A Solar Eclipse at Sea: Voyage Along the Iberian Peninsula – with Smithsonian Journeys

In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.

This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.

Sail aboard Le Boréal on an exceptional 8-day voyage exploring the treasures of Portugal's Algarve and Spain's Andalusia and enjoying the beauty of the Costa del Sol, interrupting your journey on the third day to witness a total solar eclipse lasting about two and a half hours with a totality of nearly 4 minutes, and then continuing to discover Moorish architecture, splendid wines, and beautiful beaches.

Sailing from Lisbon, call first in Portimão, near the southwestern tip of Portugal, your gateway to the natural beauty and history of the Algarve. Here you may explore the coast on a kayaking tour and visit the grottoes of Benagil. Or travel to Silves, a typical Algarve village of cobblestoned streets, to enjoy a tasting of Algarve wines.

In Marbella on Spain's Costa del Sol join an excursion into the countryside and a tasting of Andalusian olive oils and wines, and then return to the ship, which remains in port until late in the evening, providing time for you explore the waterfront of this famous resort town on your own.

Mid-morning the next day, August 2, Le Boreal will be in position to experience the Total Solar Eclipse that begins about 9:30 a.m. and reaches totality approximately 90 minute later. As the eclipse comes to an end, disembark in Málaga for an evening highlighted by traditional tapas or a wine tasting in the city’s historic quarter.

A morning at sea, passing through the Straits of Gibraltar, brings you to Cádiz, one of Spain's oldest cities. Here you may join a walking tour of the city, including lunch and a flamenco show; or travel to nearby Jerez for tapas and a sampling of the town's eponymous sherry wines; or you may just kick back for a day of relaxation at Cádiz's famed Barrosa Beach.

 A day at sea brings you back to Portugal and to the Atlantic port of Figueira da Foz, your final stop of the voyage. Options for activities ashore include a tour and tasting of the distinctive wines of Bairrada; a tour of Coimbra, Portugal's former capital and home to a historic university; and an excursion to the salt pans and oyster farms along the coast.