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Race guide · La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain
How to train for Transvulcania
73 km across La Palma, from sea level at the Fuencaliente lighthouse to the Roque de los Muchachos at 2,421 m and down to Los Llanos. Here's what to know and how to get ready.
Next race May 2027 (8 May per race listings; confirm with the organiser)
| Distance | Climb | Time limit | Start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultramarathon | 73.06 km | 4,350 m | 15:00 | 6:00 AM |
Starts at sea level at the Faro de Fuencaliente and finishes in Los Llanos de Aridane, with 4,057 m of descent. Cutoffs: El Pilar (24.8 km) 11:00, Roque de los Muchachos (50.7 km) 17:00, finish 21:00. The event weekend also has a marathon, half marathon and vertical kilometre.
What makes it hard
Sea level to 2,421 m
The course climbs from the lighthouse at sea level along the volcanic spine of the island to the Roque de los Muchachos, the highest point on La Palma.
Train for it: Long, sustained climbs at a steady effort, and back-to-back days with lots of vert.
Volcanic ground and heat
Loose volcanic sand and rock underfoot, with exposed sections where sun and heat build through the day.
Train for it: Practise on loose, rocky ground, and do some heat training and race-day fueling in warm conditions.
A long descent at the end
From the Roque de los Muchachos the course drops more than 2,000 m to Los Llanos de Aridane, on tired legs.
Train for it: Long descents late in your long runs, plus quad strength work, so the last 20 km don't break you.
How long to train
Plan on 18–24 weeks if you've already run a 50K, and longer if 73 km with this much climbing is a big step up. Vert and descending durability decide this race.
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How much elevation gain is the Transvulcania ultramarathon?
4,350 m of climbing and 4,057 m of descent over 73.06 km, according to the organiser, from sea level at Fuencaliente to the Roque de los Muchachos at 2,421 m.
What are the Transvulcania cutoffs?
The ultramarathon starts at 6 AM, with cutoffs at El Pilar (24.8 km) at 11:00, the Roque de los Muchachos (50.7 km) at 17:00 and the finish in Los Llanos de Aridane at 21:00, according to the organiser.
Race facts checked October 22, 2026 against transvulcania.com. Confirm dates and rules with the organiser. Vert.run is not affiliated with the race.