- The Government of the Balearic Islands has designated Santa Ponça Beach as Calvià's Official Observation Area, while access to the municipality's main viewpoints will be restricted.
- Calvià Town Council will coordinate a special traffic and public safety operation beginning 24 hours before the astronomical event.
- AstroMallorca will hold a public talk on eclipses at Santa Ponça Library on 30 July.
Calvià Town Council will activate a comprehensive coordination and public safety operation for the total solar eclipse on 12 August. The event has been declared an Event of Exceptional Public Interest by the Spanish Government, a designation reserved for events of major national significance.
The aim of the operation is to ensure the safety of residents and visitors, protect the natural environment and guarantee the effective operation of emergency services, in coordination with the Government of the Balearic Islands and the other public authorities involved.
The operation will begin 24 hours before the eclipse, with the gradual deployment of the Local Police, Civil Protection volunteers and other personnel responsible for traffic management and public safety throughout the municipality.
To coincide with the astronomical event, the Town Council will also reinforce coastal surveillance and lifeguard services. Santa Ponça Beach will extend its lifeguard service until at least 10:00 p.m. Civil Protection volunteers and staff will be on duty throughout the day, while two Civil Protection boats will patrol coastal waters to strengthen maritime safety.
The entire operation will be coordinated with the Guardia Civil, Local Police and Civil Protection, ensuring a rapid response to any incident both on land and at sea.
Traffic and mobility restrictions
As part of the operation, Calvià Town Council will implement special traffic management measures to prevent congestion and ensure that emergency services can operate effectively.
As a preventive measure, access to Puig de sa Morisca and the municipality's main viewpoints, including El Toro and the Malgrats Islands, will be prohibited in order to prevent overcrowding in areas with limited evacuation capacity.
To enable the public to enjoy the eclipse safely, the Government of the Balearic Islands has designated Santa Ponça Beach as Calvià's Official Observation Area (OOA), making it one of 26 official viewing sites across the Balearic Islands.
The Town Council will continuously monitor the capacity of this area. Once maximum capacity has been reached, access will be closed, and entry cannot be guaranteed for everyone wishing to attend.
Traffic conditions will also be monitored throughout the day. Depending on traffic volumes and operational requirements, additional vehicle access restrictions may be introduced, including earlier than originally planned if necessary to guarantee public safety.
Avoid unnecessary travel
Calvià Town Council urges residents and visitors to avoid unnecessary travel during the afternoon of the eclipse, particularly to coastal areas and viewpoints.
The eclipse will begin at 7:38 p.m. Between 8:30 p.m. and 8:34 p.m., totality will occur, when daylight will briefly turn into darkness for approximately one and a half minutes in Mallorca. The eclipse will end at around 9:00 p.m.
Although the eclipse will last for approximately 90 minutes, the period of total darkness will be very brief. Visitors are therefore encouraged to plan ahead and follow all official safety recommendations.
Whenever possible, people are encouraged to observe the eclipse from wherever they are, whether from home, their tourist accommodation or another nearby open space, helping to avoid unnecessary travel, reduce congestion and protect sensitive natural areas.
The Town Council also recommends using the Horitzo2026 application, developed by the Government of the Balearic Islands and AstroMallorca, which allows users to check whether the maximum phase of the eclipse will be visible from their exact location.
The application is available free of charge in Catalan, Spanish, English and German for smartphones, tablets and computers. It can be accessed via www.horitzo2026.com, where it can also be installed as a Progressive Web App (PWA). The platform also includes educational content and essential safety advice.
Those who need to travel are advised to use public transport, helping to reduce traffic congestion and facilitate emergency response operations.
Residents, guests staying in tourist accommodation and anyone with a justified reason to travel will still be able to access the municipality and their destinations, although they may encounter traffic controls and restrictions as part of the safety operation.
Recommendations for observing the eclipse safely
Calvià Town Council reminds everyone that the Sun must never be observed directly without certified eye protection, as doing so can cause serious and irreversible eye damage.
To observe the eclipse safely, it is essential to wear certified eclipse glasses compliant with ISO 12312-2:2015. Homemade alternatives such as X-ray films, smoked glass, sunglasses, CDs or non-certified filters do not provide adequate protection.
As the eclipse takes place during a period of very high wildfire risk, the public is also reminded that lighting fires, using heat sources or leaving litter in natural areas is strictly prohibited. Everyone is asked to follow the instructions of the emergency services and security forces at all times.
Calvià Town Council will continue to provide updated information in the coming days regarding the safety operation and any additional measures that may be adopted based on expected visitor numbers and recommendations from the competent authorities.
ACTIVITIES
Eclipse Workshop with AstroMallorca
On Thursday 30 July at 5:30 p.m., Santa Ponça – Galatzó Library will host the Eclipse Workshop, organised by AstroMallorca (Astronomical Association of Mallorca), an organisation dedicated to astronomy outreach and observation.
The activity is free of charge, but advance registration is required, as places are limited.
Registration: https://forms.gle/ToXvWm5X1jnP1kGT6
Participants must hold a Mallorca Public Library Network card, which will be verified using their full name. Those who do not yet have one can apply using the following form:
https://forms.gle/Xx5yuQD3X96urpJM8
Once all places have been filled, additional registrations will be placed on a waiting list. If you are unable to attend, please notify the organisers by email at biblioteques@calvia.com.
Talk on the History of Eclipses
On Monday 3 August at 7:00 p.m., Santa Ponça – Galatzó Library will host the talk "The Sky from Mallorca: Stories of Eclipses", aimed at an adult audience.
The speaker will be Xavi Villanueva, a biologist and science communicator with more than 20 years of experience in science education and public outreach. He has delivered courses, workshops and lectures for audiences of all ages and specialises in making astronomy accessible and engaging for the general public.
Advance registration is required via the online registration form or through bibliotequesdecalvia.com.