Ultra de Los Castillos: 2026 route, distances and start times

Plan your race pace

The 2026 Ultra de Los Castillos will take place on October 30 in La Parra, in southern Extremadura, with three distances: 100, 42 and 15 kilometers. The circular route follows tracks and trails, crosses several towns and passes three landmark castles in the area. The event combines a long-distance ultra, a marathon and a shorter option, with both start and finish in the same municipality.

The 100-kilometer race also has a three-runner team relay, while the event information lists aid stations, medical support and hot food at key points. The ultra route has a 24-hour cutoff and 2,150 meters of elevation gain; the published figures for the 42- and 15-kilometer distances are 1,170 and 349 meters of gain, respectively. The date is confirmed, but the announced registration period ended on October 5, 2026, so availability should not be assumed.

A circular route through countryside and castles

The start and finish are in La Parra, the starting point for a route across southern Extremadura that links several towns. This is not an urban race or a circuit contained in one small area: the course runs along tracks and trails in the region, with the historic appeal of passing three castles. The landscape and changes of town are part of the experience, whatever distance runners choose.

The 100-kilometer course is divided into three sections and described as runnable, a feature that can help runners maintain a steady effort on accessible stretches. That does not make the challenge easy. The distance, accumulated elevation and hours on the move call for careful pacing and energy conservation in the second half, when fatigue and darkness can change how even runnable terrain feels.

The key reference point named for the ultra is Salvaleón, at kilometer 56, where a full aid station and assistance are provided. Reaching it means covering more than half the course, but 44 kilometers remain before La Parra. Its location helps explain the logic of a race combining routes between towns with logistics designed to support participants through a long day.

Distances, elevation and start times

The main event covers 100 kilometers, with 2,150 meters of elevation gain and 2,140 meters of descent. It starts at 11:59 p.m., with a 24-hour cutoff. Starting close to midnight changes the nature of the challenge: runners first face several hours of darkness and must plan food, lighting and clothing for a race that may continue into the next day.

The middle distance is 42 kilometers, with 1,170 meters of gain and the same amount of descent. It is scheduled to start at 8:15 a.m. and has a 10-hour cutoff. Although it is often described as a marathon because of its length, the elevation and the track-and-trail terrain make it different from a road marathon. The difficulty also depends on pace, weather and each participant’s experience on these surfaces.

The 15-kilometer course has 349 meters of elevation gain and 349 meters of descent, starts at 9 a.m. and has a four-hour limit. It is the shortest option, but still a race on natural terrain rather than a flat walk. The three distances offer different ways to take part, although the available information does not provide the precise mileage of each section or full elevation profiles.

The relay option for the long race

The 100 kilometers can also be completed by teams of three runners. The organizers describe a shared course with one relay change and a joint finish, turning the challenge from an individual effort into a coordinated team event. This differs from running separate distances: the team takes on the long course, subject to the race’s relay rules.

The available information does not identify the exact changeover points or how the distance is divided among team members. Those details should therefore be checked in the rules or the organizers’ updated information before planning to participate. In a relay, strategy depends on individual preparation as well as transport, timing and how the team manages waiting periods.

The format broadens the event’s options without reducing the logistical demands of an ultra. The 11:59 p.m. start, the course’s three sections and the 24-hour cutoff all shape how each team operates. A shared finish adds a collective element to a challenge that, in the individual event, is measured mainly by distance, elevation and endurance.

Aid stations and race services

The 100-kilometer route includes support points from Camino Sevilla, at kilometer 12.5, through to La Parra at kilometer 100. The first offers drinks and fruit; Mirrio, at kilometer 21, offers drinks; and Feria, at kilometer 30, offers drinks and solid food. Salvatierra, at kilometer 43, also has drinks and solid food, before the full aid station at Salvaleón at kilometer 56.

After that checkpoint, the course provides drinks and fruit in Nogales at kilometer 67; drinks and solid food in Santa Marta at kilometer 80; and drinks and fruit in La Morera at kilometer 92. The finish in La Parra at kilometer 100 is listed as a full aid station. This sequence places the support points along the route, though the summary does not specify every product, quantity or condition at each station.

Along with aid stations, the announced services include medical support, hot food at key points, a race pack and a finisher’s medal. Hot food matters particularly in an event that may last many hours, especially for those covering the longest distance. The description does not state serving times, food contents or what the race pack includes, so those details depend on the edition’s official information.

Results and age categories

The competition includes overall men’s and women’s results, along with age categories in the 100-kilometer event: Senior, Master 40, Master 50 and Master 60. According to the information provided, only the top male and female finisher in each category receives an award. A local category and the relay event are also included.

The summary does not clarify whether the same age categories apply to the 42- and 15-kilometer distances, or explain the criteria for the local category. It also provides no tie-break rules or number of overall awards. The full regulations are the necessary reference for the conditions applying to each event and how results will be decided.

This format combines overall results with recognition by age group and local participation. In a race crossing several towns, those categories reflect different runner profiles, although the awards described are limited to the first male and female in each group. The team event, meanwhile, offers a competitive format focused on collective performance.

Tracks, GPX downloads and route planning

The organizers say routes for all three distances can be viewed on Garmin Connect, with tracks available to download in GPX format. The file can be loaded onto a watch or compatible app to follow the course, provided the device and software support that format. Having the route available makes it easier to review its length, checkpoints and the location of aid stations.

A GPS track is a navigation reference, not a guarantee that trail conditions will remain exactly as expected. Paths may change, and organizers may alter the course for operational or safety reasons. Participants should therefore use the version issued for the event and follow race instructions rather than relying only on a file downloaded earlier.

For the ultra, reviewing the route also helps runners understand the spacing between support points, especially the stretch after Salvaleón and the final approach. On the shorter distances, a full elevation profile helps put total climbing into context. The information confirms that tracks are available, but does not reproduce detailed maps or start-and-finish coordinates.

Registration and the status of the 2026 event

The announced registration window for 2026 ran from May 1 to October 5, with limited places by event and prices set in tiers. No amounts are provided, so a reliable entry fee cannot be given for the 100-, 42- or 15-kilometer races or the relay. Since the stated deadline has passed, entries should be considered closed unless the organizers announce an extension or provide new information.

The confirmed race date is October 30, 2026. The published schedule gives a different start time for each distance: 11:59 p.m. for the ultra, 8:15 a.m. for the 42-kilometer race and 9 a.m. for the 15-kilometer event. The ultra’s start time corresponds to the beginning of October 30, according to the supplied information; for operational details such as bib pickup or last-minute changes, participants need to check official channels.

The website named in the reference information is vueltalacabeza.es. It promotes the race and provides further information, although no entry fees or complete registration details have been supplied. The mention of limited places and tiered prices describes the planned system but does not reveal how many entries remain or the cost of each event.

A race putting southern Extremadura on the map

The event’s appeal is about more than accumulating kilometers. Passing three castles, starting and finishing in La Parra and linking several towns makes the course a way to explore the area on foot. On the long distance, the landscape appears by night and day; the shorter options take fewer hours but retain the character of a race on tracks and trails.

The organizers have stated their aim of helping revitalize the area and making the race a local hallmark. That ambition rests on an event that showcases paths, towns and historic heritage, although its real impact depends on factors that cannot be measured by the course alone: participation, continuity, local collaboration and the ability to sustain the event over time.

With three distances, a relay option and a 100-kilometer ultra, the 2026 edition offers different levels of challenge around the same regional route. The confirmed date, general profile and announced services provide a clear overview; prices, full rules and any updates about entries require direct confirmation. In an event of this kind, knowing the route is only the beginning: the experience is also shaped by the night, the towns along the course and the kilometers still separating runners from their return to La Parra.