IRONMAN 70.3 Valdivia
Valdivia, Chile · November · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Fast, flat course: 3:35:30 winning time in 2025
- Point-to-point river swim following buoys
- About 15,000 spectators in the first year
- Voted third most recommended 70.3 worldwide by athletes in 2025
Watch out for
- Cold water of 14 to 16 °C (57 to 61 °F), wetsuit mandatory
- Remote: most athletes connect through Santiago
- Wet region; race-day rain data not found
- About 440 m (1,440 ft) of bike gain, more than the 'flat' billing
- Few athlete reviews so far; only two editions held
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 satisfactionLoved4.0
Athletes voted it third most recommended 70.3 worldwide after two editions, but the only quote comes from the mayor. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
About 2,200 starters and only 6 swim DNFs in 2024; the mayor credited professional organisation, but two thefts were reported. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.4
A flat course, but wetsuit-only cold river water and a remote location make it better for experienced travellers. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.1
Flat and fast: winners went 3:35:30 in 2025, and a Chilean pro called it among the flattest in Latin America. · Low confidence
- Course easeModerate3.5
Flat course, but cold water and variable southern Chile weather. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.8
Water of 14 to 16 °C (57 to 61 °F) makes wetsuits mandatory. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureUncomfortable2.1
Water around 14 to 16 °C (57 to 61 °F), cold even in a wetsuit. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.9
A river with little or no current at the start, expected to be sheltered. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.8
One-way point-to-point swim following a line of buoys. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.4
A river swim past the Cau-Cau bridge; no swimmer describes the water. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
No surface reports found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.5
No closure details found. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.8
Countryside toward Máfil and San José de la Mariquina. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
No wind reports found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast4.1
Billed as one of the flattest, fastest courses in Latin America. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.8
About 440 m (1,440 ft) of gain over 90 km (56 mi), rolling rather than pancake flat. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple4.0
A single road loop toward Máfil and over the Pichoy bridge. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong4.0
About 15,000 spectators were counted in the first year. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
No aid information found. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.8
Calle-Calle and Cau-Cau bridges and the Costanera. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.9
Flat waterfront run in cool conditions. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.6
About 55 m (180 ft) of gain, across the city's bridges and along the waterfront. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Late-November highs of 17 to 23 °C (63 to 73 °F) and lows as low as 4 °C (39 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.9
Los Ríos is a wet region; no race-day rain data found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.0
A river city with waterfront and German heritage. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.2
The waterfront finish drew about 15,000 spectators in 2024. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
About 10 m (33 ft) above 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 availabilityBook early3.4
No race-week hotel information found. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.5
No pricing found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.4
Start at Parque Saval and finish in the centre; no walking distances published. · Low confidence
- Travel easeAwkward2.4
Pichoy is a small regional airport, so most athletes connect via Santiago. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
Point-to-point swim and a separate start and finish add some complexity. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.9
Southern Chile's beer capital, with German heritage. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Valdivia, Los Ríos, Chile
- Typical month
- November
- Latest or next date
- 29 November 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 2,200 athletes
- First held
- 2024
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Calle-Calle river, past the Cau-Cau bridge, Valdivia waterfront (river)
- Water temperature
- 14–16 °C (57–61 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Mandatory
- Swim start
- rolling (assumed)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 440 m (1,440 ft)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run climbing
- 55 m (180 ft)
- Air temperature
- 4–23 °C (39–73 °F)
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Pichoy (ZAL), small regional; most athletes connect via Santiago (SCL)
- Where to stay
- Valdivia centre / costanera
- Booking
- No race-week hotel reviews found.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Course guide for the 29 Nov 2026 edition: a one-way river swim with a mandatory wetsuit at about 16 C (61 F), a fast mostly flat bike and a flat run over the city's bridges. Historical late-November highs run 17-23 C (63-73 F). No athlete reviews are posted yet.
- finishers.comRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Course page giving 440 m (1,440 ft) of climbing on the bike and 55 m (180 ft) on the run, 495 m (1,620 ft) in total. No athlete reviews.
- BioBioChile (post-race balance)Raced 2024 · article · Positive
Inaugural 2024 balance: authorities counted about 15,000 spectators, 2,200 participants and only 6 swim DNFs. Police praised the crowd's behaviour and two competitors reported thefts. The event was confirmed for two more years.
- BioBioChile (Athlete Choice Awards)Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Reports that athletes voted the race the third most recommended 70.3 worldwide after two editions. Only the mayor is quoted, crediting professional organisation and a welcoming community.
- Encancha.cl 2025 resultsRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Report on the 2025 edition with more than 2,200 athletes starting at 09:15. Diego Moya won in 3:35:30 and Romina Biagioli in 4:08:10, on a course through Valdivia, Máfil and San José de la Mariquina. A relay category was offered.
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- Radio/press course preview (Pro Cristián Bustos)Raced 2024 · article · Positive
Pre-race coverage of the first edition describing the Calle-Calle swim, the Máfil bike and the bridge-crossing run. A Chilean pro called it one of the flattest, fastest circuits in Latin America.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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