Rio do Rastro Marathon

The Rio do Rastro Marathon 2026, titled "The Transformation," is one of Brazil's most challenging and visually spectacular endurance events. Scheduled for May 16 and 17, 2026, the race takes place on the Serra do Rio do Rastro in Santa Catarina, a road famous for its 284 hairpin turns and steep climbs. Runners ascend from approximately 200 meters to over 1,460 meters above sea level, surrounded by steep cliffs and preserved Atlantic Forest.

The event is divided across several host cities in Santa Catarina: Orleans, Lauro Müller, and Bom Jardim da Serra. For the 2026 edition, all registration slots are currently sold out, reflecting the high demand for this "bucket list" race. Beyond the standard distances, the event offers the Missão dos Guardiões (67 km) and Portal dos Guardiões (37 km), which require participants to compete on both days of the race weekend.

The Serra do Rio do Rastro road (SC-390) is subject to strict closure protocols during the event to ensure athlete safety. On Saturday, May 16, the road closes to private vehicles at 6:00 AM and is expected to reopen around 12:00 PM. On Sunday, May 17, the closure remains until approximately 1:00 PM. The organization provides a transfer service for athletes and companions, which can be arranged during kit collection at the official race hotel, the Real NOB Hotel in Orleans.

Logistically, the region is served by several airports, with the closest being Diomício Freitas in Forquilhinha (approx. 50 km) and Humberto Ghizzo Bortoluzzi in Jaguaruna (approx. 55 km). Larger international connections are available via Hercílio Luz International Airport in Florianópolis, located about 194 km from the race start in Orleans. Participants are advised to coordinate their travel well in advance, as the small mountain towns of the region reach maximum capacity during the marathon weekend.

The race is widely regarded as a spiritual and physical milestone by the South American running community. Finishers are often referred to as "Guardians of the Mountain." For those tracking technical data or seeking multimedia from previous years, the official race results and photo galleries from the 2021–2025 editions remain available through the Foco Radical platform and the event's WordPress-hosted site.