Volcano Marathon

The Volcano Marathon is organized by Runbuk, Inc., that also organizes extreme events such as the North Pole Marathon®, the World Marathon Challenge®, and the Antarctic Ice Marathon®. See the "About us" section for more information.
The 2023 Volcano Marathon will be the 9th edition of the event.
Yes. If you train properly and can run or walk a distance of 26.2 miles comfortably, then you should be able to complete the Volcano Marathon successfully. One of the priorities of the organiser is to have everybody finish the race and there is no cut-off time of major significance.
Yes. The highest elevation of the Volcano Marathon is about 5,300 ft (1,600 meters), so there should be no altitude-related issues. Previously, the first 8 editions of the Volcano Marathon took place in Atacama desert at a high altitude of 14,000 ft above sea level; starting from 2023, we have relocated the event to lower altitude at a brand new location.
Yes. It is a great idea to use your participation to raise funds for a charity or cause that you feel passionate about.
Yes. You can wear sponsor logos on your headgear, shorts and top as long as it does not cover your race number (the official race number is placed on the front of your torso).
You will arrange round trip flights from your homeland to Santiago (Chile) and then onward to a town called Temuco (airport code ZCO). There are numerous daily flights from Santiago to Temuco. From there, you travel by shuttle bus to the race hotel at Pucon. Please see the Race Travel section for details.
Visitors from about 100 countries can visit Chile without a visa for up to 90 days; passport holders from other countries must obtain a visa. Please verify the visa requirement for entering Chile with the Department of Foreign Affaires of your own country.
The 2023 race is provisionally scheduled to take place on November 16th, 2023. Competitors should arrive at Temuco, Chile on Nov. 14th, and schedule their return departure from Temuco for Nov. 19th. 5-nights Accommodation and various activities are provided in the intervening period. Please see the Itinerary section for details.
The race will take place in Pucon near Villarrica Volcano, one of the rare few volcanoes in the entire world that erupt enough to sustain a lava lake.
The course is well-marked and easy to follow throughout the entire journey. Additionally, we offer various map formats readily downloadable to your GPS watch.
The course follows an out-and-back route, with the race hotel serving as both the starting and finishing point. The halfway point will be the highest elevation of the course, which is on the volcano. Detailed information about the course and instructions will be provided during the mandatory marathon briefing. It is essential for all participants to attend the briefing to be well-informed.
November is the last month of spring, with an average high temperature of 62°F / 17°C and an average low of 45°F / 7°C. November does not have snowfall but there might be some rainy days. The daylight lasts around 14 hours, with an average of 7 hours of sunshine. The UV index reaches a maximum of 3 which is moderate.
The running surface varies along the route. When running through the town, the majority of the path consists of smooth asphalt roads. However, as you ascend or descend the Villarrica Volcano, the terrain shifts to country roads comprising a combination of dirt, volcanic ash, lava rocks, and small pebbles.
A pair of road-running shoes will be the best choice for this course.
Please see the Running Gear section for specific details.
Yes. there should be media interest. Al Jazeera English filmed the 2013 event as part of a major documentary called 'Why We Run'. News footage has been broadcast by major international networks for other editions of the race.