MilSendas Alpujarra 2026: confirmed date and key details

Plan your race pace

The next edition of the MilSendas Alpujarra Resistance Trek already has a date: it will take place on Dec. 12, 2026, in Almócita, Almería. Each year, the event follows different mountain paths in the Alpujarra and nearby ranges. Available information confirms the event, but does not yet specify the route, start time, number of places or entry fee.

This is not a conventional mountain race. It is an endurance hiking trek designed for participants to walk for an extended day, together, on mountain trails, tracks and paths. The distance exceeds 42 kilometers, according to the event’s general description, although every edition follows a different route and its specific details must be confirmed when organizers publish them.

A December event in Almócita

Almócita will once again serve as the focal point for an event that brings sport, scenery and local life together. The Almerian municipality lies in the Alpujarra, near two major mountain areas: Sierra Nevada and Sierra de Gádor. The announced date for 2026, Dec. 12, places the trek at a time of year when daylight is limited and conditions can vary sharply between the village and higher elevations.

That winter setting matters more on a long trek than on a short walk. A dawn start or a route that lasts until afternoon can involve cold, wind and major temperature changes over a short distance. In previous years, the start has been held at the esplanade of the world’s largest candil, a symbol of Almócita also reflected in the event’s awards. The exact venue and start time for 2026 are not listed in the available information, so that logistics should not be treated as confirmed for the new edition.

The event is part of a tradition that began in 2018, when the first trek was organized by Club Deportivo Almócita Activa and Almócita Town Council. Since then, it has gained a stronger presence on the Andalusian hiking calendar. The 2026 event will be the next chapter in that history, although its official edition number and full program will need to be confirmed by organizers.

What sets an endurance trek apart

The word endurance may suggest a speed competition, but the focus here is on sustaining the effort and completing the route on foot. Treks of this kind take place on mountain terrain and typically include trails, forest tracks, paths and, sometimes, dry riverbeds. Their format does not require climbing techniques or skills associated with technical trail running. Participants hike rather than run, and the route is planned to be completed within an expected time.

Organizing an endurance trek also means managing the group, checkpoints and support points. This format commonly includes breaks to rest, regroup and take refreshments, as well as staff to monitor participants and provide communication and evacuation support. These are not minor details: on a long route, with people spread across the terrain, safety depends on planning as much as on the course.

Regulations for treks governed in Andalusia also set criteria for the route. It must cross mountain terrain, and paved roads should account for no more than 15% of the route, except for sections through urban areas. That limit helps preserve the event’s mountain character. For 2026, however, the route and its surface breakdown have not been published, so those details should not be confused with information from previous editions.

A route that changes every year

Organizers have historically planned a different route each year through the Almerian side of Sierra Nevada and the Sierra de Gádor. The general description puts the distance above 42 kilometers, making the day a long-distance challenge even without running. In 2025, the trek covered 45 kilometers and passed through Almócita, Padules, Canjáyar, Ohanes and Beires, within the Sierra Nevada Natural and National Park. That route belongs to the previous edition and does not predict the 2026 course.

The geography explains much of the appeal and the challenge. In a single day, the terrain may alternate between rocky paths, tracks, ravines and exposed areas. The 2025 route included the Chaparral and Beires mines, as well as the Andarax River ravine and the Padules channels. These places illustrate the variety of the region, but there is no confirmation that they will feature again.

The first edition was announced as a 42-kilometer route with 1,500 meters of cumulative elevation gain, passing through several nearby villages. That is a useful historical reference for understanding the scale of the event, not a course specification that applies to every edition. The route changes each year, offering a chance to explore different parts of the area and making it necessary to wait for the official announcement before assessing the 2026 distance, elevation gain or expected walking time.

What a long day in the mountains involves

Duration is one of the defining features of the trek. In the 2025 edition, the pace allowed participants to complete the 45 kilometers in about 12 hours. That gives a rough sense of the effort, but it does not guarantee the next event will have the same duration, pace or elevation profile. The 2026 distance and walking time have yet to be confirmed, and both will depend on the route organizers announce.

On routes that take up most of the day, the group’s pace is central. Distance on a map is only part of the picture: elevation, surface, breaks, weather and the way the group stays together all matter. The trek is designed for steady walking, not for the speed expected in an athletics event. The difference shapes the atmosphere: the aim is to complete the route in an orderly and safe way.

The December date also means accounting for available daylight and cold at higher elevations. The 2025 edition brought together more than 200 hikers and was marked by low temperatures in the higher areas, although there was no rain, according to coverage of that day. That describes one specific year, not a forecast for 2026. In the mountains, weather conditions can change from one edition to another, so the forecast and organizers’ instructions will be essential as the event approaches.

From Almócita to the Andalusian Cup

The MilSendas Alpujarra joined the Andalusian Endurance Trek Cup in 2022, a competition run by the Andalusian Federation of Mountain Sports, Climbing and Hiking. Its inclusion gave the event a regular place on a regional calendar and made Almócita the only event in Almería province included in that cup, according to the reference information. Its connection to Andalusian competition is part of the event’s identity, although the 2026 event’s place on that year’s calendar has not yet been detailed.

The cup brings together long-distance events in which clubs earn results throughout the season. At MilSendas, teams compete for the day’s standings as well as completing the route. The traditional awards are handmade candils, a nod to Almócita’s emblematic symbol. In 2025, Al Borde de lo Inconcebible took first place; Playas Torre del Mar came second and Cóndor third. Those results apply only to the 2025 edition.

Historical standings show different clubs among the leading finishers since 2018, with Club de Montaña Cóndor winning several editions and Al Borde taking the 2025 title. That record shows how the trek has developed a collective dimension beyond the individual challenge of covering dozens of kilometers. Still, hiking remains at its core, and the event should not be confused with a conventional trail race: participants walk as part of an organized mountain trek.

Registration and details still to come

For 2026, the available information confirms the date and municipality but gives no registration opening date, fees, capacity, license requirements, minimum age or payment process. It also does not confirm whether places will be limited or a waiting list will be available. The 2024 event, for example, offered 220 places, set a minimum age of 18 and charged different fees for federated and non-federated participants. Those conditions applied to that edition only and should not automatically be carried over to 2026.

It is also important to distinguish a confirmed date from open registration. The fact that the event is scheduled for Dec. 12 does not mean registration has begun or that participation terms are known. Registration dates, fees and required documents will need to be checked in the official information for the relevant edition once it is published. Until then, there is no basis for assigning a fee or number of places to the 2026 event.

The same caution applies to the start, refreshment points and mandatory equipment. For a long mountain hike, organizers usually announce checkpoints, required gear and safety rules in advance, but the details vary with the route and time of year. Without the 2026 regulations, it is not possible to say which items will be required. The full event guide should also set out the start time, route and safety arrangements for the day.

Preparation and safety without mistaking it for a race

The usual length of MilSendas makes it important to realistically assess hiking experience, endurance and the ability to walk for many hours. A distance exceeding a marathon on foot, combined with elevation gain and uneven ground, requires more than general fitness. Preparation should be based on the final route, because a steady track is different from a course with steep climbs, technical descents or exposed sections.

Footwear, warm layers and managing water and food are often important on a winter day in the mountains. However, a specific equipment list cannot be set before the official instructions are available: weather, checkpoints and route features all affect what is needed. On an organized trek, following safety directions and respecting the group’s pace are also part of the effort. Good judgment is as important as endurance.

The difference from trail running is worth emphasizing because it shapes expectations. Although the event crosses mountains and covers a long distance, MilSendas is defined as an endurance hike, with no running. The goal is not to chase the best individual time or race up every climb, but to complete the route within the conditions set by organizers. Its challenge comes from duration, terrain and consistency, with a shared effort that sets the pace for the day.

A trek connected to the landscape and the village

The event also showcases Almócita and the municipalities surrounding the Almerian Alpujarra. Mountain treks connect rural paths and small villages that appear from the trail as part of a lived-in landscape, not merely as points along a route. In 2025, the course crossed five municipalities and the finish brought residents and participants together at the end of the day. The landscape is an essential part of the experience, although the 2026 route has not yet been announced.

A long event also affects the municipality through accommodation, travel, meals and activity for clubs and supporters. Coverage of previous editions describes participants arriving from different parts of Andalusia, with a strong turnout of hikers. That helps explain how a trek can have an impact beyond sport, without making promises about the next edition. The reach of the 2026 event will depend on participation and the program eventually announced.

The world’s largest candil, associated with the start and awards in previous events, captures the connection between local identity and a sporting gathering. It is part of the event’s visual history, but by itself does not confirm that it will remain the starting point in 2026. Organizers will need to confirm the venue and services for the new edition. For now, the event is recognized for a distinctive combination: a small village, a long mountain route and a shared day on foot.

What is known about the 2026 edition

The confirmed information places the next trek in Almócita, Almería province, on Dec. 12, 2026. Its general format is also known: an endurance hike on mountain paths, with a distance that usually exceeds 42 kilometers and a different route each year. The date and location are the firm details currently available; they should not be mistaken for a complete event guide.

The route, exact distance, elevation gain, start time, precise start and finish locations, registration, fee and number of places have yet to be confirmed. There is also not enough information to identify the municipalities on the course or confirm whether the event will count toward the 2026 Andalusian Cup. These details matter to people planning travel or considering taking part, but they should not be inferred from previous editions.

The event’s history since 2018 and its addition to the Andalusian Cup in 2022 place MilSendas among Almería’s recognized mountain treks. Its appeal lies in the combination of distance, terrain and camaraderie, not speed. The next event already has a date, but the full route will have to wait for the organizers’ announcement. Until then, the most accurate description is also the simplest: a long endurance hike scheduled in Almócita for December 2026.

A day measured in mountain steps

On a trek of more than 42 kilometers, the landscape is not viewed from an overlook and then left behind: it is crossed step by step, with time to feel changes in terrain and elevation. That scale makes MilSendas different from a fast race and offers another way to measure effort. Here, endurance means consistency, awareness and a shared pace.

Almócita will welcome visitors to its mountain surroundings again on Dec. 12, 2026. The date makes it possible to mark the event on the calendar; the route and specific conditions will have to wait for the official announcement. Once those details are published, it will be possible to see which ranges, paths and villages shape the new course. For now, what is confirmed is a long day on foot in the heart of the Almerian Alpujarra, with the mountains as the setting and the group as the measure of progress.