42 s in Benicarló (C2 to C3).
Is Benicarló a good place to watch the eclipse?
Benicarló will see totality (C2-C3) very close to the western horizon. The partial end (C4) falls below the horizon: you need a clear western view for an epic experience.
Do I need special glasses to watch the eclipse?
Yes, you need ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses during every partial phase. Regular sunglasses do NOT protect. Glasses can only be removed during the totality phase (when the Sun is fully covered); never during annular or partial eclipses. Pages flagged "visible" assume a clear horizon, not a viewing recommendation.
Nearby cities
All cities in Valencian Community →Where to stay in Benicarló
For the August 12 eclipse. Recommended stay: Aug 10–14, 2026.
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