A solar eclipse is a rare phenomenon that occurs “when the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun are aligned, and the Moon totally or partially obscures the solar disk for a few moments.”
This phenomenon has already sold out rural accommodations and hotels in Bragança, and there is also high demand for campsites.
“We are fully booked. We have already received requests for more reservations, and unfortunately, we had to say no (…) Everyone says they are coming for the eclipse,” the owner of the Hotel Tulipa, in the centre of Bragança, told Lusa.
Elisabete Raimundo revealed that about a month ago, she noticed a great deal of interest in booking for the night of the eclipse, as clients started calling the hotel directly because those dates were already sold out on online agencies like Booking.com.
“There are people who are really making themselves available, there are curious people, and that’s a good sign, people are coming,” said the businesswoman.
In the heart of the Montesinho Natural Park, in the village of Vilarinho, Luís Correia’s rural accommodation houses are also already fully booked.
The businessman owns four accommodations with varying occupancy capacities, and since opening in February, August reservations sold out in “eight days.”
“We are fully booked, and if we had more, we would have even more [reservations]. There is an enormous demand on 12 August. It’s an event that people have expressed great interest in,” the businessman told Lusa.
According to Luís Correia, this phenomenon is boosting business, especially since some clients end up staying more than one night.
“There are reservations for three or four nights. They take advantage of staying longer. What motivated them was ‘let’s take advantage of a 2-in-1 deal, we get to know the area, enjoy the gastronomy, and take the opportunity to see the eclipse’,” he said, emphasizing that the region should not be seen “by the misfortune of being few in number,” but “by the virtue of being few in number,” with “peace, quiet, and nature.”
Some people prefer campsites surrounded by nature, and for this reason, the Sobre Águas campsite has also been in “high demand,” both for camping and for its two bungalows, which have been booked for about two months.
“Many people are calling. First looking for accommodation and then looking for camping, quite a lot of people, tents, motorhomes, caravans. (…) We’ve been receiving calls almost every day,” said manager Vítor Reis.
Lusa tried to make an online reservation through the Booking platform for the nights of 12 to 13 August and in accommodations in the municipality of Bragança,but 99% of the offers were fully booked.
According to the Bragança Science Centre, the last total solar eclipse occurred in 1912 and will not occur again until 2144.
It can be seen in its entirety in the Montesinho Natural Park, more specifically in the village of Guadramil, parish of Rio de Onor, municipality of Bragança.
“For about 26 seconds, the population of the Montesinho Natural Park region will observe a total eclipse that reveals the Solar Corona, the outermost atmosphere of the Sun, only visible to the naked eye during a total solar eclipse,” reads the website of the Bragança Science Centre.
Given the interest and rarity of the phenomenon, the Bragança Science Centre is organising transport for those who wish to attend, as car access to Rio de Onor will be restricted on that day.
“Since it is a small village that does not have the capacity to safely accommodate a large number of vehicles, the organisation is providing a bus transfer from Bragança Aerodrome to Rio de Onor (round trip),” it also states on the website.
Registrations can be made online and are limited, for “safety and environmental preservation reasons”.
“The registration fees will be entirely donated to the Cultural Associations of the Union of Parishes of Aveleda and Rio de Onor, and will be used to ensure safe viewing conditions, namely by providing certified glasses for observing the solar eclipse to all participants,” it was also informed.