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Date Published: 12/08/2026

Wildfire risk is closing some of the best eclipse viewing spots along the Costa Blanca today

Natural parks and mountain trails around Benidorm, l'Alfàs del Pi and Finestrat are off limits, but the beaches remain open and lifeguards are staying on later

Today's solar eclipse was always going to draw crowds to the Costa Blanca's most spectacular viewpoints, but an extreme wildfire risk declared across the Valencian Community has forced local councils to close off some of the most popular natural areas for safety reasons.

In Benidorm, access to the Serra Gelada natural park is banned throughout Wednesday, both by vehicle and on foot. That means no access to the Cross or anywhere else within the park boundary. El Moralet park is also closed for the day. Traffic controls and pedestrian filters are in place at entry points to enforce the restrictions, which stem from a Valencian government resolution banning all vehicle and pedestrian traffic on trails and through forest areas while the extreme fire risk level is active.

With Spain having deployed more than 33,600 officers nationwide to manage the expected crowds for the eclipse [Aug 10 link], the added complexity of fire risk closures has required local councils to think creatively about where people can safely gather.

Benidorm's answer is to push the experience towards the coast. Lifeguards will be on duty until 9.30pm, an hour and a half beyond the usual finish time, and the local police boat and quad service will also be running. The Tossal de La Cala archaeological site is another option, staying open until 9.30pm for pedestrian visitors. It's in a restricted traffic zone, so you'll need to walk rather than drive, but it offers a different kind of setting for watching the sky.

The same fire risk restrictions are biting elsewhere along the coast. In l'Alfàs del Pi, the popular Faro de l'Albir route within the Serra Gelada Natural Park is closed all day. Councillor for the Environment Luis Morant was straightforward about why: "These are preventive measures we must all undertake to ensure safety and protect our natural environment." In Finestrat, the Puig Campana area is also closed for the day.

If you're planning to watch the eclipse this evening, the beach is your best bet. It won't be the full totality experienced further north, but with clear skies and the sea as a backdrop, there are worse places to watch the show.

You might also be interested in: Driving during the eclipse? Here is what the DGT wants motorists in Spain to know

Image: Archive (AI)

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