The Travesía Playas de Papagayo swim race will take place in Playa Blanca on 7th November 2026, offering six race formats for open-water swimmers, children and relay teams.
The event, held in the bay of Playa Blanca for over a decade, attracts swimmers with its coastal setting and a choice of distances catering for different ages and abilities. The longer routes follow the Papagayo coastline, passing sandy coves, while the event also offers participants the opportunity to swim over the underwater sculptures of the Museo Atlántico.
The event is based at Playa Dorada, with races ranging from a 50-metre children’s event to a 4.5km open-water challenge.
Six race formats on offer
The longest race covers 4.5km, starting in the water off the Papagayo Coast and finishing at Playa Dorada. Places are limited to 150 swimmers, and wetsuits are optional. Participants must be at least 14 years old in the year of the event.
Minors must provide parental consent when registering, and organisers may ask younger participants to submit a brief sporting CV demonstrating their ability to complete the distance.
A 1,200-metre race will start and finish at Playa Dorada, with a maximum of 200 participants. Wetsuits are not permitted unless the water temperature falls below 18°C. Swimmers must be at least 12 years old in the year of the event, with parental consent required for minors.
The programme also includes an 800-metre youth race for the Junior Category and an adult open division. It is open to participants aged 12 to 13 in the year of the event, as well as adults up to the age of 85. The race will start and finish at Playa Dorada, with 30 places available.
Younger swimmers will have two further options. The 400-metre Junior Race, in the Benjamin Category, is open to children aged 10 to 11, while the Pre-Benjamín events, covering 50 or 150 metres and including mixed events, are for children aged eight to nine. Both have a maximum of 30 participants and will take place at Playa Dorada.
Mixed-gender relay competition
The programme will also feature 3×200-metre relays, with teams of three swimmers competing over the course. A maximum of 10 teams, or 30 swimmers in total, can enter.
Participants must be at least 10 years old in the year of the event, and minors must provide parental consent at registration.
All teams must include both male and female swimmers, with either two boys and one girl or two girls and one boy. Swimmers can represent different clubs.
Registration for the event
Registration is available online at b15active.com/travesia-papagayo.
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