IRONMAN 70.3 Davao Philippines
Davao City, Philippines · June · IRONMAN 70.3
Why people love it
- Warm gulf swim of 28 to 29 °C (82 to 84 °F)
- Mostly flat coastal road bike and run
- Direct flights from Manila, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur
Watch out for
- Air temperatures of 29 to 34 °C (84 to 93 °F)
- Course and date change often between editions
- A swim fatality was reported in 2023
- Few athlete race reports exist
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 satisfactionLiked3.4
Mostly press coverage and pro accounts across changing courses; no age-group reviews found. · Low confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.3
Authorities reported a clean 2024 and a secured 2026 course, but the course changed repeatedly and a swim death was reported in 2023. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.6
Hot 29 to 34 °C (84 to 93 °F) conditions and an open-water ocean swim; flat terrain helps. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.3
Flat to rolling coastal roads but heat, and the course is redesigned often; the 2026 women's winner rode 2:53:22. · Low confidence
- Course easeTough2.5
Heat is the main challenge, and 2026 organisers billed a harder bike. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalRarely1.0
Water of 28 to 29 °C (82 to 84 °F); wetsuits are never legal. · High confidence
- Water temperatureExtreme1.4
At 28 to 29 °C (82 to 84 °F) the water is above the 27 °C (81 °F) hot threshold. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.2
Bay swim alongside Talomo Bay and the strait; no rough-water reports found. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.4
Single rectangular loop with no navigation complaints found; the start location has moved between editions. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.0
Warm open-gulf swim; a participant died during the 2023 swim, cause unclear. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
Coastal road described as smooth in a race listing; otherwise unknown. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.4
Police presence and CCTV on the course; extent of closure not documented. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.3
Bay views on the coastal road and Bucana Bridge. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.4
No wind complaints in coverage. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.6
A 2018 preview called it fast; the 2026 Davao-Bukidnon Road course is billed as harder. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.5
Mostly flat per listings but no elevation figure; the 2026 course promised extra difficulty. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.8
Wide highways and an esplanade on a two-lap coastal route. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
The 2018 run was expected to draw crowds; no recent crowd reports. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.2
Winners poured water over themselves at every station; no complaints found. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryPleasant3.4
Bay-side esplanade. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsHard1.8
Race reports call the run hot and punishing, with cramps from heat. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.4
Mostly flat coastal road over two loops. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureHarsh1.6
Highs of 29 to 34 °C (84 to 93 °F) and humid; 33 °C (91 °F) air in 2023. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
The date has moved between March, June and August, so conditions vary by edition. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyPleasant3.4
Davao Gulf coastline and city. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.3
Looped run and bike on the city coastal road. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Major city on Mindanao; no sell-out evidence. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.8
Philippine prices are generally favourable; no race-week data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.0
The start moved between Azuela Cove and the coastal road. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
Direct flights to Davao from Manila, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
Course and start areas have changed repeatedly; details are thin. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.5
Large city; no race-week information. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Davao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 13 June 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN 70.3
- Field size
- About 1,000 athletes
- First held
- 2018
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Talomo Bay / Davao Gulf (ocean)
- Water temperature
- 28–29 °C (82–84 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Banned
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 2
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- little
- Air temperature
- 24–34 °C (75–93 °F)
- Humidity
- high
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Davao International (DVO)
- Where to stay
- Azuela Cove, Bago Aplaya coastal road
What racers and reviewers say
- SwimBikeRun.phRaced 2018 · article · Positive
Pre-race course guide for the inaugural edition: 1.9 km (1.2 mi) clockwise swim from Azuela Cove, a fast single-loop bike to Tagum City and a flat two-loop run on J.P. Laurel Avenue with crowds expected.
- Zone3 blog (Radka Vodickova)Raced 2018 · blog · Mixed
Pro winner's account: the run was the hard part, very hot, and she poured water over herself at every aid station while running shoulder to shoulder with a rival.
- Gulf NewsRaced 2023 · article · Negative
Reports 33 C (91 F) air and 28 C (82 F) water on a Pakiputan Strait swim route, and the death of a participant during the swim.
- Manila TimesRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Preview of the 2024 course: swim parallel to Talomo Bay, MacArthur Highway bike, new Davao City Coastal Road run; billed as scenic yet demanding.
- SunStar DavaoRaced 2026 · article · Mixed
2026 preview: modified bike course meant to add tactical challenge and difficulty; heat and humidity expected to be a major factor.
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- Daily TribuneRaced 2026 · article · Mixed
Post-race results: winner Bea Quiambao (5:19:29; bike 2:53:22) is described as powering through punishing heat on the March 2026 course.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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