Bilbao, Altamira, León, and Madrid
August 5-15, 2026 (11 days)
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 horizon-to-horizon with breathtaking speed, travelling faster than 4,000 miles-per-hour. 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.
Highlights:
- 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, 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.
- Enjoy lectures plus opportunities for stargazing and watching sunsets (local conditions permitting) with Professor Weisberg.
Study Leader
Joel Weisberg is the Herman and Gertrude Mosier Stark Professor of Physics and Astronomy and the Natural Sciences, Emeritus, at Carleton College. He taught astronomy and physics courses, and also taught several multidisciplinary courses in the areas of environmental and technology studies and in science policy. Joel’s research is in the area of radio astronomy and gravitation, particularly in the study of pulsars, which are rapidly spinning neutron stars the size of Northfield containing more mass than the Sun. He has co-authored 70 scientific articles with colleagues across the world and with Carleton students, and continues to work with some of them. Joel loves to share sunsets, the night sky, solar eclipses, and modern astronomy with others, and he has done so on numerous alumni journeys, including tours in the southwestern U.S., Oregon, Hawaii, Chile, Turkey, Australia, and Mexico. He continues to teach astronomy to nonscientists in a variety of other venues as well.
Pricing (9 nights, per person)
Double occupancy $12,990
Single Supplement $2,990
Itinerary
WEDNESDAY–THURSDAY, AUGUST 5–6: Home / Bilbao, Spain
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7: Bilbao
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8: Altamira / Cangas de Onis
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9: Ribadesella / Tito Bustillo Cave / Cangas de Onis
MONDAY, AUGUST 10: León / Tordesillas
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11: Tordesillas
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12: Eclipse Day!
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13: Segovia / Madrid
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14: Madrid / Farewell Dinner
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15: Madrid / Home
For the detailed itinerary, download the brochure.
Additional Information
For more information or to reserve your space, please call 800-811-7244 or email Carleton College Alumni Adventures.