IRONMAN 70.3 San Salvador
San Salvador, El Salvador · February · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Volcanic crater lake swim at Lake Ilopango
- Smooth, closed bike roads on the Pan-American Highway
- Loud finish in the historic centre
- Plenty of ice, water and sponges on the run
Watch out for
- Three separate venues; bike check-in shuttles took most of Saturday
- Hot run with limited shade
- Steep opening climb of about 3 km (2 mi), then a hilly bike
- Crowded, chaotic swim start and no expo
- Only one detailed athlete report exists, from the 2026 debut
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 satisfactionLoved3.8
The one detailed athlete report is very positive and plans a return, but almost no other reviews exist. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
The report praises the event overall. Bike check-in shuttles, no expo and a chaotic swim start weigh against it. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.9
Hot, hilly bike and spread-out venues, with few guides for newcomers. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.7
Hilly bike, heat and limited shade. Winners went 4:12:58 and 4:50:24, slow for a 70.3. · Low confidence
- Course easeTough2.5
Hilly, hot and short on shade over 90 km (56 mi) and 21.1 km (13.1 mi). · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalSeldom1.8
Tropical crater lake with no published temperature. Wetsuits are presumably not used. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable2.9
Likely a warm tropical lake around 26 °C (79 °F), unconfirmed. · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.2
Crater lake with a light current on the return leg, per one athlete. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.0
Crowded, chaotic start and a light current, though buoys were well placed. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.6
Beautiful volcanic setting and a pre-start food buffet, but a chaotic start and some water-quality questions online. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceSmooth tarmac4.5
One athlete calls the road surface outstanding. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.9
One athlete says fully closed. Authorities note the Panamericana used a reversible lane, not a full closure. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.8
Rolling countryside and volcanic mountain views. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.4
No wind information found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.0
Smooth surface but hilly, with a steep opening climb of about 3 km (2 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.8
Described as hilly. No elevation gain published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.2
Mount line on a slight uphill and descents to manage. Otherwise highway riding. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.3
One athlete describes relentless spectator energy on the run, and press says crowds lined the streets. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.4
Ice, water and sponges constantly available, with well-placed aid stations. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.6
Historic centre finishing at the Palacio Nacional. The athlete wanted more of the old town. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsHard2.3
Hot with limited shade. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.2
One listing calls the run hilly. No gain published. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool2.5
Hot February morning with limited shade and tropical humidity. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.9
February is dry season. Limited data. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.9
Volcanic crater lake, Pan-American Highway scenery and a historic centre. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.3
The bike spreads along the highway, while the run through the centre is spectator-friendly. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeModerate3.2
About 650 m (2,130 ft) in the city. · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.6
Few reports, but a capital city with many hotels. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.7
No price data. Salvadoran prices are likely modest. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving2.3
T1 far east, T2 in the historic centre and check-in in the west, with long shuttles. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
Airport roughly 45 km (28 mi) from the capital. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsFiddly2.2
The bike check-in shuttle took most of Saturday, with no expo and three separate venues. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodFine3.3
Large capital, but little reported on food and hospitality. Locals were described as welcoming. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- San Salvador, San Salvador Department, El Salvador
- Typical month
- February
- Latest or next date
- 7 February 2027
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 1,200 athletes
- First held
- 2026
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lake Ilopango from Parque Apulo (volcanic crater lake) (lake)
- Swim start
- mass/crowded (athlete: crowded and chaotic)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Steep honest climb of about 3 km (2 mi) at the start
- Run shade
- Limited shade; ice, water and sponges at aid
- Humidity
- tropical
- Altitude
- 650 m (2,130 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Monsenor Oscar Arnulfo Romero (SAL), roughly 45 km (28 mi) from the capital, 45 km (28 mi) away
- Where to stay
- West San Salvador near athlete check-in
- Booking
- Athlete check-in at a west-side race hotel; T2 in the historic centre, T1 in the far east.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch ForumRaced 2026 · forum · Positive
Detailed post-race report: overall very positive, with an excellent inaugural event. Smooth closed bike course with a steep opening climb of about 3 km (2 mi) then rolling, strong crowds, hot run with limited shade but plenty of ice and sponges. Main complaints were bike check-in shuttles, a crowded chaotic swim start, no expo and a mount line on an uphill.
“outstanding inaugural event”
- Slowtwitch ForumRaced 2026 · forum · Mixed
Calls it a good choice for a hard hot hilly course but notes few reviews exist, heavy armed military presence and a report of shifting batteries stolen from a bike at transition.
- Slowtwitch ForumRaced 2025 · forum · Mixed
October 2025 question asking about tips and shuttles between T2 and T1 before the inaugural race; expects a hot race with scenic swim and bike.
- El Salvador.comRaced 2026 · article · Mixed
Closure briefing: controlled traffic from midnight to about 5:30 p.m. between Ilopango, Cojutepeque and San Salvador; Panamericana uses a reversible lane. Bike ran about 90 km (56 mi) toward Cojutepeque and back to Plaza Libertad.
- El Diario de HoyRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Race report: Raul Tejada won in 4:12:58 pulling away on the run to the Palacio Nacional; Ana Garcia won in 4:50:24. Spectators lined the run and gave a long ovation.
Show 3 more
- Prensa LatinaRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Pre-race coverage: about 1,200 athletes from 28 countries, closures at several points, more than 4,000 visitors expected, and tourism officials framing it as an economic boost.
- El Salvador in EnglishRaced 2025 · article · Mixed
Announcement of the first 70.3 in the country: swim in Lake Ilopango, bike on the Pan-American Highway, run in the historic centre.
- WeRunRaced 2027 · aggregator · Mixed
Event listing for 2027: 90 km (56 mi) bike described as hilly partly on the Pan-American Highway, hilly run through central San Salvador; no elevation gain, cutoffs or athlete reviews.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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