IRONMAN 70.3 Encarnacion
Encarnación, Paraguay · October · IRONMAN 70.3
Why people love it
- Waterfront Costanera course with start, transitions and finish in one area
- Mostly flat bike, two 90 km (56 mi) loops
- Average water about 20 °C (68 °F), in the comfortable range
- Young race (2025 debut) with strong local and sponsor backing
Watch out for
- No athlete reviews yet, so every rating is provisional
- Heat risk: October highs reached 34 °C (93 °F) in 2025
- Remote border city, about 370 km (230 mi) from Asunción by road
- Elevation and run profile are unpublished, and sources conflict on flat versus hilly
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
The race is in only its second year and no athlete reviews have been posted, so this sits near average. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
IRONMAN ran the second edition on schedule with sponsor backing, but no athlete feedback exists yet. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.6
Mostly flat bike, a calm river swim and a compact venue, offset by heat risk and a remote location. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.6
Flat two-loop bike suggests fast times, but there is no elevation data or results history to confirm it. · Low confidence
- Course easeModerate3.5
Heat is the main risk; the course profile is unconfirmed. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.8
Water averages about 20 °C (68 °F), which normally allows wetsuits, but no ruling history was found. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureIdeal4.5
About 20 °C (68 °F), in the comfortable 19 to 23 °C (66 to 73 °F) band. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.7
The race listing calls the river calm, but the Paraná's current is undocumented. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.6
A single 1.9 km (1.2 mi) river loop; navigation and current are unknown. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.4
River swim from a beach start, with no first-hand reports. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
City and riverfront roads; no surface reports. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
An urban event with city backing, but closure details are not documented. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.5
Organisers highlight the riverfront Costanera. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.1
Open riverfront, with wind undocumented. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.7
Described as mostly flat on the riverfront, over two 90 km (56 mi) loops. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.8
Listed as flat with a few rolling hills; elevation gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.7
Two loops through the city may involve turns; no detail was found. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.5
City-centre loops, but no race-day crowd reports. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
No reports either way. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.7
Two loops along the Paraná waterfront. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.0
Heat risk: October highs of 28 to 34 °C (82 to 93 °F) have occurred. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.4
One listing says hilly while others call the route mostly flat; no elevation is published. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.2
Highs ranged from 16 to 34 °C (61 to 93 °F) across recent years. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Large year-to-year swings in temperature. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.5
River and Costanera setting; photos show a pleasant waterfront. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.9
Two loops on bike and run in the city centre, with a beach finish. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
The city sits roughly 100 m (330 ft) above sea level. · Medium 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
A mid-size city; capacity for a 2,000-athlete field is undocumented. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.7
Paraguay prices are generally low, but no race-week rates were found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Start, transitions and finish are all on the waterfront. · Low confidence
- Travel easeAwkward2.3
A border city about 370 km (230 mi) from Asunción by road; Posadas airport is across the river. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.7
One waterfront venue with a single start and finish area. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.3
A regional city with riverfront dining; no reviews found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Encarnación, Itapúa, Paraguay
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 11 October 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN 70.3
- First held
- 2025
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Río Paraná at Playa San José (river)
- Water temperature
- 20 °C (68 °F)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 2
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- Not documented
- Air temperature
- 16–34 °C (61–93 °F)
- Humidity
- Humid subtropical
- Nearest airport
- Posadas (PSS), Argentina, across the Paraná; Asunción (ASU) is about 370 km (230 mi) by road (approximate, not from a race source)
- Where to stay
- Costanera / San José beach area
- Booking
- Not documented; organisers cited a US$8-10 million (about 8-10 M USD) local economic impact, implying heavy use of local hotels.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves (course page)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Course listing for the second edition: single-loop river swim at about 20 °C (68 °F), two-loop bike tagged flat with a few rolling hills, two-loop run tagged hilly. No athlete reviews are posted yet. Weather history shows October highs from 16 to 34 °C (61-93 °F).
- werun.world race listingRaced 2026 · article · Mixed
Lists the 2026 race as the second edition, 06:45 start, 1.9 km (1.2 mi) Río Paraná swim, mostly flat two-lap bike and a two-lap city run of 21.097 km (13.1 mi). Pure course information, no athlete opinion.
- infonegocios.com.py (pre-race)Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Announcement of the first 70.3 in Paraguay with ueno bank as sponsor, World Championship slots and a projected US$8-10 million economic impact. Promotional rather than a review; shows strong local backing.
- Endurance Sports Wire press releaseRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Press release introducing the race after the 2025 IRONMAN 5i50 Encarnación debut, highlighting the Costanera and riverfront as the course backdrop.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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