IRONMAN 70.3 Cartagena
Cartagena de Indias, Colombia · November/December · IRONMAN 70.3
Why people love it
- Run through the UNESCO walled city with big crowds and ice from spectators
- Closed, nearly flat out-and-back highway bike
- Protected bay with flat water and buoys every 100 m (110 yd)
- Aid about every 1 km (0.6 mi) on the run
Watch out for
- Heat index of 38 to 43 °C (101 to 110 °F) and humidity above 80%
- Not wetsuit legal: murky water of about 30 °C (86 °F)
- Bike box logistics and heavy race-day traffic
- Rough first and last 8 km (5 mi) of the bike
- Scarce toilets; 2016 had course errors on the run
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
Sold out months ahead and loved for the walled-city run and crowds; heat and early course errors temper the praise. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.6
2016 had a 40-minute swim delay and course errors; 2019 reports describe full road closure, plentiful aid and a smooth day. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.6
Flat course and protected bay help, but a heat index of 38 to 43 °C (101 to 110 °F) and transport logistics are demanding. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.4
Flat closed highway, but heat, cobbles and a rough 8 km (5 mi) at each end of the bike limit times. · Medium confidence
- Course easeTough2.6
Flat terrain, but heat and humidity make it a hard day. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalRarely1.0
Bay water is about 30 °C (86 °F) and wetsuits are not legal. · High confidence
- Water temperatureExtreme1.3
About 30 to 31 °C (86 to 88 °F), well above the 27 °C (81 °F) hot threshold. · High confidence
- Calm waterGlassy4.5
Protected Bahia de las Animas gave flat water in the reports we found. · High confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.9
Simple rectangular loop with buoys every 100 m (110 yd); start waits and a long walk to T1. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceFine2.6
Warm but murky, with a few feet of visibility and an oily film reported; a cannon start from a naval vessel. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
First and last 8 km (5 mi) are rough and potholed; the rest is smooth highway. · Medium confidence
- Road closuresFully closed4.6
Highway fully closed with heavy police and military presence. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.0
Mangroves, coast and cheering kids in small towns. · Medium confidence
- WindMostly calm3.8
Calm in 2016 and no wind complaints found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.0
Closed out-and-back highway, mostly flat to mildly rolling; pro bike splits near 2:00 for 90 km (56 mi). · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.9
Described as nearly flat with a small climb at the turnaround; one forum post claims about 760 m (2,500 ft), unverified. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple4.3
One out-and-back on a highway, apart from slow urban kilometres at the start. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.3
Crowds line the walled-city run, shouting and dumping ice on runners. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.1
Aid about every 1 km (0.6 mi) with ice and fuel, though toilets are scarce. · Medium confidence
- Run scenerySpectacular4.7
Two loops of the UNESCO walled city, fortifications and waterfront. · High confidence
- Run conditionsHard1.9
Cobbles and brick radiate heat, walls block the breeze and there is little shade; heat index up to 43 °C (110 °F). · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.0
Flat to gently undulating through the old city and waterfront; no elevation figure published. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureExtreme1.3
Air in the 30s °C (mid 80s to 90s °F) by mid-morning, heat index 38 to 43 °C (101 to 110 °F), humidity above 80%. · High confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.5
Reliably hot and humid; no cancellations found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.6
Colourful colonial old city and bay. · High confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.3
Two run loops in the old city near the finish, with crowds praised. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Caribbean coast at sea level, 0 m (0 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.3
Race sold out months ahead; many hotels in Bocagrande, about 5 km (3 mi) from the venue. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.0
No price data found; apartments in Manga were suggested as a cheaper option. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
Walled City hotels are close to the action; most Bocagrande hotels are about 5 km (3 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.2
City airport nearby, but most international trips need a connection via Bogota or Panama City. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity2.6
Small taxis for bike boxes, heavy race-day traffic (three hours back in 2016), a crowded expo and a long walk to T1. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.5
Historic tourist city with plenty of restaurants and nightlife, though some call it touristy. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Cartagena de Indias, Bolivar, Colombia
- Typical month
- November/December
- Latest or next date
- 29 November 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN 70.3
- Field size
- About 2,500 athletes
- First held
- 2016
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Bahia de las Animas, Cartagena (ocean)
- Water temperature
- 30–31 °C (86–88 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Banned
- Swim start
- wave / self-seeded (2019)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Small climb at the turnaround
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- Little; stone walls radiate heat
- Air temperature
- 30–35 °C (86–95 °F)
- Humidity
- Very high (above 80%)
- Nearest airport
- Rafael Nunez International (CTG)
- Where to stay
- Walled City, Manga
- Booking
- Race sold out months ahead (2019). Most hotels in Bocagrande about 5 km (3 mi) from the venue; Walled City or Manga closer.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch forum (The_GMAN_Retired et al.)Raced 2016 · forum · Mixed
Inaugural-year report: 40-minute swim delay with no communication, 86 F (30 C) water, flat out-and-back bike with one climb, and a confusing two-loop run in the Walled City. Heat index up to 110 F (43 C), scarce toilets, hard plastic bottles, crowded expo and 3-hour post-race traffic. Recommends staying in the Walled City.
- Slowtwitch forum (IM 70.3 Cartagena)Raced 2018 · forum · Mixed
Several racers (2017-2018) note murky salt water with an oil film, mostly flat bike with coastal scenery and cheering kids, and a cobblestone walled-city run with big crowds. Heat and humidity were the main challenge; walls block the breeze. Most advise staying in the Walled City; one prefers Manga.
- Triathlon Magazine Canada (Pindera)Raced 2019 · article · Positive
2019 feature: calm bay swim with buoys every 100 m (328 ft), nearly flat closed highway bike with rough first and last 8 km (5 mi), and walled-city run with aid every kilometre and spectators dumping ice. Author ran out of fluid on the bike; race sold out months ahead.
- Slowtwitch (2016 run-course snafu)Raced 2016 · article · Negative
Volunteers sent pro men and the leading woman on wrong or shortened run loops, leading to split results (11.2 km (7 mi) vs 16.2 km (10.1 mi)). Highlights early organisation problems that later editions appear to have resolved.
- Slowtwitch (2019 race report)Raced 2019 · article · Positive
Winner called the race hot and amazing all at once. Fast pro splits: 1:58:33 best bike, men's winner 3:43:39, women's 4:30:17.
“HOT and amazing all at the same time.”
Show 2 more
- Slowtwitch forum (pro racing thread)Raced 2025 · forum · Positive
2025 thread: swim in a marina never wetsuit legal, 45 km (28 mi) out-and-back mildly rolling bike resembling a closed highway, mostly flat run on the walls. One racer says it may be the best 70.3 they have done; another warns it is not for people who struggle with heat and humidity.
“not for folks who struggle with heat and humidity”
- El Espectador (2024 coverage)Raced 2024 · article · Positive
Local press on the December 2024 edition: about 2,500 athletes from 24 countries, start in the Bahia de las Animas. Confirms the race remains a large, established event.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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