Maraton de Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina · September · World Athletics Label
Why people love it
- Flat loop at sea level from Palermo through the centre, La Boca and Puerto Madero.
- Billed as Latin America's fastest marathon; course record 2:05:00.
- Live bands, DJs and a batucada along the route.
- Boston qualifier.
- Wave starts in 2025 eased crowding.
Watch out for
- Humidity near 80% at a recent 18 °C (64 °F) start, and drizzle in 2025.
- Open entry, but it sold out in 2023 and 2024.
- Two runners called the expo small.
- 6 hour cutoff and extensive road closures around Figueroa Alcorta.
- Few athletes have written about the run, so recent detail is thin.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.8
Two bloggers liked it, one calling it a favourite city marathon. Recent coverage is mostly press, so independent reviews are few. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
A 2016 runner found the start very organised and a 2019 reviewer praised organisation. A 2009 report had a crowded start; waves came in 2025. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.9
Flat, certified, sea-level, with a 6 hour cutoff (8:31 min/km, 13:41 min/mi) and big crowds. Humidity can bite. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.3
Flat, World Athletics-labelled and billed as Latin America's fastest. The men's record is 2:05:00, though humidity near 80% made elites cautious. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.8
Palermo parks, Monumental stadium, Teatro Colon, the Obelisk, Casa Rosada, La Boca and Puerto Madero, but much of it is urban avenue. · Low confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.6
A 2009 start took over 3 minutes to reach the line; waves in 2025 help. Some turns through the centre. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.5
City asphalt. Cobble-like patches are unconfirmed and evidence is thin. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.2
Reports describe full road closures along the route until the afternoon, plus motorway access limits. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.8
Described as essentially flat. No gain figure is published, likely under 60 m (200 ft). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
A loop with the same start and finish. Boston qualifier. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.8
Waves in 2025, a 07:00 start in a wooded area with space, and easy taxis. A 2009 start was crowded with uneven toilet lines. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.5
World Athletics label timing. Pace group details not found. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.5
The Buenos Aires Herald lists rock bands, DJs and a batucada. Independent crowd accounts are thin. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
Bottled water and many volunteers in 2009, plenty of food and hydration in 2019. One 2016 runner could not stomach the on-course drink. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.8
No wind complaints in the sources. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.6
Spring is about 16 to 24 °C (61 to 75 °F), with up to 80% humidity at a recent start and drizzle in 2025. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Mild spring, but humid or rainy mornings are common. An overnight storm cut power before the 2009 race. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Palermo parks and central points are reachable by metro or on foot, and the loop starts and ends together. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
About 25 m (82 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityPlentiful4.6
A large capital with many hotels in Palermo, Recoleta and Belgrano. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood4.0
Generally good value for foreign visitors. Pricing not documented. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.6
Palermo hotels are close, but road closures and the park start mean taxis are common. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.2
Long-haul for most runners. Aeroparque airport is only a few km from the start. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
Expo at Parque Sarmiento on Friday and Saturday in 2024. Two runners found it small; the start is reachable by taxi. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.7
Parrillas, cafes and distinct neighbourhoods. The 2009 runner felt the city was part of the race. · Medium confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inRegister early3.4
Open entry, but a quota fills. It sold out in 2023 and 2024. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.8
Fee not found. Argentina is often good value for foreign visitors. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Buenos Aires, Palermo, Argentina
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 20 September 2026
- Organiser
- World Athletics Label
- Field size
- About 15,000 athletes
- First held
- 1984
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Start time
- 07:00
- Cutoff
- 6 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- City asphalt
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Air temperature
- 16–24 °C (61–75 °F)
- Humidity
- High at times: about 80% at a recent start
- Altitude
- 25 m (82 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) or Ezeiza (EZE), 3 km (2 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Palermo, Recoleta, Belgrano
- Booking
- Aeroparque is only a few km from Palermo; Ezeiza is about 35 km (22 mi). Stay in Palermo, Recoleta or Belgrano.
What racers and reviewers say
- The Runner's Trip: Buenos Aires MarathonRaced 2009 · blog · Positive
Flat course through the centre, La Boca and Puerto Madero; over 3 minutes to cross the line, men's toilets far outnumbered women's, bottled water at stops, overcast humid morning. One of her favourite city marathons, 3:32.
“Alcanzé la meta, disfruté el camino.”
- Fuel Goods: Buenos Aires Marathon race reportRaced 2016 · blog · Positive
Cool low-60s F start, very organised start in a wooded area with space, small expo, fast flat course; stomach trouble in the second half, partly blamed on the on-course drink.
“Great marathon too.”
- Buenos Aires Herald: Latin America's fastest 42K (2023)Raced 2023 · article · Positive
Flat loop from Palermo past River Plate, the Obelisk and La Bombonera; about 12,000 runners, sold out, 6 h limit, live bands, DJs and batucada along the course.
- Buenos Aires Herald: BA Marathon turned 40 (2024)Raced 2024 · article · Mixed
Record 14,500 runners; start at 18 °C (64 °F) with near 80% humidity forced elites to cautious pacing.
- El Economista: 42K record field (2024)Raced 2024 · article · neutral
About 14,500 runners, almost 5,000 foreign (80% from Brazil); WA Label, flat at sea level; road closures around Figueroa Alcorta in the days before.
Show 2 more
- Finishers.com: Buenos Aires marathon pageRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Ultra-flat profile through Teatro Colon, Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada and the Obelisk; listed as a Boston qualifier; spring heat not oppressive.
- MarathonGuide 2019 review (search summary)Raced 2019 · aggregator · Positive
Praised the course and organisation, found the expo a bit small, and said plenty of food and hydration were provided. Seen via search summary only.
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Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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