IRONMAN 70.3 Punta del Este
Punta del Este, Uruguay · March · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Calm Maldonado Bay swim at about 23 °C (73 °F), from a beach beside the Conrad hotel
- Bike passes Punta Ballena and Casapueblo on the Atlantic coast
- Flat two-loop run around the peninsula with good spectator access
- Ten editions run, with 45 Worlds slots in 2025
Watch out for
- Coastal wind; the 2025 race was described as complicated by wind
- Course gain sources disagree: 500 m (1,640 ft) versus flat
- March heat: race-date highs reached 36 °C (97 °F) in 2025
- Resort pricing, and no race-week hotel data found
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 satisfactionLoved3.7
Ten editions and a bay swim with coastal scenery. One Argentine age-grouper was satisfied despite wind, but few first-hand reviews exist. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
Ten editions with 1,000 to 1,500 athletes. A 2016 pro reported official bike splits about 11 minutes off. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.5
Calm bay swim and flat run, but 500 m (1,640 ft) of bike gain and coastal wind. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.7
2026 winner took 3:48:47. Wind in 2025 slowed times, with 7th overall at 4:09:15. · Low confidence
- Course easeTough3.4
A standard half with wind and heat risk. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.5
Water of about 21 to 24 °C (70 to 75 °F) is near the 24.5 °C (76 °F) limit. The rule is not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.4
About 23 °C (73 °F) is at the warm end of the ideal range. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.0
Course guides call Maldonado Bay calm. No race-day swell reports found. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
A single loop in a bay running parallel to the shore. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.9
Beach start in a calm bay with views of Gorriti island. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
Not documented. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.5
Not documented. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.2
Atlantic coast, Casapueblo and Punta Ballena. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind2.6
Coastal route. A 2025 finisher said wind made the day complicated. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.4
Coastal two-loop course with 500 m (1,640 ft) of gain and wind. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.6
One source says 500 m (1,640 ft) over 90 km (56 mi), while other previews say flat. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.6
Two loops past the Punta Ballena hill. No technical reports. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.6
Spectator-friendly peninsula loops. No crowd reports. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
Standard IRONMAN provision assumed. No reports found. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.2
Coast, yacht port and fish market. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.6
Flat, but March sun. Race-date highs reached 36 °C (97 °F) in 2025. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.5
Flat according to the official page and previews. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.4
Race-date highs ranged from 24 to 36 °C (75 to 97 °F) in recent years. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Variable temperature and wind. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.3
Peninsula resort town with beaches and yachts. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.2
Compact peninsula run loops near the swim and transition. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level, about 10 m (33 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
Resort town, plentiful but busy in summer. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.9
Premium resort destination, but no price data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.2
Transition beside the Conrad hotel, with the finish near Calle 20 and Gorlero. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
Small Laguna del Sauce airport, or Montevideo about 130 km (81 mi) away. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
Compact layout. Not detailed. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.3
Well-known resort town with plenty of restaurants. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Punta del Este, Maldonado, Uruguay
- Typical month
- March
- Latest or next date
- 7 March 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 1,000 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
- Maldonado Bay, beach near Enjoy hotel, toward Mailhos Pier and back (ocean)
- Water temperature
- 21–24 °C (70–75 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Not confirmed
- Swim start
- wave/rolling (not confirmed)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 500 m (1,640 ft)
- Bike laps
- 2
- Key climbs
- Punta Ballena hill
- Run laps
- 2
- Air temperature
- 19–30 °C (66–86 °F)
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Laguna del Sauce (PDP); Montevideo (MVD) about 130 km (81 mi)
- Where to stay
- Playa Mansa / Enjoy Conrad area
- Booking
- Resort town; March is end of high season. No race-week hotel reporting found.
What racers and reviewers say
- ANBarilocheRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Account of a Bariloche age-grouper who placed 7th overall (4:09:15) and 3rd in age group; wind was a significant factor on the day but temperatures were cooler than earlier days, and he was very satisfied.
- ANBarilocheRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Preview of the 10th edition: more than 1,500 athletes from 19 countries expected, 7:10 start, Argentine age-groupers targeting podiums.
- Montevideo PortalRaced 2025 · article · Positive
2025 course preview: over 1,000 athletes from 34 countries, start at 7:00, bike along the seafront past Punta Ballena, run along the Rambla to La Mano, finish on Rambla Mansa; 45 Worlds slots.
- Montevideo Portal (FutbolUy)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
2026 results report: Uruguayan Federico Scarabino won in 3:48:47 with a 1:15:26 run; only three pros started in the men's race; about 1,000 participants. No conditions reported.
- SlowtwitchRaced 2016 · article · Mixed
Inaugural 2016 race report: Ascenco and Jahn won; Matt Hanson said official bike splits were about 11 minutes off his Garmin (1:53:14 vs 2:04:30), suggesting timing or course-measurement issues that year.
“"I am happy with the day overall."”
Show 2 more
- Finishers.comRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Course listing: 500 m (1,640 ft) bike gain over two 45 km (28 mi) loops and a two-loop 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run.
- RunnersWorld.deRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Calendar entry: calm Maldonado Bay swim, flat two-loop Atlantic-coast bike, spectator-friendly run at the tip of the peninsula; last held 8 Mar 2026.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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