Unique Trail Lanzarote 2026: Dates and Races

Unique Trail Lanzarote by Joma holds its first edition from 15 to 17 October 2026. The organisers bill it as the island’s only ultra distance race, and its 67K is certainly the longest trail race on Lanzarote. It is not a single event but five timed races spread over three days, crossing five municipalities and finishing at the same place every time: the Mirador del Río, the César Manrique viewpoint cut into the cliff 475 metres above the El Río strait.

We live in Costa Teguise and host Casa Los Alisios, and the race passes through our municipality on its way north. This is the guide we are sending to running guests who have asked what the new October race actually involves and where to base themselves for it.

What is Unique Trail Lanzarote?

The race is run by Summits Sports Events and K3 Servicios Deportivos Integrales, with race direction shared between Joel Delgado and Juan Antonio Carreño, known as “Chico”. Both are experienced ultra runners, and they have said they want the event to become the island’s international reference mountain race.

The courses cross solidified lava, volcanic tracks, and the jable, the wind-blown sand plains that run across the middle of the island. Along the way they pass La Geria, the Castillo de Santa Bárbara above Teguise, and Peñas del Chache, at 671 m the highest point on Lanzarote. Four municipalities are crossed on the way to the finish in a fifth: Yaiza, San Bartolomé, Tías and Teguise, ending in Haría.

The castle sits on the rim of the Guanapay volcano above Teguise, 10 minutes from us, and it is the point where the longer courses cross our municipality.

Interest has been strong for a debut. The organisers passed 400 entries in mid-August, two months out, with 20 nationalities represented, 35% women, and close to 40% of the field travelling from outside the province of Las Palmas. By late August the number was around 500.

What are the five races?

Vertical Las Gracioseras: 2 km, 400 m of climbing

Thursday 15 October, starts from 17:30 in waves.

The shortest and steepest race of the weekend. Two kilometres and 400 metres of vertical gain, climbing the north face of the Risco de Famara from Playa del Risco up to the Las Rositas car park.

The name is the local history. The gracioseras were the women of La Graciosa who carried fish up this cliff path to sell it on Lanzarote, and the route follows the trail they used. One practical warning worth reading twice: the start line is only reachable on foot, and you have roughly 2 km of walking to get down there. Leave far more time than you think you need.

Entry is 25 euros, capped at 200 places.

67K Ultra: La Geria to Mirador del Río

Saturday 17 October, 06:00 start.

Sixty-seven kilometres with 2,870 metres of climbing, from the vineyards of La Geria in the south to the cliff viewpoint in the far north. This is the race that gives the event its billing as Lanzarote’s only ultra, and it covers the length of the island the hard way.

The start sits among the zocos, the semicircular stone walls built to shelter single vines from the wind. Entry is 69 euros at standard price, capped at 200 places.

Get directions from Casa Los Alisios

46K Maratón del Jable: San Bartolomé to Mirador del Río

Saturday 17 October, 07:00 start.

Forty-six kilometres and 2,082 metres of climbing, starting in San Bartolomé. The name comes from the terrain it crosses in its early kilometres.

The jable is a belt of fine sand blown inland from the beaches on the north coast, and running on it is closer to beach running than to mountain trail. It drains the legs early, before the course starts climbing. Entry is 55 euros, capped at 250 places.

23K Experience: Peñas del Chache to Mirador del Río

Saturday 17 October, 08:00 start.

Twenty-three kilometres with 1,202 metres of climbing, and the only race that begins at altitude rather than climbing to it.

Peñas del Chache is the roof of Lanzarote at 671 m, on the ridge above the Famara cliffs. Starting up there means the course is described by the organisers as fast and flowing, though 1,202 metres of gain over 23 km is not a flat day out. Entry is 35 euros, capped at 300 places.

12K Manriqueña Starter: Haría to Mirador del Río

Saturday 17 October, 09:00 start.

Twelve kilometres and 641 metres of climbing from Haría, the shortest of the Saturday races and the entry point for anyone new to trail.

Haría is known as the valley of a thousand palms, and it is the greenest place on an island that is mostly black and ochre. César Manrique spent his last years in the village and is buried in its cemetery. Entry is 25 euros, capped at 350 places. This is also the only distance open to 16 and 17 year olds, with a signed authorisation from a legal guardian.

What about the children’s race?

The Kinder Trail runs on Friday 16 October in the afternoon, on a course adapted by age group: 100 m for ages 4 to 6, 200 m for 7 to 9, 500 m for 10 to 12, and 1,000 m for 13 to 15. There are 300 places. The regulations list it as free, while the booking platform shows a 5 euro fee, so budget for the smaller number. There is also an adaptive category, Diverse UTL, entered free of charge.

If you are travelling as a family and one parent is racing on Saturday, Friday afternoon gives the children their own finish line and medal first.

Where does everything finish?

All four Saturday distances end at the Mirador del Río, in the municipality of Haría. Alberto de León, the Haría sports councillor, put it plainly when the finish was confirmed: “When speaking of trail in Lanzarote, many eyes turn to Haría.”

The viewpoint looks over the El Río strait to La Graciosa, and it is one of the best places on the island to stand still, never mind to finish a 67 km race.

Get directions from Casa Los Alisios

What kit is mandatory?

Kit is checked at the call-up area before each start, and missing items mean no start and no refund. Every distance requires a charged mobile phone with Spanish coverage, matching the number given at registration, plus a water reservoir and your own cup.

The reservoir is 1 litre for the 67K and 46K, and half a litre for the 23K and 12K. The cup rule is the one that catches people out: there are no cups at the aid stations, on any distance, so if you turn up without one you have no way to take on liquid. Aid stations pour into whatever you are carrying.

Recommended rather than required: cap or visor, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a waterproof layer if rain is forecast.

What does the entry fee include?

Entry covers timing and online tracking as you pass each checkpoint, solid and liquid aid stations, accident and liability insurance, medical and emergency cover, a commemorative garment, bag drop, and a finisher gift. Finish line massage is included for the 67K, 46K and 23K.

Bib collection is on Thursday 15 October from 17:00 to 20:00, and Friday 16 October from 10:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 20:00.

How do I enter, and when do entries close?

Entries opened on 13 March 2026 and close on 13 October 2026, through Rock the Sport. They can close earlier if the places sell out, and three of the four Saturday distances had passed 100 entrants by mid-August.

Cancel more than 25 days before entries close and you get a refund minus 10 euros. Changes of distance and transfers to another runner work in the same window.

One thing to be aware of: the official regulations PDF still lists the distances as 65K, 46K, 22K and 11K, while the website, the entry platform and every press release use 67K, 46K, 23K and 12K. The GPX and KML files on the race site are the ones to load onto your watch.

Who is running the first edition?

Julen Calvó, a Joma athlete and the 2025 Spanish ultra trail champion, is entered in the 67K. Estela Guerra, four times Canary Islands vertical kilometre champion, is doing the double: the Vertical Las Gracioseras on Thursday and the 12K on Saturday.

📍 See the elite announcement from the organisers on Instagram

Where should I stay for Unique Trail Lanzarote?

This race has an unusual logistics problem. Five races, five different start lines, one finish, and the start points are scattered from La Geria in the south to Playa del Risco in the far north. There is no single village you can walk to everything from. You need a car and a base near the middle of the island.

Costa Teguise works well for that. From Casa Los Alisios it is about 20 minutes to the La Geria start, 15 to San Bartolomé, 30 up to Peñas del Chache, 25 to Haría, and about 30 to the Mirador del Río finish. The Thursday vertical is the longest trip at roughly 40 minutes of driving to the Yé end of the island, and then that 2 km walk down to the start on top.

The villa suits race weekend for reasons that are mostly practical. It is single level with no stairs, which matters more than it sounds after 67 km and 2,870 metres of descent onto tired quads. There is a secure storage room for poles, vests, and the pile of shoes that a three day race weekend generates. Parking is at the door, so a 04:30 departure for a 06:00 start means loading the car the night before and walking straight out.

The kitchen matters for a 06:00 start too, because nothing is open. Spar is 3 minutes on foot and Lidl 5 minutes, so you can stock up on race food the day before and make your own breakfast. Three bedrooms sleep 6, which covers a small group splitting the driving between the different start times. The 1 Gb fibre handles GPX uploads and live tracking for whoever is supporting.

What else is worth doing that weekend?

October is one of the better months to be here. The heat has come off, the sea is still warm from the summer, and the island is quieter than August.

• Teguise Sunday market: the day after the race, in the old capital 10 minutes from the villa. The biggest market on the island, and a slow walk on flat ground is exactly what your legs want.
• Mirador del Río again, without a race number: worth returning to when you can take the view in properly.
• Jameos del Agua: about 20 minutes from the finish area, a Manrique conversion of a collapsed lava tube.
• Recovery swims: the beaches of Costa Teguise are all within walking distance of the villa, and salt water the morning after a trail race does more good than another day on the sofa.
• Walks from Costa Teguise: flat coastal paths for shaking the legs out before you fly home.

If you are building a running trip around the island’s calendar, Famara Total Trail in August covers the same Risco de Famara from the southern end, and Ocean Lava Lanzarote in late October falls just a week after Unique Trail. For the wider island, our guide to the top things to see in Lanzarote covers the rest of a recovery week.