The Race
| Next Race Date | 26 September 2027 |
|---|---|
| Course Type | Two out-and-back legs from a shared start and finish |
| Registration | Online through TicketSports; no ballot |
| Ballot Opens | No ballot |
| Total Finishers | About 1,125 |
| Avg Race Day Temp | 21.5 to 27.7°C (September monthly means; not a dawn reading) |
| Cutoff Time | 6 hours |
| Free Race Day Transport | No |
| Course Certification | World Athletics Label (2026); course on the World Athletics measured-course list to 2028 |
History
The Salvador Marathon began as a city-backed festival. A municipal notice reproduced on 19 October 2017 announced the first edition for Sunday 22 October, with the Farol da Barra as the main arena and races from 5 km to 42 km. The city's stated aim was a visitor event for its cultural calendar, and it projected 4,000 runners across all distances.
The second edition moved to 23 September 2018. The launch release named the city's tourism company, the municipal sports administration and the Bahian athletics federation as organisers and described a changed course: from Barra along Avenida Centenário, Avenida Anita Garibaldi and Avenida ACM, turning at Piatã and returning by the coast. It said the inaugural event had sold out a month ahead and that 27.6% of participants were visitors, and it forecast about 7,000 for the second year. Those figures covered the festival and not the marathon.
Two years of pandemic suspension followed, and the race returned in 2022 around Parque dos Ventos in Boca do Rio. By 2025 the base was the Arena Canto da Cidade. In 2026 the production platform and the final programme moved it to the Centro de Convenções Salvador, also in Boca do Rio, though the rules document still named the old arena.
The 2026 marathon was run on 27 September. Justino Pedro da Silva of Brazil won in 2:21:01, his third win in a row, and Vanicleia Moura took the women's race in 2:45:17. World Athletics lists the event in its Label road races programme, and 1,125 runners finished the full distance out of 7,910 timed across all four distances. The press called the winning times records, but no complete archive of earlier results on comparable courses has been published, so no course record is claimed here.
The course
The Salvador Marathon starts at the Centro de Convenções Salvador on Avenida Octávio Mangabeira in Boca do Rio and finishes about 450 m away, at the other end of the same waterfront. The course is two out-and-back legs along the Atlantic coast. The first runs north-east for 7.5 km to a turn at Piatã and returns past the start area at about km 15. The second heads south-west through Pituba, Amaralina, Rio Vermelho and Ondina to a turn at the Farol da Barra at km 29.5, and comes back along the same coast to Boca do Rio.
The profile spans 30 m, from 3 m to 33 m above sea level, and almost all of it sits between 4 m and 15 m. The only features are two spikes of 20 m or more at km 28 and km 31, on either side of the Barra turn: the road climbs 21 m over 1.1 km (1.9%) from km 26.6 to 28, drops 23 m, and the same hillside is read again on the way back. On the ground this is the short rise through Ondina and Barra, and it is the only climb on the course. No official climb figure has been published. Hydration points run about every 2 to 3 km, with toilets and music at several.
The Farol da Barra turn. At km 29.5 the route reaches the Farol da Barra and turns back. It is the furthest point from the start, 11.4 km away in a straight line, and the 2026 women's winner called the Barra stretch one of the harder parts of the race.
The coast twice. Almost every kilometre between Piatã and the Farol da Barra is run in both directions. You pass the same aid points on the way out and on the way back, and the leaders are visible on the opposite carriageway.
The start-area pass. At about km 15 the course returns to Boca do Rio before heading south-west, so a friend at the arena sees you three times.
Kilometre by kilometre
Km 0 to 7.5: north-east to Piatã. The race leaves the Boca do Rio base before dawn and runs north-east along Avenida Octávio Mangabeira. By km 2 you are in Pituaçu, then Patamares at km 4 and Piatã from km 5, with the sea on your right and a flat road at 4 to 7 m. The turn comes at km 7.5 on the Ciclovia Orla Piatã. The first aid points arrive at about km 1.5, km 4 and km 6.5. Even in the dark the air is warm, so hold back.
Km 7.5 to 15: back to the start. The route returns along the same line and passes the start area at about km 15, with a short step up to 14 m at Boca do Rio. The arena is a natural place for a friend to stand, and a tempting place to stop. Do not stop.
Km 15 to 22: Jardim Armação to Amaralina. The course turns south-west through Jardim Armação and Costa Azul, with hydration at about km 15.3, 17.3, 19.2 and 21.4. It reaches Pituba at km 18 and Amaralina at km 22. Halfway falls at about km 21 near Pituba. This section is flat and open to the sea.
Km 22 to 29.5: Rio Vermelho, Ondina and Barra. The road passes Rio Vermelho at km 24 and runs along the Avenida Oceânica through Ondina from km 25. The one climb of the day comes at km 26.6 to 28, 21 m over 1.1 km, and the Farol da Barra turn follows at km 29.5 in Barra. Aid stands at about km 23, 25 and 27.
Km 29.5 to 42.2: home along the orla. The same hill is run again at km 30 to 32, and the route then runs back through Ondina, Rio Vermelho and Pituba, passing each aid point a second time. Toilets and hydration come at about km 32, 39 and 41. The last 3 km are in Boca do Rio, and the finish is beside the convention centre. Coastal roads stayed closed until 13:00 in 2026, so there is no early traffic to dodge, but the sun will be well up for anyone finishing after about four hours.
The course is signed, and no shortest-route line has been published. The route doubles back on itself repeatedly, so a runner can see the leaders from a long way off.
The race runs along Avenida Octávio Mangabeira to a turn at Piatã at km 7.5, then returns past the start area at about km 15. The road is flat at 4 to 8 m and the air is already warm, so keep the first 15 km controlled.
The route heads through Pituba, Amaralina, Rio Vermelho and Ondina. The only climb, 21 m over 1.1 km, comes at km 26.6 to 28, and the Farol da Barra turn follows at km 29.5.
The aid stations repeat in the opposite direction and the Barra hill is run again at km 30 to 32. Heat rises with the sun, and this part of the course decides the final time.
The last kilometres run back to the convention centre on the waterfront, with toilets and hydration at about km 39 and km 41.
Course Map
The course as mapped by the organiser, from Boca do Rio north-east to Piatã and back, then south-west along the orla to the Farol da Barra and home. Tap a marker for details, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course with the elevation profile beneath it.
Pacers
Official pacers have not been announced; check the next athlete guide.
The marathon is one of four races in a larger weekend. The 2026 results record 1,125 full-marathon finishers among 7,910 timed across the marathon, half marathon, 10 km and 5 km. Expect a busy arena, but a marathon field that is a small share of the weekend, and a pre-dawn start well before the shorter races.
September in Salvador is warm even before sunrise. The conventional weather station records a September mean daily minimum of 21.5°C and a mean daily maximum of 27.7°C, with a rainfall normal of 99.3 mm for the month. Those are monthly statistics, not a 04:40 reading, and no race-start humidity or wind average was published. Plan for a warm, humid start, a hot finish for anyone out after about three hours, and the possibility of rain.
Wear shorts, a light singlet and a cap or visor. A thin rain layer is worth carrying only if the forecast shows rain, and it will not be needed for warmth. No clothing-donation scheme was found, so assume anything left at the start is lost.
The rules require the event bib in a visible position, and another clause says the event shirt must be worn. Read the athlete guide before covering or removing either. Sunscreen is worth applying even for a pre-dawn start, because the sun is up for the second half of the course.
Entry
Entry to the Salvador Marathon is open, with no ballot and no time qualification for ordinary runners. Registration runs through TicketSports, and the entry page runs to 24 September 2027, two days before the race. Lots and prices may change before then.
Choose the Sunday 42 km category if you want only the marathon. The 10 km + 42 km challenge is a separate two-day product.
The 2026 rules set a minimum age of 20 in the race year for the full marathon, with ordinary, elite and specified para-athlete categories. Elite entry in 2026 needed a 2:32:00 (men) or 2:50:00 (women) official result in a stated window, a CV and federation registration, sent at least 25 days before the race. Ordinary entrants did not need those times.
Whether a passport works at checkout, whether a CPF is required and whether foreign cards are accepted has not been confirmed. The organiser's contact address is maratonasalvador@mp3promocoes.com.br. Confirm the purchasing route before you pay for flights.
Under the 2026 rules, entries could be changed or transferred until 31 August through a formal process with a fee, and there was no general refund after the statutory withdrawal window.
| Event | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Full marathon | 2:32:00 or faster | 2:50:00 or faster |
Fast runner standards
The elite standard above applies to a separate application route. It is not a guaranteed-entry standard for the general field.
Race Weekend
Expo and bib collection
There was no separate expo in 2026, only bib collection. Kits were handed out at Shopping da Bahia, on the third floor, from 09:00 to 21:00 on 24, 25 and 26 September. The centre is at Avenida Tancredo Neves 148 in Caminho das Árvores. The nearest metro station is Rodoviária on Line 2, with a Line 1 interchange at Acesso Norte, and a pedestrian bridge links the station to the shopping centre. This is not the new intercity coach terminal at Águas Claras, which opened in January 2026.
Bring photo identification and your registration confirmation. A representative needs a signed authorisation and a copy of the entrant's identity document. Seniors and para-athletes had to collect in person under the 2026 rules, and elite athletes collected at the technical congress. Race-day and post-race collection were not offered.
The kit included a bib with a timing chip, pins, a shirt and a bag, and a medal was promised to eligible finishers. The 2027 collection venue and dates have not been published, and it is not known whether a passport is accepted as identification.
Getting to the start
The 2026 marathon started and finished at the Centro de Convenções Salvador, Avenida Octávio Mangabeira 5490, in Boca do Rio. The final programme gave the elite start at 04:30, the para-athletes at 04:35 and the general field at 04:40. The 2027 page says only that the programme begins from 04:00, and the exact marathon time and arena for 2027 are unpublished. Treat 2026 as a guide.
The city metro runs from 05:00 to midnight, which is after the marathon starts, so a train cannot get you to the line. No race shuttle and no free bib-based fare was found. The airport shuttle to the Aeroporto metro station is free, but the metro is paid. The practical solution is a hotel within a verified walk of the arena, or a pre-arranged road transfer.
Coastal roads were closed from 02:00 to 13:00 in 2026, with barriers going up from midnight, and Via Célia Fontenelle was closed until 15:00. Taxis cannot cross the closed zone, so ask your driver for a permitted drop-off on the inland side. Allow 45 to 60 minutes before your wave for the walk, toilets and baggage. That is a personal buffer and not an official gate-opening time.
The rules promised toilets, courtesy baggage and medical support at the arena, but gave no bag size, token system or retrieval hours. Keep identification and payment on you. The course passes the start area again at about km 15, so a friend can wait at the arena and see you twice.
Finishing at 08:40, as a four-hour runner would have done in 2026, still leaves the coast closed for four hours. Agree a meeting point outside the athlete channels, and a pick-up point your driver can reach. A medal, water, medical care and baggage were promised at the finish. A hot meal, shower and massage were not.
Nutrition on course
The 2026 rules promised water at the start, at the finish and about every 2.5 km, and an isotonic drink for the full and half marathons at positions that were not specified. The organiser's GPX marks hydration points about every 2 to 3 km, and because the course doubles back, most are passed twice.
On the outbound legs the GPX marks hydration at about km 1.5 (with a Powerade marker), km 4, km 6.5 and km 8.4, with a recovery point of the sponsor Dobro at about km 1.8. On the way home it marks hydration at about km 11, km 13.5, km 15.3, km 17.3 and km 19.2, the last with toilets. Further points follow at about km 21.4, 23, 25 (with a Dobro recovery point), 27 (with toilets) and 29, plus a Coca-Cola point at about km 28.6. The return repeats these in reverse, with toilets at about km 32, 39 and 41.
No cup size, gel supply, food menu, sponge or ice plan, or personal-bottle procedure has been published. A sponsor marker is not proof that every runner receives that product. Carry the gels you train with.
Spectating
The course makes spectating at the arena straightforward. The route leaves Boca do Rio, runs north-east and back, and passes the start area again at about km 15. A friend standing at the convention centre sees the start, a runner at about km 15 and the finish. For a runner at 5:30 per km, the km 15 pass comes about 84 minutes after the gun.
Elsewhere the coast is closed. In 2026 the restrictions ran from 02:00 to 13:00 along the corridor from the Farol da Barra to Placafor, and Via Célia Fontenelle stayed closed until 15:00, so a spectator who plans to move between points should not expect a taxi to cross the course. No tracking app, public split feed or reserved family zone has been published.
For illustration only, a 04:40 gun and an even four-hour run give about 08:40 at the finish. Five hours gives 09:40. These use the 2026 programme and are not 2027 predictions. Add 20 to 30 minutes for reunion.
- Stay at a hotel within a verified walk of the arena in Boca do Rio.
- Watch the start, return for the km 15 pass at about 84 minutes at a 5:30 pace, and wait at the finish.
- Agree a meeting point outside the athlete channels.
- Stay in Barra, near the Farol da Barra, and walk to the turn at about km 29.5.
- Check the final map first: it is the only place the whole field passes twice within about an hour of each other.
- Meet the runner later at the hotel, not at a roadside point.
- Take the metro after it opens at 05:00, changing at Acesso Norte if coming from Line 1.
- Arrange a permitted last-mile connection to the arena.
- Arrive for the finish only.
Post-race food
The rules promise water and a medal at the finish, and no meal. Have a plan for food.
Boi Preto Prime, at Rua Novo Paraíso 5095 in Boca do Rio, publishes daily opening of 12:00 to 17:00 and 18:00 to 23:00, with grilled meats including picanha and fraldinha and a wider buffet. That makes it a lunch and not a breakfast. Larger groups should book.
Marlin, the restaurant at the Bahiamar hotel on Rua João Mendes da Costa Filho 125 in Jardim de Alah, serves snacks, lunch and dinner and offers 24-hour room service to residents. It is practical for a guest returning to the hotel.
The Sponta Pizza Bar at the ibis Rio Vermelho, Rua Fonte do Boi 215, offers pizza and has a 24-hour bar. Bar hours do not mean the kitchen is open all night.
Where to Stay
The 2026 race was based in Boca do Rio, and a hotel there is the first thing to investigate: a short, verified walk removes the need for a vehicle before dawn and makes the return easier while the roads are closed. That depends on the arena staying where it was. The 2027 page names only Salvador.
Boca do Rio and Armação
The venue's own hotel directory is the starting point. Rede Andrade Plaza gives a 700 m reference to the convention centre on indexed operator text, but the walk has not been checked, and the page could not be opened directly. Check the pavements and crossings once the arena plan appears.
Jardim de Alah and Costa Azul
The Bahiamar hotel, at a 2.6 km reference from the venue, has a restaurant and 24-hour room service for residents. A walk of that length takes about 39 minutes at 4 km/h, which is a lot before or after a marathon.
Stiep
The Quality Hotel & Suites São Salvador and the Sotero are both given a 2 km reference. The Quality has 24-hour room service and selected rooms with a kitchenette, which suits a runner who wants a familiar breakfast. Its pedestrian link to the arena has not been verified.
Pituba
The Real Classic Bahia, at a 3 km reference, has 136 rooms, a restaurant, gym, pool and covered parking. Hotel parking does not give access to the finish compound while roads are closed.
Rio Vermelho
The ibis Salvador Rio Vermelho, 8.2 km from the venue, has the Sponta pizzeria and bar. It suits a runner who wants the district for the rest of the trip and accepts a long pre-dawn transfer.
Barra and the Historic Centre
These are the sightseeing bases. The venue's ordinary road references are 18.8 km and 30 minutes to the Farol da Barra and about 16 km and 28 minutes to the Historic Centre, and neither holds at dawn on race day. Expect to move after the race.
Book a refundable rate while the arena is unconfirmed, and ask separately about breakfast before the start, luggage storage and late checkout.
Recommended hotels
A larger serviced hotel with 24-hour room service and selected executive rooms that have kitchenette equipment. Not every room has a cooktop, and breakfast may open after the gun, so ask. No race shuttle was found.
At Rua Dr. José Peroba 97, listed in the convention centre's hotel directory. The operator's page did not load, so check facilities directly.
At Rua João Mendes da Costa Filho 125, with the Marlin restaurant and 24-hour room service for residents. A pre-dawn buffet is not promised. Agree a permitted taxi or verify the walk.
136 rooms, a restaurant, gym, pool and covered parking. Facilities have no race-specific hours, and the venue is a substantial walk, so plan a road transfer.
At Rua Fonte do Boi 215, with the Sponta pizza bar. Best for a longer stay in the district. Arrange a permitted inland road transfer on race morning.
Booking timeline
Entry is open for the 26 September 2027 marathon, with sales running until 24 September. Fees are a snapshot of the current lot, and the organiser may change them. Settle how an overseas runner pays before you commit to non-refundable flights.
No hotel release date or sellout pattern has been published. The first edition in 2017 reportedly sold out a month in advance, but that is one case and says nothing about hotel demand now. Book a cancellable room first. Recheck the arena, transport and breakfast arrangements once the 2027 athlete guide appears, before cancellation penalties start.
Plan to arrive before the last collection session, since the 2026 rules offered no race-day pickup. If you add a ferry to Morro de São Paulo, keep a final night in Salvador before your flight. The operator Biotur recommends at least six hours between leaving Morro and a flight.
See & Do
Distances are from the finish, kilometres first, then miles.
Casa do Rio Vermelho
The home of the writers Jorge Amado and Zélia Gattai at Rua Alagoinhas 33. The tourism authority lists Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:00, at R$20 full and R$10 half price, and free on Wednesdays. It is closed on Mondays, the day most runners will want it, so go on a Tuesday or later.
Casa do Carnaval da Bahia
An interactive history of Salvador's carnival at Praça Ramos de Queirós. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:00, at R$20 and R$10, free on Wednesdays. Confirm lift access before you go.
Farol da Barra and the Museu Náutico da Bahia
The Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra stands at the western turn of the race route. A guided ticket costs at R$20, with same-day online sales until 17:00 and entry by 17:30. Full weekly hours are not confirmed. You need not climb the lighthouse.
Espaço Pierre Verger
Photography of Salvador and Bahia at the Forte de Santa Maria. It opens Wednesday to Monday, 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:00, at R$20 and R$10 including the Carybé exhibition, and free on Wednesdays. It makes a Monday alternative when the author houses are closed.
After the Race
The Salvador Marathon is run in late September, and the Monday after is a day for sitting on boats and buses. The four options below run from a day on Itaparica to four nights in the Chapada Diamantina. Leave race luggage with your Salvador hotel only by agreement, and carry a small bag.
An island across the Baía de Todos os Santos, reached by foot-passenger ferry. Ferries are subject to weather, and local transport at the other side is separate. Keep the day short and check the return service before you leave.
A beach village and the home of the Tamar turtle project. The visitor centre opens Tuesday to Sunday, so a Monday night and a Tuesday visit work best.
An island village reached from the nautical terminal opposite the Mercado Modelo. Fees and timetables vary between sellers, and the operator advises at least six hours between leaving the island and a flight.
A town at the edge of the Chapada Diamantina, reached by coach from the new Águas Claras terminal. The stay suits low-walking outings agreed with a guide, with no strenuous hike required.