The Race
| Next Race Date | Saturday 10 April 2027 |
|---|---|
| Course type | Point-to-point, Port of Ibiza to Santa Eulària des Riu |
| Registration | Open online entry, no ballot; sold out a month early in 2026 |
| Ballot opens | No ballot |
| Start | Port of Ibiza, 15:45 |
| Finish | Passeig Marítim, Santa Eulària des Riu; closes 21:10 |
| Total finishers | Not confirmed |
| Avg race-day temp | About 11 to 20°C (AEMET Ibiza airport April normal) |
| Cutoff time | 5 hours 25 minutes, with five intermediate cutoffs |
| Free race-day transport | Pre-booked athlete buses (2027 terms not yet published) |
| Course certification | RFEA approved |
History
The first Ibiza Marathon ran in 2017, and its idea has not changed: a Saturday-afternoon race across the island, from the port of Ibiza Town to the seafront of Santa Eulària des Riu, finishing around dusk. It is organised with the Santa Eulària council, and the town’s name has been on the event since it began.
Three editions ran before the pandemic, and the race returned in 2022. The course has kept its shape: urban loops round the port, a long climb inland to Santa Gertrudis, a drop to the coast at Santa Eulària and a final leg north to Es Canar and back. The records are fast for a hilly course: Eliud Kibet of Kenya ran 2:14:30 in 2019, and Dagmawit Ademke Ashenafi of Ethiopia 2:33:37 in 2022. Samson Kipchirchir Keiyo of Kenya won in 2025 in 2:19:59, ahead of the former world record holder Dennis Kimetto, and again in 2026 in 2:21:33; Irina Romanova won the 2026 women’s race in 3:22:25.
A 22 km from Santa Gertrudis and a 12 km in Santa Eulària run alongside, all finishing on the same seafront. In 2025 all 6,000 places sold out, and in 2026 more than 6,500 took part, over 70% of them from outside Spain. The 2027 race is the tenth edition.
The course
The marathon starts at 15:45 in the Port of Ibiza, below Dalt Vila, and finishes on the seafront promenade in Santa Eulària des Riu, 11.5 km away in a straight line. It is a point-to-point road course, signposted every kilometre.
The first 6 km loop round the port, Marina Botafoch and Jesús at sea level. Then the route heads north and climbs 89 m over 6.7 km, about 1.3 per cent, to around 86 m at km 13, dips 27 m and climbs again, 59 m over 5.4 km, through the interior to Santa Gertrudis at km 19.9, the village at the centre of the island. The roads roll east along the Camí de Bellmunt to the high point, 124 m at km 24.1.
Then the course falls: 78 m in 2.8 km, about 2.8 per cent, the steepest stretch of the race, and another 38 m more gently to Santa Eulària at km 30.5, with Puig de Missa on its hill. The race does not finish there. It continues north along the coast to Es Canar, turning at about km 36, 15.8 km from the start, and comes back to the Passeig Marítim. The last 12 km are low, with rises of 15 to 17 m on the coast road, and exposed to wind off the sea.
Kilometre by kilometre
Km 0 to 6: the port. The start is in the Port of Ibiza with Dalt Vila behind; the 2027 assembly street is still to be announced (Carrer Andanes in 2026). The opening loops round the port, Marina Botafoch and Jesús take in several bends while the field is packed. At 15:45 the April sun can still be strong on dark tarmac. Run by effort.
Km 6 to 13: the first climb. The course leaves town on quieter roads and climbs 89 m in under 7 km. The first cutoff is 17:00 at 10 km, 75 minutes after the gun, 7:30 per kilometre and tighter than the overall limit. Support thins out between villages.
Km 13 to 24: Santa Gertrudis and the high point. After a short dip, the second climb, 59 m over 5.4 km, reaches Santa Gertrudis at km 19.9, and the road rolls on to the high point, 124 m, at km 24.1. It is not a mountain, but after a warm start it takes more than its height suggests. The 20 km cutoff is 18:15. The 22 km race starts from Santa Gertrudis later in the afternoon; follow marathon signs.
Km 24 to 31: down to Santa Eulària. The road falls 78 m in under 3 km, the steepest gradient of the day, then more gently to the coast. Control the descent: overstriding here costs the legs for the flat final third. Cutoffs at 27 km (19:15) and 30 km (19:45).
Km 31 to 42.2: Es Canar and back. Santa Eulària comes into view with the Puig de Missa church on its hill, but the route carries on north up the coast to Es Canar, turning at about km 36, before coming back. Low, with a couple of short rises and a sea breeze, and the light fades for slower runners. The last cutoff is 20:40 at 37 km. The finish closes at 21:10.
Timing uses a disposable chip on the bib, with mats at the start, the finish and three intermediate points. Officials remove runners who miss any cutoff, and the limits run on gun time.
Bends in the port, then the first climb. Reach 10 km by 17:00.
Two climbs to Santa Gertrudis and the 124 m high point. Run by effort and fuel before the top.
78 m down in under 3 km, then on to Santa Eulària. Keep the stride short.
Past the finish town to Es Canar and back, low and breezy, into the dusk.
Course Map
From the Port of Ibiza up through the island’s interior to Santa Gertrudis, down to Santa Eulària, out to Es Canar and back. Tap a marker for the start, the finish, the expo and the landmarks, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course with the elevation profile beneath it.
Pacers
Pacers ran at 3:00, 3:15, 3:30, 3:45, 4:00, 4:30 and 5:00 in 2026, from a single start with corrals assigned from the declared time printed on the bib. The 2027 roster has not been published. A 5:00 group leaves only 25 minutes to the 5:25 limit and less at the intermediate cutoffs.
The gun goes at 15:45 and the finish closes at 21:10. Race day starts with a normal breakfast and a light lunch three to four hours before, a bus across the island and a start in the afternoon sun. Many runners finish around sunset or after dark on the Santa Eulària seafront. Plan meals, sun protection and a warm layer for the evening.
The intermediate cutoffs are strict: 10 km by 17:00, 20 km by 18:15, 27 km by 19:15, 30 km by 19:45 and 37 km by 20:40.
The start time decides the kit. At 15:45 in April the sun on Ibiza can be warm, with strong light on dark roads and little shade on the climbs; AEMET’s April normals are about 11°C at night and 20°C by day. Four or five hours later the sun has set and a sea breeze on the coast can feel cool.
Race in light kit with a cap and sunscreen for the first half. A runner expecting to finish after about 20:00 should put a light long-sleeved top in the transfer bag or with a supporter at Santa Eulària. Wind is common in April and the final 12 km have no shelter; showers are possible.
Entry
Entry is direct online, and each distance has its own quota. The 2026 marathon sold out on 16 March, a month before race day. There is no ballot, charity scheme or good-for-age route. Runners must be 18 on race day.
Marathon prices rise in steps: €55 for returning runners to mid-May, €65 to 3 June or the first 1,000 bibs, €70 to 3 July, €75 to 15 September, €80 to 15 December and €90 to 10 March, with €110 late entry only if announced. Add €5 for a day licence unless you hold an eligible Spanish federation licence. The registration platform showed a close of 1 March at 12:00, earlier than the price table suggests.
A name change is possible through the organiser for €12 until 1 March. Distance changes also close on 1 March. Entry fees are not refundable except for a physical injury, backed by a medical certificate and requested by 1 March. Start corrals are assigned from the declared time and printed on the bib.
Fast runner standards
There is no good-for-age route. Enter before the tier you want closes; the race sells out.
Official Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon site →Race Weekend
Expo
The 2027 expo venue and hours will be announced closer to the race. In 2026 the Runner’s Expo was at the Palau de Congressos d’Eivissa on Carrer del Metge Salvador Camacho in Santa Eulària des Riu, near the finish, on Friday from 10:00 to 20:00 and Saturday from 09:00 to 13:00.
Bring an original ID card or passport. A friend can collect with a copy of your ID and a signed authorisation. An emergency bib-only collection runs on race day in the Port of Ibiza from 13:45 to 15:00: bib only, no runner’s bag, no changes. Collect on Friday if possible.
Getting to the start
The race starts at 15:45 in the Port of Ibiza and finishes in Santa Eulària, so choose where to sleep and how to travel as one plan.
Staying in Santa Eulària. Take the official athlete bus to the start. In 2026 buses left the Santa Eulària expo and finish district at 12:30, 13:00, 13:30 and 14:00 for runners who had registered for them and wore the right wristband. After the race you walk to the hotel.
Staying in Ibiza Town. Walk to the port. After the race, the 2026 return buses from the finish left at 19:15, 20:00, 20:15 and 21:00, again with a wristband.
Bags. In 2026 runners handed one medium bag in at the start; it was taken to the finish and could be collected in Santa Eulària until 21:00. Check the 2027 rules.
The day. Taxis are scarce and roads are closed along the whole route, so do not plan to cross the island by car shortly before the start. Eat a normal breakfast and a light lunch three to four hours before the gun, and keep out of the midday sun.
The finish. In 2026: food and drink, a thermal blanket, the medal, physiotherapy and an optional massage. Medical teams and a finish-area hospital cover the course.
Nutrition on course
The 2027 regulations promise aid about every 5 km, alternating liquid-only stations with liquid-and-solid stations, plus extra points in the final kilometres. The exact positions and products are published shortly before the race; the table shows the 2026 layout.
No brand, gel, fruit list or cup format is published. Carry every gel you need, and take fuel before the climbs, not on them. In a warm year, drink at every station on the first half, where the sun is strongest.
| Km (2026) | Type |
|---|---|
| 5 | Liquid, or liquid and solid |
| 10 | Liquid, or liquid and solid |
| 15 | Liquid, or liquid and solid |
| 20 | Liquid, or liquid and solid |
| 25 | Liquid, or liquid and solid |
| 30 | Liquid, or liquid and solid |
| 34 | Extra point |
| 37 | Extra point |
| 40 | Extra point |
| Finish | Post-race food and drink |
Spectating
The start and finish are 11.5 km apart and roads across the island close during the race, so chasing runners by car is a bad plan. Choose one inland sighting and then reach Santa Eulària ahead of the closures, or stay on the Santa Eulària coast, where runners pass three times: arriving at km 30.5, heading out to Es Canar and coming back.
The official app has provided live tracking in past years. Timing points are few, so the runner’s dot moves in jumps. Agree a fixed meeting point; mobile networks struggle at the finish.
- Watch the 15:45 start in the Port of Ibiza
- Travel straight to Santa Eulària on a road outside the closures
- Wait for the finish on the Passeig Marítim
- Arrive in Santa Gertrudis before the roads close
- Watch at the village, km 19.9
- Reach Santa Eulària for the finish on a route confirmed as open
- Stay in Santa Eulària and see runners arrive at km 30.5
- Walk north towards Es Canar to a safe point on the coast road; runners pass out and back
- Walk back to the promenade for the finish
Post-race food
A five-hour marathoner finishes around 20:45, so the post-race meal is dinner, and on race night Santa Eulària’s restaurants are full. Book a table for a realistic time.
Carrer de Sant Vicent, a block back from the seafront, is Santa Eulària’s restaurant street, with grilled fish, rice dishes and pizza, and the marina and promenade restaurants beside the finish are the easiest walk. After a long evening run, rice or potatoes with fish or eggs is easier to eat than a heavy stew; Ibiza’s bullit de peix, fish stew followed by arroz a banda, is better saved for Sunday lunch. Flaó, a mint-scented cheesecake, is the local dessert. Check that kitchens are still serving after 22:00.
Where to Stay
Stay near the finish in Santa Eulària and take the athlete bus to the start. After 42 km, ending the day with a five-minute walk to the hotel beats a bus back across the island in the dark.
Santa Eulària seafront and marina
The seafront and marina are the best overall base, walking distance from the finish and, in 2026, from the expo and the bus pick-up, with plenty of restaurants. The trade-off is the bus to the start and a longer airport journey.
Ses Estaques
Ses Estaques, just north of the marina around the Palau de Congressos, is quieter and close to the 2026 expo, with several larger hotels.
Ibiza Town port and Marina Botafoch
The port and Marina Botafoch are best for the start, Dalt Vila and nightlife. After the race you need the return bus or a taxi from Santa Eulària.
Es Canar and Santa Gertrudis
Es Canar is on the late part of the course, but many hotels are seasonal and may not open until later in April, and race-day closures can cut the area off. Santa Gertrudis is attractive but inland, with no easy link to the start or finish on race day.
Book when you enter and confirm the hotel is open in April.
Recommended hotels
On the promenade itself, beside the finish. Expect event-weekend prices and some noise.
On the beach just south of the finish, with a pool for recovery the next day.
A large hotel by the marina, a flat walk from the finish and beside the 2026 expo. Confirm April opening and an early lunch on race day.
For runners who prefer to start from the door, 20 m from the course at km 1.2. Book the return bus or a taxi from Santa Eulària.
Booking timeline
The marathon sold out a month before race day in 2026, and the tenth edition may go faster. Enter before the next price rise and reserve a refundable room in Santa Eulària or near the port at the same time. Many hotels on Ibiza open for the season in April; confirm opening dates in writing.
Book flights to arrive by Friday so the bib can be collected at the expo. Direct flights from the UK and northern Europe are fewer in April than in summer. Ibiza Airport (IBZ) is south of Ibiza Town; a taxi to Santa Eulària takes about 25 minutes, and the island’s bus network was redesigned in 2026, so check current lines on the airport website. Name changes, distance changes and the injury refund all close on 1 March. When the runner’s guide appears, book the athlete bus straight away.
See & Do
The finish is on the Santa Eulària seafront, with the town’s church hill and river a short walk away; Ibiza Town and the interior are a bus or taxi ride.
Santa Eulària promenade and marina
The Passeig Marítim runs along the beach from the finish to the marina: flat, lined with benches and palms, the obvious place for a slow walk on Sunday morning.
Puig de Missa
The fortified white church on the hill above Santa Eulària, with a small ethnographic museum beside it. The climb is short but steep; save it for Sunday afternoon.
Santa Gertrudis
The village at the centre of the island, on the course at km 19.9, with cafés around its church square.
Dalt Vila
The walled upper town of Ibiza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, above the start. Steep cobbles; better on Monday.
After the Race
April on Ibiza comes before the summer crowds: the countryside is green, the sea is still cool and most beach businesses are only just opening. After a Saturday-evening finish, Sunday is for the promenade; the old town, the salt flats and Formentera suit the days after.
Ibiza’s walled upper town and cathedral above the harbour. Take a taxi to the top gate and walk down.
Salt pans, flamingos in spring and long beaches in the protected south of the island. Flat walking on sand and tracks.
The limestone islet of Es Vedrà from the clifftop viewpoints at Cala d’Hort. Best late in the day.
The flat, quiet neighbour island, best by bicycle or on foot along its lagoons and white beaches.