Altafulla Castles March 2027: routes and entry fees

Plan your race pace

Altafulla will host the 15th edition of the Baix Gaià march on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2027, a non-competitive event that participants can complete on foot or by running. The start is scheduled for 9 a.m., with two distances, 16 and 26 kilometers, along paths connecting several castles and natural areas in the region. Organizers have set a maximum time of six and a half hours to finish, with the finish line closing at 3:30 p.m.

The day combines outdoor activity and local heritage: the route passes the mouth of the Gaià River and links landmarks such as Tamarit, Ferran and El Catllar. According to information published for this edition, registration is listed as sold out, although the fees announced before entries closed give an indication of the expected cost: 20 to 28 euros for the 16-kilometer route and 23 to 31 euros for the 26-kilometer course, before some surcharges.

A popular march between the river and the castles

The event is designed as a walk that is also open to people who prefer to run, rather than as a competition with a sports ranking. Its course follows the Gaià River area and passes the castles of Tamarit, Ferran, El Catllar, El Castellot in La Riera and Altafulla. The route turns physical activity into a journey through a landscape where rural paths, Mediterranean vegetation and historic buildings meet. The appeal does not depend on maintaining a racing pace, but on completing the course within the checkpoint time limits.

The 2027 edition will be the 15th and is organized by Altafulla Town Council with technical support from Sports Events, according to the available regulations. The event information describes march and trail options, both offered over 16 and 26 kilometers. In practice, participants can choose to walk or run, but the terrain has technical sections that make it unsuitable to treat as an urban stroll or to tackle without appropriate equipment.

The winter date adds a particular dimension: at the end of January, the day may alternate between cool, sunny stretches and areas that are damp or exposed to wind. No reliable weather forecast has been published this far in advance, so conditions should be checked closer to the date. The regulations do specify a simple but important environmental requirement: participants must bring their own reusable cup, as plastic cups will not be provided at aid stations.

Two distances and a route with recognizable landmarks

The two courses share much of their atmosphere and points of interest, although the longer route extends farther through the region. The published route includes Tamarit beach, the Tollada del Sifó area, Ferran Castle, the former Roman quarry at El Mèdol, Sant Simplici and El Maset. Farther along, the long course passes El Catllar Castle, Torre d’en Guiu park, Església Vella, Pujol Rodó and the hermitage of Sant Antoni before returning to Altafulla.

The shorter course is approximately 16 kilometers, while the longer one covers 26. Event information places aid stations at around kilometers 5 and 10.7 on both routes; according to the regulations, the 26-kilometer course adds a third point at kilometer 26. A general route description also refers to intermediate landmarks and other checkpoints, so the official map and track are the best references for resolving any differences between general summaries.

The distances do not automatically make this a mountain race, but participants should consider elevation, footing and duration. Organizers warn that the technical difficulty of the terrain rules out bicycles and child seats. For walkers, the event means several hours of activity; runners need to pace their effort around the checkpoints, not just the distance. In either case, suitable footwear for uneven paths and natural terrain is advisable.

Start time, cutoff and checkpoints

The mass start is scheduled for 9 a.m., and the finish line will close at 3:30 p.m. That six-and-a-half-hour window is an operational limit, not an invitation to use every available minute: checkpoints coincide with aid stations and may prevent participants from continuing if they arrive outside the set times. The regulations say checkpoints will open for participants averaging 8 kilometers per hour and close once those moving at less than 4 kilometers per hour have passed.

These speed references describe how checkpoints operate, but they do not guarantee that every participant can cover the distance at any pace. Cutoff times may vary by course and event management, and the regulations give organizers the authority to divert participants who miss them. Anyone finishing after the line closes continues at their own risk, according to the rules, making it important to follow staff directions and stay on the marked route.

Route markings do not remove the obligation to know the course. The regulations say the map is available on the official website and the track can be downloaded from Wikiloc. Participants must also carry a mobile phone to report incidents or accidents. These requirements are particularly useful on a route linking different municipalities and open spaces, where a wrong turn could add distance or separate someone from checkpoints. Bib numbers must be visible at the front and are required to access aid stations.

Registration and published fees

Information for this edition lists registration as sold out, and the regulations set a planned limit of 1,500 participants. Published fees therefore explain the announced cost but should not be taken as evidence that places are currently available. The 48-hour promotional rate was set at 20 euros for 16 kilometers and 23 euros for 26. Prices then varied according to the registration date.

For the shorter distance, the planned fee rose to 24 euros through Oct. 31, 2026, to 26 euros through Dec. 31 and to 28 euros during January 2027. For the 26-kilometer course, the corresponding fees were 27, 29 and 31 euros. An additional 2-euro fee for non-federated participants could apply, along with 1.50 euros in management fees and another 1.50 euros for optional cancellation insurance.

Cancellation terms differ for participants who purchased the refund insurance and those who did not. With insurance, participants could request a refund in writing, excluding the insurance and management costs, before race week and no later than the previous Sunday. Changes to registration details, bib transfers and distance changes were also allowed under those conditions. Without the coverage, the regulations did not allow changes or refunds; requests were also closed during event week.

Bib pickup and event-day services

Bib numbers can be collected Saturday, Jan. 30, from 5 to 8 p.m., or Sunday, Jan. 31, from 8 to 8:45 a.m. The stated location is the Centre d’Entitats in Altafulla’s Parc del Comunidor. The Sunday window leaves little time before the 9 a.m. start, so participants should allow enough time for travel and pickup. The bib must remain visible throughout the course; taking part without it or using the aid stations is not allowed.

Event information lists aid stations, medical services, showers, finish-line photography, entertainment and a participant pack. After finishing within the cutoff, participants can enjoy a communal botifarra meal, part of the day’s festive program. Music and a welcoming atmosphere are also planned at the finish. These services depend on event arrangements and individual conditions, so the regulations take precedence over general summaries.

Merchandise purchased through the website will not be mailed; it must be collected during bib pickup. Organizers say items not collected then will be considered forfeited and cannot be claimed later. Advertised products include an 18-euro sweatshirt, 12.50-euro socks and a 3-euro buff. A technical shirt is listed as a gift and described as lightweight, breathable and made from 100% recycled fabric.

Taking part with a dog and basic rules

Dogs are allowed, but they must remain leashed at all times and are the responsibility of the person accompanying them. The regulations say participants with dogs will start after groups without pets; organizers will announce whether there will be a separate start after each distance or one start after the 16-kilometer march. Separating these groups is intended to reduce interference on the early sections, where crowds are usually largest.

Good trail etiquette also means picking up after dogs and avoiding disruption to other participants. General event information mentions starts and aid stations intended for people with dogs, but pets are not exempt from safety rules. They must remain leashed even in open areas and follow organizers’ instructions. Before bringing a dog, participants should consider the chosen distance, terrain and duration, and check updated information on start times for participants with pets.

Participants must be at least 16 years old. Minors need express authorization from a parent or legal guardian, and everyone registering declares that they are in suitable health and physical condition for their chosen distance. Bicycles and child seats are prohibited because of the difficult terrain. The regulations also require participants to follow the official route and staff instructions; medical personnel and technical directors may remove anyone whose physical condition is considered unsuitable.

A landscape experienced at a different pace

The appeal of this event is not limited to covering kilometers. The route beside the Gaià and the sequence of castles turn the course into a way of reading the region: coast, inland paths and historic buildings become parts of one journey. The river mouth is a reminder that the river is not merely a backdrop, but the geographical axis that gives the route continuity. For many participants, walking makes it possible to notice changes in the landscape that might pass almost unseen at a racing pace.

Organizers say entries are limited to 1,500 participants and that the previous edition drew more than 1,400, according to event information. That figure helps convey the popular atmosphere, although it cannot predict participation in 2027. At an event with two distances and people walking and running, staggered starts for those with dogs and checkpoint limits are part of the logistics that let participants with different paces share the route.

On Jan. 31, Altafulla will once again link sport and heritage in a morning event that runs until the midafternoon finish cutoff. The choice between 16 and 26 kilometers should reflect preparation and available time, not simply the desire to complete the longer course. With places listed as sold out, the defining details of this edition are two routes, a 9 a.m. start and a 3:30 p.m. finish cutoff.