Maldonado: the practical compromise next to Punta del Este
Maldonado shares almost the same eclipse geometry as Punta del Este but offers a more urban accommodation logic and stronger road access. It can be the smarter base if you want the resort nearby without being locked into it.
Annularity
5m 12s
Maximum
12:38 UYT
Magnitude
0.937
Historic cloud*
55%
Car
Useful
* Cloud is a historical 6 February signal since 2000, not a forecast for 2027.
Our verdict
Potentially better than Punta del Este for car-based Plan B travel; less appealing if your priority is a walkable beach holiday.
Eclipse times in local time
UYT local time. Annularity lasts approximately 5m 12s.
Where to stay
Prioritise parking and easy city exits. You can still use Punta del Este for leisure without paying for a peninsula location.
Mobility
Its key advantage is operational: moving toward alternative zones is more natural than from the busiest resort areas.
Plan B if cloud develops
Keep alternative routes ready and choose the final viewing site from the forecast, not from the hotel’s proximity to the beach.
How to choose a viewing site
Choose the site for horizon, traffic and access rather than because it appears in a tourism brochure.
Important: this eclipse never reaches totality
You must use proper solar viewing protection throughout the partial phases and during the ring of fire itself. Ordinary sunglasses are not safe.
Read the safe-viewing guide →Sources and methodology
Astronomical and climate figures are published with visible sources. When a metric is not yet verified on a comparable basis, we leave it pending rather than filling it with an estimate.