Maraton de Santiago
Santiago, Chile · April · Independent
Why people love it
- One-loop city course from La Moneda through Providencia, Nunoa and Las Condes with Andes views.
- Metro reaches the start, and a 2016 first-timer found Santiago easy and safe.
- Marathon waves start from 07:30, with 14 medical tents and a care centre in 2025.
- Boston qualifier status is reported but unconfirmed.
Watch out for
- Rolling course with about 480 m (1,575 ft) of gain, climbing to a high point near 32 km (20 mi).
- Autumn heat: afternoon highs of 25 to 30 °C (77 to 86 °F) reached late in the 2019 race.
- After the 2026 race the consumer agency questioned hydration, results and shirt sizes, mostly in the 10K.
- Fans are sparse in places and the expo is thin.
- Few athletes have written about the marathon, so details are limited.
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: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.5
Only one runner review found (2016, 4/5 from a first-timer). Press covers a fast 2026 with Belew's record, but 10K runners complained loudly. · Low confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.2
2025 had 14 medical tents and clear logistics. In 2026 about 200 10K runners got no medal and the consumer agency cited hydration problems. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.3
Metro to a central start, friendly runners and a downhill last quarter, but 480 m (1,575 ft) of gain and a possibly warm second half. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.0
Records are fast (2:09:37) but the course rolls with 480 m (1,575 ft) gain at 565 m (1,854 ft) altitude. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.6
Parks, tree-lined avenues, Andes views and landmarks such as La Moneda and Estadio Nacional. · Low confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.3
Marathon starts deferred to 07:30 behind 10K and half waves; no congestion complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.6
Paved city avenues; no surface complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.5
Street cuts run 06:30 to 14:00 and the Alameda 09:00 to 17:00, but a 2016 runner ran one section in a traffic lane. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessHilly2.2
480 m (1,575 ft) gain per Marathon Index, roughly 1 m (3.3 ft) per 88 m (about 5 ft per 290 ft) run. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.1
A loop; the last quarter is downhill but the profile is not a net drop. · Low confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.5
Metro to a central La Moneda start in 2016; staggered marathon, half and 10K waves in 2025. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.2
Chip timing; 2026 complaints include results that did not match bibs. Pace-group detail not found. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
A 2016 first-timer found fans sparse in places. Little other first-hand evidence on spectators. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.2
Little marathon-specific evidence; a 2026 10K report cited a single water point and hydration complaints. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.7
No wind complaints found. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.5
Cold starts of 3 to 12 °C (37 to 54 °F) can warm to 25 to 30 °C (77 to 86 °F) late on. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.6
Dry autumn, with date moves to dodge heat; warm second halves reported. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Central route reachable by metro, with a loop through well-served neighbourhoods. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.0
About 565 m (1,854 ft), rising to 665 m (2,182 ft) near km 32 (mile 20). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Capital-city hotel stock near the Alameda. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.8
Typically cheaper than Australia or Hong Kong; not verified for race weekend. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.8
Start and finish are in the city centre beside La Moneda; metro nearby. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.9
Airport 15 km (9 mi) from the centre but a long haul from most of the world. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
A 2016 expo was sparse, with few gels; 2026 shirt sizes and medals were wrong for some. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.9
Big city with Andes backdrop and wine country day trips. · Low 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 early2.9
The 2025 race sold out in January per press. Fee not found. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.4
RaceRaves swag 3/5; fee not found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Santiago, Region Metropolitana, Chile
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 26 April 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 6,500 athletes
- First held
- 2007
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 480 m (1,570 ft)
- Start time
- 07:30
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Asphalt city avenues and parks
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Air temperature
- 8–24 °C (46–75 °F)
- Humidity
- low to moderate
- Altitude
- 565 m (1,850 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez (SCL), 15 km (9 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Santiago Centro, Providencia, Las Condes
- Booking
- Stay near the Alameda or Providencia; the metro serves the start.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves (2016 first-timer)Raced 2016 · aggregator · Positive
Not overly hard despite Andes foothills, passes many areas, final quarter downhill, metro to the start was easy, organisation good. Fans sparse in places, expo thin, and one section ran in a traffic lane. Rated it 4/5.
- Marathon Index course pageRaced 2026 · aggregator · neutral
Lists 480 m (1,575 ft) gain, rolling profile, Nunoa, Providencia and Las Condes, Andes views, difficulty 25/100 (moderate) and about 18 °C (64 °F) typical April weather.
- IAAF preview (2015)Raced 2015 · article · neutral
Describes a one-loop course from 565 m (1,854 ft) up to 665 m (2,182 ft) at km 32 (mile 20) and back down.
- El Mostrador race report (2019)Raced 2019 · article · neutral
Seen via search summary: Kibet won steadily; temperatures neared 30 °C (86 °F) late, and the first half climbs before easing near km 32 (mile 20).
- Entel press release (2017)Raced 2017 · article · Positive
Sponsor release, so promotional: 12 °C (54 °F) start, low humidity, about 16 °C (61 °F) at the end, Lobuwan's South American record 2:09:37.
Show 2 more
- The Clinic and Sernac complaint coverage (2026)Raced 2026 · article · Negative
About 200 10K runners got no medal; one reported a single water point; Sernac sent a formal request to the organiser citing hydration, results that did not match bibs and shirt size problems. The organiser apologised and promised to mail medals. Concerns the 10K, so weighted lightly.
- El Dinamo race guide (2025)Raced 2025 · article · neutral
Start at La Moneda, 07:00 official, marathon waves from 07:30, 14 medical tents, an 800 m2 care centre, ambulances and a helicopter.
Raced Maraton de Santiago? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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