Lorraine Williamson
Mallorca is preparing extensive road closures, access controls and emergency measures for the total solar eclipse on Wednesday, 12 August, when thousands of residents and visitors are expected to gather along the island’s western coastline.
The Serra de Tramuntana and other environmentally sensitive areas will face some of the strictest restrictions as the Balearic Government attempts to prevent traffic gridlock, wildfires and delays to the emergency services.
The eclipse will begin in Palma at approximately 7.38 pm and reach its maximum at 8.32 pm, just minutes before sunset. The Sun will be only two degrees above the horizon at the height of the event, making an unobstructed view towards the west essential.
Access monitoring around the Serra de Tramuntana will begin on Tuesday, 11 August, with authorities watching traffic levels and the busiest approach roads. Controls will intensify from 10.00 am on the day of the eclipse.
General traffic on the Ma-10 will be restricted from 3.00 pm, or earlier if emergency officials consider it necessary. Residents, people who can prove they need to reach booked accommodation, essential services, and scheduled public transport will still be permitted to enter.
Around 20 roads leading to natural areas, beaches, lighthouses, viewpoints, and other likely gathering places will be regulated or closed. Most restrictions are expected to operate between 3.00 pm and 9.00 pm, although the authorities have warned that timings may change according to traffic and safety conditions.
The measures do not amount to a complete closure of the entire mountain range. However, casual visitors should not expect to drive freely along the Ma-10 or reach popular western viewpoints during the afternoon.
Which Mallorca roads will be affected?
Restrictions are planned across a broad area of the island, rather than only in the Serra de Tramuntana. Access points include roads around Sant Elm, Andratx, Estellencs, Banyalbufar, Esporles, Valldemossa, Deià, Sóller, Fornalutx, Escorca and Caimari.
Controls will also affect the approach to the Formentor lighthouse and Mirador des Colomer, the road to the Cura sanctuary at Randa, the Puig de Sant Salvador, the Ermita de Betlem, the Ermita de Bonany and the Ses Salines lighthouse.
The Ma-6014 around Maioris, Puig de Ros and Cap Blanc will also be regulated, while special measures are planned for the Ma-19 and Playa de Palma. Visitors should not assume they will be able to drive to a remote beach, lighthouse or mountain viewpoint shortly before the eclipse.
Anyone staying in a hotel, holiday rental or private home within a restricted area should check with the accommodation provider before travelling. Proof of the booking or address may be required at access points.
Official viewing areas across the Balearic Islands
The Balearic Government has selected 26 official observation zones after assessing more than 100 possible locations. Nine are in Mallorca, nine in Menorca, six in Ibiza and two in Formentera.
The sites were chosen according to visibility, access, capacity, parking and the ability of emergency services to respond if something goes wrong. Officials have stressed that they are not necessarily the places with the longest or most spectacular view of totality; they are the locations considered safest for organised public observation.
Using one of the designated zones should reduce pressure on fragile natural areas and lower the risk of becoming trapped on a narrow road or isolated coastline. Visitors should check the official eclipse website before setting off because parking, capacity and transport arrangements may differ between locations.
Palma prepares for large crowds
Palma will operate a separate emergency plan, with particular attention focused on Playa de Palma, the Ma-19, the airport and routes to Son Espases and Son Llàtzer hospitals.
Traffic alterations around Playa de Palma will begin from 8.00 am, with full road closures expected from midday. Residents and people working in the area will be allowed access with authorisation.
Public transport, police patrols and lifeguard services will be reinforced, while a protected corridor will be maintained for ambulances. Bellver Forest will close as a precaution, and glass containers and amplified music will be prohibited on beaches covered by the special arrangements.
The controls are intended to prevent eclipse traffic from blocking access to the airport or major hospitals. Travellers with flights on 12 August should allow considerably more time than usual and use public transport where possible.
Why Mallorca expects such intense pressure
The total phase will move across the Balearic Islands between approximately 8.30 pm and 8.34 pm. Mallorca is expected to experience around a minute and a half of totality, longer than the other islands.
Because the eclipse will take place close to sunset, observers will need a clear western horizon. That makes Mallorca’s beaches, coastal roads, headlands and mountain viewpoints particularly attractive—and creates the risk that large numbers of people will converge on the same locations during the afternoon.
August is already the busiest month of the year for the Balearic Islands. Authorities must manage the eclipse alongside normal holiday traffic, beach crowds, airport journeys and a high seasonal wildfire risk.
Visitors urged not to chase the ‘perfect’ viewpoint
The safest viewing place may not be the most famous or dramatic location. A nearby open space with a clear western view could provide a better experience than spending hours in traffic trying to reach the Serra de Tramuntana.
Drivers risk arriving after roads or car parks have closed and may struggle to leave once thousands of people move at the same time. Parking illegally on verges or dry vegetation could also block emergency access and increase the danger of fire.
Visitors should choose their location well in advance, check whether booking or registration is required and have an alternative plan. Food, water and essential medication should be carried, but people should avoid bringing glass containers into restricted beach areas.
How to watch the eclipse safely
Looking directly at the Sun can cause permanent eye damage, including during most stages of a solar eclipse. Ordinary sunglasses, smoked glass, camera filters and homemade viewers do not provide adequate protection.
Certified eclipse glasses should meet the ISO 12312-2 safety standard and should be inspected for scratches, tears or other damage before use. Cameras, binoculars and telescopes require properly fitted solar filters on the front of the equipment; eclipse glasses alone are not enough when looking through magnifying equipment.
Eye protection can be removed only during the brief period of complete totality, when the Sun is entirely covered. It must be replaced immediately as the bright edge of the Sun begins to reappear.
Children should be closely supervised, and people should practise using their glasses before the event. Those outside the path of totality must keep approved eye protection on throughout because the Sun will never become completely covered.
Public transport will be the safer option
Authorities are encouraging people to reduce unnecessary journeys and use organised transport wherever possible. Regular buses will be permitted through some restricted areas, while private vehicles may be turned back.
Public transport timetables and shuttle services are expected to be updated closer to 12 August. Visitors should check routes on the day rather than relying on normal summer schedules.
People already staying near a safe viewing location may be better walking than attempting to move across the island. The eclipse itself will be brief, but the traffic disruption could last for several hours before and afterwards.
Planning ahead for 12 August
Anyone travelling in Mallorca on eclipse day should expect restrictions from the morning, particularly around Palma, with wider road controls from mid-afternoon. Access to many mountain roads, beaches, lighthouses and viewpoints will be limited until approximately 9.00 pm.
Residents will retain access to their homes, while essential workers, public transport and people with justified journeys will receive exemptions. Even so, documentation may be required and delays are likely.
The event promises to be one of the most memorable sights seen from the Balearic Islands in generations. It will also be one of Mallorca’s most demanding days for traffic management, emergency planning and protection of the natural environment.
The clearest advice is to choose a safe viewing point close to where you are staying, avoid last-minute travel and follow official instructions rather than trying to reach the island’s busiest beauty spots.