IRONMAN 70.3 Los Cabos
San Jose del Cabo, Mexico · April · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Warm Sea of Cortez swim, no wetsuit needed
- Desert-meets-sea scenery on the bike
- Direct flights to SJD and plenty of resort hotels
- April date avoids the old November hurricane-season risk
Watch out for
- Heat of 27-33 °C (81-91 °F) and almost no shade on bike or run
- Rolling to hilly 90 km (56 mi) bike on an exposed highway, with wind reported
- Finish hotels are far from T1; plan a car or shuttles
- Returned in 2026 after a roughly three-year gap, so athlete feedback is scarce
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 satisfactionLoved3.6
Limited feedback: a spectacular setting and tough hot conditions, with both 2026 winners citing heat. No age-group reviews were found. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
Marina and police closures were planned in 2026 and nothing was criticised, but one poster recalls volunteer language problems at an older race. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.8
A hot, shadeless, rolling course and a warm sea are tough for a first half. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.5
The 2026 men's winner took 4:12:43, well off flat-course pace, and the hard bike and heat slow times. · Low confidence
- Course easeVery tough2.4
Hot, rolling and shadeless but otherwise straightforward; heat is the main challenge. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalSeldom1.8
Quoted water of 26-29 °C (79-84 °F) is above the 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) limit, though those are listing averages, not April readings. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable2.6
Quoted sea temperatures of 26-29 °C (79-84 °F) run warm to hot; April race-day readings were not found. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.5
A Sea of Cortez bay is usually moderate, but no condition reports were found. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.5
An open-water start with no major current reported. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.7
Clear water is claimed in promotional copy; no first-hand accounts were found. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
Asphalt highway with no surface reports. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.6
Police and the Guardia Nacional patrol the course, with closures announced. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.0
An athlete describes ocean, palm and cactus views from the climbs. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind2.6
Local press calls out heat and wind on the Transpeninsular highway. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage2.8
A hilly, hot, exposed highway, although the 2022 men's winner still split 2:06:18. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.9
Described as rolling and hilly; elevation is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.6
A highway with some climbs and descents and few tight turns reported. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.3
Resort crowds and free spectating, but no run-support reports. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
Standard IRONMAN aid; heat demands more, but no complaints were found. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.7
Desert and Sea of Cortez coastline. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsHard1.8
A sun-exposed run at 28-33 °C (82-91 °F) with very little shade; the winner said the final stretch was hardest. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.0
RaceRaves lists the run as flat. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureHarsh1.8
Race-date highs of 27-33 °C (81-91 °F) in April, above the 25 °C (77 °F) ideal. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable4.0
A dry-season desert climate is predictable; the old November date risked hurricane season. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.2
A spectacular desert coast. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.2
Free viewing areas, but the course is spread out along the highway. · 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 availabilityGood4.2
A large resort region with plenty of rooms. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.6
Resort pricing; no race-specific data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving2.4
One poster reports finish hotels far from T1, so a car or rideshare helps. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.6
SJD airport is close, with direct flights from the US and Canada. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity2.8
Separate T1 and finish areas, with shuttles to the swim start. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.1
A resort corridor with many restaurants and the San José del Cabo old town. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 11 April 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 1,360 athletes
- First held
- 2015
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Playa Palmilla / API harbour basin, Sea of Cortez (ocean)
- Water temperature
- 26–29 °C (79–84 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Not legal (warm water)
- Bike laps
- 2
- Key climbs
- Cerro Colorado area
- Run shade
- very little
- Air temperature
- 18–32 °C (64–90 °F)
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Los Cabos International (SJD)
- Where to stay
- Palmilla corridor, San Jose del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas
- Booking
- Resort region with plentiful hotels; Slowtwitch poster says finish hotels are far from T1 so a car or rideshare is useful.
What racers and reviewers say
- Gringo Gazette (2026 results)Raced 2026 · article · Mixed
Reports 1,360 athletes from 35 countries on the return after a hiatus; heat and sun were the main challenge, especially on the bike and run, per winner Amalia Sanchez.
- Slowtwitch (2022 race report)Raced 2022 · article · Mixed
Notes Engelhardt's 2:06:18 bike split on a tough course; McBride won in 4:22:36.
- Triathlon Magazine Canada (2018 recap)Raced 2018 · article · Mixed
November 2018 recap of Canadian pros; mentions pack movement on the 90 km (55.9 mi) bike and Paula Findlay dropping out with a calf injury. No course detail.
- Slowtwitch forum 'Los Cabos 70.3?'Raced 2022 · forum · Mixed
Prospective racer asks about heat and travel; reply advises renting a car since finish hotels are far from T1, though rideshares exist and shuttles run to the swim start.
- Posta BCS (route and closures)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Local press on 2026: 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim from the harbour basin, 90 km (55.9 mi) on asphalt, road restrictions on the Transpeninsular, police and civil protection support and free spectator viewing.
Show 3 more
- RaceRaves race pageRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Ocean swim, rolling bike, flat run; average water 29 C (84 F), air 18-28 C (65-83 F). No athlete reviews.
- PJAMM Cycling bike course pageRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Course map page for Palmilla with 56 mi bike but no elevation data.
- Gringo Gazette events (2026 listing)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Event listing referencing Playa Palmilla swim, a rolling course and very scarce shade.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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