About This Event
Puerto Vallarta by UTMB brings the renowned UTMB World Series to Mexico's Pacific coast, where runners experience a unique fusion of mountain trails, jungle terrain, and coastal finish. The event celebrates Mexican culture and Wixárika heritage through courses that wind through the Sierra Madre Occidental, passing through lush forests, agave fields, and traditional communities before reaching the beach. The race culminates with what organizers call "the most exciting last mile," where runners experience the vibrant Puerto Vallarta waterfront with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the city's famous Malecon art galleries on the other. This UTMB World Series event serves as a qualifier for the UTMB Mont-Blanc Finals and attracts over 3,000 runners from around the world. Set in Jalisco, the heartland of Mexican culture known for tequila, mariachi, and charrería, the event offers runners an immersive cultural experience alongside challenging mountain terrain. Puerto Vallarta, designated as "The World's Friendliest City" by Travel + Leisure magazine, provides an authentic Mexican backdrop for this premier international trail running event.
Choose Your Distance
5K
The shortest distance emphasizes the cultural and scenic aspects of Puerto Vallarta, likely featuring the coastal elements and iconic Malecon finish. This distance welcomes runners of all levels to experience the event's unique atmosphere.
20K
The route navigates mixed terrain through the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental above Banderas Bay. Runners encounter technical singletrack sections that demand attention, interspersed with wider trail segments that allow for rhythm. The coastal proximity influences the character of the course, though specific routing details are managed by UTMB and subject to finalization closer to the event date. The mixed terrain classification reflects varied surface conditions including natural trails, some exposed sections, and potentially technical rocky passages typical of this region's geography. Runners should prepare for heat management even on this shorter distance, as humidity remains a factor in coastal Mexico even during the dry season.
37K
The route climbs into the foothills of the Sierra Madre, moving through terrain that shifts from exposed agricultural land into shaded jungle sections as elevation increases. Trails include technical singletrack with roots and rocks alongside wider stretches where runners can settle into rhythm. The course requires navigation attention and solid footing skills throughout—this isn't groomed park trail. Runners encounter the contrast between open sun exposure on ridge sections and humid, enclosed jungle passages. Water and aid station spacing follows UTMB standards, but the combination of heat, humidity, and technical terrain makes pacing discipline essential from the start.
53K
The course navigates the western slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental, beginning near sea level in Puerto Vallarta before climbing into the mountains. Runners encounter true jungle singletrack in the lower elevations—technical, root-laden trails where humidity sits heavy—before transitioning to more open terrain as elevation increases. The middle sections pass through working agave plantations, where the trail opens up and sun exposure becomes a significant factor. Terrain varies throughout, mixing technical singletrack with wider trail sections and brief stretches of dirt road that connect trail segments. Footing ranges from smooth packed dirt to rocky, root-crossed jungle trail. The mixed terrain designation is accurate—this isn't a pure singletrack experience, but rather a course that uses whatever trails and paths are available to create the route through this landscape.
81K
The course begins in the upper elevations of the Sierra Madre Occidental before making its way toward the coast through varied terrain that includes forest trails, exposed mountain passages, and the agricultural landscapes of Jalisco's backcountry. Runners should expect technical sections that require solid footing skills, though the terrain varies throughout. The descent toward Puerto Vallarta brings warmer temperatures and changing vegetation as altitude decreases. The beachfront finish provides a memorable conclusion, though runners should prepare for the full spectrum of conditions the route presents. Those familiar with other UTMB World Series events will find comparable technical demands, though the tropical setting and elevation profile create a distinctly different experience than alpine races in the series.