SPAIN TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE - WAITLIST ONLY

August 3–8, 2026

Experience the best of Madrid and its surrounding cities of Toledo and Segovia with our Pre-Tour extension. Your journey begins with an arrival transfer in Madrid, followed by a half-day tour that includes the city’s iconic landmarks such as Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and the Royal Palace. Step back in time with a full-day excursion to enchanting Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next, we tour Ávila, a city known for its medieval walls, cobblestone streets, churches, and cuisine. We’ll also explore Segovia, famed for its Roman aqueduct and fairy-tale Alcázar. At the end of our pre-tour, we will take a high-speed train to Barcelona to begin the main tour.

Our base for exploration in Madrid will be the five-star Meliá Madrid Princesa (4 nights), an epitome of luxury and modern sophistication. Located in the heart of the city, our hotel combines contemporary elegance with stunning views and upscale amenities, offering easy access to attractions like the Royal Palace and Gran Vía. This pre-tour extension may be shared with passengers from the University of Washington in St. Louis and other non-profit organizations. The extension price includes all breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 1 dinner, group transfers, porterage, local guides, entrance fees, tips to local guides, hotel staff, waiters, servers, and drivers, and a high-speed train ticket from Madrid to Barcelona.

Gallery Hotel or similar– 3 nights

The Gallery Hotel in Barcelona is a stylish and contemporary four-star hotel that seamlessly blends modern luxury with the city's rich cultural heritage. Located in the heart of the city, just steps away from the iconic Passeig de Gràcia, the hotel offers an ideal base for exploring Barcelona's architectural marvels, shopping districts, and vibrant nightlife. The rooms are elegantly designed with a focus on comfort, featuring sleek furnishings, plush bedding, and state-of-the-art amenities. The hotel also boasts a rooftop terrace with stunning views of the city, a perfect spot to unwind with a cocktail after a day of sightseeing. Rooms include free Wi-Fi.

INNSiDE Palma Bosque Hotel – 3 nights

The INNSiDE by Meliá Palma Bosque is a four-star urban design hotel located 5 minutes walk from Palma's seafront promenade and 20 minutes walk from Palma Cathedral. It features an outdoor, an indoor, and a children's pool, and an on-site restaurant with a terrace. Guests will also find a fitness center with virtual classes, a sauna, and a Turkish bath. The hotel's restaurant, offers a variety of cuisines. Palma's Santa Catalina district, can be reached in a 10-minute walk. Bellver Castle is also around a 10-minute walk away. Rooms include free Wi-Fi.

12 meals: 6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners

$7,995 per person, double occupancy, land and sea only

A limited number of single rooms are available for a supplement of $2,850 to the per person, double occupancy rate.

Optional Upgrade to Bay View Room in Mallorca 3 nights, INNSiDE Hotel Mallorca
$90 per person, double occupancy or $180 dollars, single occupancy.
 

Optional Pre-Tour Extension to Madrid, Toledo, Ávila, Segovia: $3,150 per person, double occupancy, land only; Single Occupancy $3,995.

Note: International Airfare is not included, and can be quoted separately
Approximate International Airfare:  $1,500 (from Charlottesville (CHO) to Madrid (MAD) round trip, coach class and subject to change).  We can help advise you to coordinate your own flights.

Price Includes

• On-tour flight from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca, subject to increases*, see below.

• Meals as specified in the trip itinerary 

• Professional Tour director on the main program 

• Local English-speaking guides throughout the tour 

• All land transportation during the tour 

• All entrance fees for included excursions

• Airport transfers for those using or meeting group flights 

• Baggage handling 

• Gratuities to guides and drivers

• Coordination and administration.

.

Price Does Not Include

•  U.S. domestic and international airfare (quoted separately) 

• Excess baggage charges 

• Meals not specified in the itinerary 

• Personal items such as Passport or visa fees, Medical expenses, COVID testing or quarantine expenses, Travel insurance, laundry, email, fax, or telephone calls 

• Alcoholic beverages except those mentioned above

• European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) fees

• Private transfers outside of group transfers

• Optional extensions or deviations from the scheduled tour 

• Airport taxes and/or security fees or Fuel surcharges 

• * Any increases in the on-tour airfare (included as part of the land program cost at a maximum rate of $125 per person), airport taxes, security, or fuel surcharges and/or any exchange or rate increases imposed after the initial pricing of this program are not included and will be passed unto passengers.  

• The price of the trip is based on the exchange rate with the Euro as of June 2024. If there is a significant change in the Euro in relation to the U.S. dollar, the price may need to be adjusted. 

• Gratuity to the Tour Director is not included and is at the passengers’ discretion.

• Anything not specifically listed as included

Ready to register? The best way to do this is by phone so that we can ensure we are meeting all of your needs. Please call us at 866-765-2646. Or e-mail cavaliertravels@viriginia.edu with your contact information and the best time to reach you.

A deposit of $1,000 per person is required to reserve your spot. A second deposit of $2,000 per person will be due on or before June 16, 2025 (or $3,000 due when booking after that date). Reservations are acknowledged in order of receipt. Final payment is due May 9, 2026, and must be paid by check.

The final mailing will be done approximately 3 weeks prior to departure.

The initial deposit may be charged to a credit card. The second deposit and final payment must be paid by check. Royal Adventures reserves the right to cancel any reservations that are not paid in full at any time after final payment is due. If you make your reservation after the final payment date, payment in full will be required upon reservation.

Early registration is encouraged as space is limited. Our past eclipse trip sold out.

Cavalier Travels reserves the right to use photos that might include you in marketing materials and other purposes unless you specify otherwise.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Notification of cancellation must be received in writing by Royal Adventures. Cancellations within seven days of booking, full refund. No refunds after seven days from booking date. No refunds of any deposits or payments are made on or after May 9, 2026, regardless of the booking date. There are no refunds for unused meals, accommodations, or other trip features.

TOUR SIZE: This tour is designed for University of Virginia Alumni Association members and friends on a first-come, first-served basis. The minimum group size is 18.  Should the minimum not be met, we reserve the right to levy a small group surcharge.

WHAT TO EXPECT: This exclusive Total Solar Eclipse Tour to Spain is designed for University of Virginia Alumni and Friends who are interested in observing a total solar eclipse and exploring the history and culture of Barcelona and Mallorca. Please note that some accommodations, eclipse viewing vessels, and the Fabra Observatory will be shared by other educational affinity groups. However, the University of Virginia Alumni Association will have its own tour director, buses, and lecture space. As this is an astronomical event of international interest, hotels may be full of other eclipse travelers and independent travel groups from around the globe. In Madrid, expect temperatures ranging from 70°F (21°C) to 90°F (32°C); Barcelona typically has temperatures of 72°F (22°C) and 86°F (30°C), and Mallorca’s average August temperatures are 75°F (24°C) to 88°F (31°C). Travel is by private coach, boat, and plane with a high-speed train on the Pre-Tour extension. Since some travel in Mallorca will be relatively remote, everyone must be flexible with time schedules and willing to explore spectacular natural areas and small towns. Program participants requiring extraordinary assistance must be accompanied by someone who can and will provide all required assistance. To help you choose the trip best suited for you and to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of our tour, we describe this trip as moderately active. Travel is by motorcoach, jet plane, and boat.

Totality on August 12, 2026, will be relatively brief all across Spain, and from Port de Sóller on Mallorca, it will last approximately 1m 34s. The partial eclipse begins at 7:38 p.m. local time (Sun 12° high). Mid-eclipse follows at 8:31:32 p.m. with the Sun 2½° above the western horizon. We will provide an optimal viewing location in Mallorca to experience this phenomenon. Please keep in mind that because viewing the total solar eclipse will be weather-dependent, there is always a chance that passengers will not be able to view it or view it only for a short time. Neither Royal Adventures nor Washington University guarantees the viewing of the total solar eclipse. Keep in mind that unexpected schedule changes could affect the program. Your tour director will keep you informed of any changes in planned activities. A sense of humor, flexibility, and patience will be greatly appreciated during this program, especially on Eclipse Day.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance as the cancellation penalty in this brochure will apply. Trip cancellation insurance can be purchased through our recommended provider Travel Insured International, CLICK HERE to get a quote or call 1-800-243-3174 and mention Royal Adventures #53140.  Most insurance plans need to be purchased within 14 days of paying the initial deposit in order to waive pre-existing medical conditions as well as to purchase “Cancel for Any Reason” insurance.

RESPONSIBILITY: Royal Adventures (CST #2009579-40), its owners and employees, act only as agents for the various independent suppliers and contractors providing transportation, hotel accommodations, restaurant, and other services connected with this tour. Such travel and services are subject to the terms and conditions under which such accommodations, services, and transportation are offered or provided, and the University of Virginia and Royal Adventures and their respective employees, agents, representatives, and assigns accept no liability therefor. The University of Virginia and Royal Adventures assume no liability for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or other irregularity that may be caused by the defect of any aircraft or vehicle or the negligence or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out or performing any of the services involved. Additionally, responsibility is not accepted for losses, injury, damages, or expenses of any kind due to sickness, epidemics, pandemics, weather, strikes, local laws, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, quarantine,  force majeure, animal or insect bites, injury caused by improper viewing of the eclipse or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws of the country in which they are provided. The University of Virginia and Royal Adventures reserve the right to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their sole judgment, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the tour participants. The University of Virginia and/or Royal Adventures shall not be deemed to be in breach of these terms and conditions or otherwise be liable to you, and shall not provide any refund, by reason of delay in performance, or by non-performance, of any of our obligations hereunder to the extent that any such delay or non-performance is due to any Force Majeure Event. A Force Majeure Event, in relation to this tour, shall mean any circumstances beyond our control, including, but without limitation, to acts of God, explosion, flood, forceful wind, fire or accident, war or threat of war declared or undeclared, acts of terrorism, sabotage, insurrection, riots, strikes, civil disturbance, sickness, epidemics, pandemics, quarantines, government intervention or other unforeseeable events. Limitations on travel arising from COVID-19 shall be considered a Force Majeure Event. If this tour is affected by a Force Majeure Event, the University of Virginia and Royal Adventures shall be entitled to, and may in their sole and absolute discretion, vary, cancel, or postpone any itinerary or arrangement in relation to this trip. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour or to substitute for another qualified leader or special guest. Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times. The price of the program is given in good faith based on current tariffs, exchange rates, and fuel charges and is subject to change. Any tariff, sales tax, security surcharge, or fuel increases will be passed on to participants. Participants on this tour acknowledge and agree that because viewing the total solar eclipse will be weather-dependent, there is always a chance that they will not be able to view it or view it only for a short period of time.  Neither the University of Virginia nor Royal Adventures accepts the liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable airline ticket, or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for the trip. The air ticket, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned. Participants will not hold Royal Adventures or the University of Virginia and/or its employees or agents responsible for any expense or loss caused by their failure to purchase trip cancellation insurance. Neither Royal Adventures nor the University of Virginia make any guarantees as to the viewing of the total solar eclipse. As part of the consideration and right to participate in this tour, each participant will be asked to sign a liability release, assumption of risk, hold-harmless agreement with a binding arbitration clause.