THE JOURNAL
Amanera, Dominican Republic. Photograph courtesy of Aman
It’s the first of its kind for 99 years, so why not find a heavenly spot to gaze at the skies on 21 August?.
At least solar eclipses haven’t adopted an America first, America only policy. The Great American Eclipse – the first time the US has witnessed a total eclipse since 1979, and the first time since 1918 that an eclipse will sweep the width of North America – will plunge much of the country into darkness when the coast-to-coast phenomenon strikes on 21 August. Fourteen states will experience a total blackout – when the shadow of the moon completely obscures the sun for a few moments – but the effects will also be seen in Central America, the Caribbean and the western fringes of Europe.
Nasa will be filming the eclipse at a number of sites across the country, and will have multiple streams on its website. But if second-hand viewing isn’t good enough for you, here’s our pick of seven of the best places around the world to see it in all its apocalyptic glory.
Photograph by Mr Joe Fletcher, courtesy of Mar Adentro
The path of totality, where the Earth, moon and sun momentarily align completely to cause a blackout, is only about 70 miles wide across the mainland US. But the darkening effects will be felt much further afield. Appreciate them from Mar Adentro in San José del Cabo, Baja California. Designed by architect Mr Miguel Angel Aragonés, the hotel has a striking all-white façade and overlooks the Sea of Cortez. Take in the eclipse from the comfort of its ocean-facing cube-shaped rooms, or while wandering around the open-air public spaces, which are peppered with installation art and salt-water pools.
What to wear...
Photograph by Mr Ben Fitchett, courtesy of Urban Cowboy
If you’re lucky enough to be in Tennessee, then you’re in prime position to see the totality of the eclipse. Nashville is the largest US city in its direct path, but if the myriad street parties don’t appeal, make a beeline for the quieter environs of Urban Cowboy in rootsy East Nashville. Be ready at 13.27 to experience two minutes of complete darkness before retiring to one of the eight suites in this 18th-century Queen Anne-style mansion, festooned with copper, brass and just the right amount of southern charm.
What to wear...
Photograph courtesy of Kamalame Cay
This is the place to catch a partial eclipse with zero effort. Simply step out from your villa onto the beach. Don’t forget your eclipse glasses. The warnings of staring at the spectacle without them aren’t nanny-state over-protection – you could permanently damage your eyes. Disposable eclipse glasses, which look a bit like 3D specs, are being widely distributed (sunglasses don’t offer the same protection). Take a tiny twin-prop from Nassau, The Bahamas’ capital, to the island of Andros, where you will be picked up by the Kamalame Cay barge and chugged to the resort’s beautifully weathered beach houses decked in bougainvillaea.
What to wear...
Photograph courtesy of Palácio Belmonte
Only the western edges of Europe will see anything approaching the solar phenomenon’s full force. As the most westerly capital on mainland Europe, Lisbon will be the first big city this side of the pond from which to view it. The elegant suites of the Palácio Belmonte look out over the terracotta roofs and yolk-yellow walls of the Portuguese capital and on to the blue Atlantic. Watch the celestial lights dim from your private terrace, or while bobbing around in the hotel’s black-slate outdoor pool.
What to wear...
Photograph courtesy of Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
On the west coast of Vancouver Island, the partial eclipse will last for about two-and-a-half hours – and where better to enjoy it than at this wild tented retreat, surrounded by rainforest? A 30-minute boat ride from the bijou town of Tofino, it has 25 white safari-style guest tents with warming stoves, viewing decks and smooth wooden floors – a wilderness experience that takes glamping to luxurious new levels.
What to wear...
Photograph courtesy of Aman
Some of the most interesting effects of an eclipse are those it has on nature. Birds begin evensong, crickets and cicadas start to hum, flowers close up and the temperature falls. The white-sand beach at Amanera, with its unfettered views over the ocean, makes for a sybaritic location from which to watch the show. The resort will be offering snorkelling and deep-sea fishing trips to coincide with the eclipse.
What to wear...
Photograph by Eleven Experience
After a long summer of near-24-hour daylight in the extreme northern hemisphere, a partial eclipse in Iceland will be a welcome change of pitch, however slight. Deplar Farm was built in the 18th century and has been upgraded to a spectacular salmon-fishing (summer) and heli-skiing (winter) retreat, surrounded by snow-speckled mountains and pastoral meadows. One of the most isolated luxury resorts on the planet, this is the ideal location to experience a partial eclipse with the bare minimum of human company.