Mazucator Sky 2027: date, distances and course

Plan your race pace

Mazucator Sky 2027 will take place on Saturday, June 5, in Villa de Mazo, opening the Spanish Cup for mountain running. The event brings a national competition to La Palma, where runners will encounter volcanic trails and demanding climbs.

The date and venue are set, but the 2027 distances, start times and entry fees have yet to be detailed. The 2026 edition offers an indication of the format: it featured 25 km, 20 km and 8 km courses, although the new race rules may change them.

Race date and venue

The race will take place on June 5, 2027, in Villa de Mazo, a municipality on the Canary Island of La Palma. Although the FEDME poster mentions Tenerife, the race location is on La Palma, within the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The start time and exact meeting point have yet to be specified. Those details will be important for arranging transport from accommodation and allowing enough time to arrive before the race begins.

Distances and elevation: the 2026 edition

The 13th edition, held on June 7, 2026, featured three race distances. Their figures offer a way to compare the demands of each course, although they should not be treated as the final 2027 programme:

• Mazucator Sky: 25 km with 1,700 metres of elevation gain and a six-hour time limit.
• Promesa: 20 km with 1,422 metres of elevation gain, starting in Malpaíses, and a five-hour limit.
• Sprint: 8 km with 476 metres of elevation gain and a two-hour limit.

Elevation gain is the sum of all the climbs on a course, not the difference between the start and the highest point. For the main 2026 race it averaged 68 metres of climbing per kilometre; that figure gives a sense of the workload, although the actual slopes are concentrated in certain sections.

The short race also calls for care: 476 metres of climbing over 8 kilometres is far from flat. Comparing the time limit with personal experience on mountain terrain is more useful than applying a road-race time without adjustment.

Course and terrain in Villa de Mazo

The previous edition’s long course started and finished in Mazo, following a mountain route through volcanic trails, ravines and areas of native vegetation. Its mix of climbs, descents and uneven ground demands a different approach from a road race of a similar distance.

On a steep climb, alternating between running and walking can be more efficient than trying to maintain a road pace. Descents matter too: they require attention to foot placement and add a muscular load that is not captured by the elevation-gain figure.

The exact 2027 route, aid stations and any intermediate cut-off points remain to be detailed in the race programme. Their distribution will affect the time between support points and how much water and food each runner needs to carry.

Registration, entry fee and bib conditions

The entry fee, registration opening date and process for obtaining a bib for the 2027 edition have yet to be detailed. The bib collection schedule has not been published either.

Before registering, runners should check what the fee includes and what sports insurance the rules require. The previous edition specified a federation licence or day insurance; the conditions for 2027 should appear in that edition’s documentation.

An injury or change of plans can occur after payment. It is therefore important to check the refund and bib transfer conditions before buying an entry, especially from another runner: an entry should not be assumed transferable without the organiser’s authorisation.

Equipment and mountain preparation

Trail shoes with suitable grip for uneven paths and a pack or vest for carrying water are practical choices for this kind of race. The final route and the distance between aid stations will also influence what runners need.

Equipment listed for the race included a charged mobile phone and a reusable cup. The mandatory kit list for 2027, along with the rules on using poles, should be checked in the new edition’s regulations before packing.

Preparing for a route with substantial climbing involves more than accumulating distance. Long climbs, downhill practice and time spent on trails help runners develop a more realistic sense of the effort involved. Equipment, hydration and food intended for the race are best tested during training.

Getting to La Palma and planning a stay

La Palma Airport is close to Villa de Mazo, an advantage for runners travelling by air. The island can also be reached by sea from Tenerife; transport availability and schedules should be checked for the travel dates.

Villa de Mazo has rural accommodation and apartments, while Santa Cruz de La Palma provides another place to stay. A car can make travelling around the island easier, although journey times should take the winding mountain roads into account.

Bib collection arrangements can affect a booking as much as race day itself: until where and when to collect it is known, runners should not assume they can arrive on the island shortly before the start. The return journey also depends on the start time and each race’s time limit.

From local participation to the Spanish Cup

The 2026 edition attracted 400 runners, a participation record for the race, and opened the Sky Tour Canarias. Quito Santana won the main race in 2 hr 25 min, while Olga Martynenkova won the women’s race in 3 hr 10 min, setting a course record.

In 2027, its role as the opening race of the Spanish Cup adds a national dimension to the La Palma event. The calendar places Villa de Mazo at the start of the competition, with the edition’s regulations still to set out the remaining sporting and organisational details.