Quito Trail Ecuador by UTMB®
Quito Trail Ecuador by UTMB® – 30K Tucán
Lloa Plaza → San Francisco
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The 30K Tucán is the mid-short race in the Quito Trail Ecuador by UTMB® line-up, running 31 km from Lloa Plaza to San Francisco with 1,286 m of vertical gain and a high point of 3,572 m at Cruz Loma. Like every distance at Quito it is defined less by its length than by its elevation: the finish at San Francisco, 2,827 m, is the lowest point on the whole course. The route is point-to-point, threading up the mountains above Quito from the village of Lloa (3,061 m) through a series of high checkpoints before the summit of Cruz Loma and a steep drop to the line. It is a distance that suits runners who can pace an extended day near 3,500 m and still have the legs for a demanding descent at the very end.
The course and terrain
From Lloa Plaza (3,061 m) the Tucán climbs and undulates through the high country above Quito. The first waypoint is Chirincho at 11.4 km (3,301 m), a modest net gain that hides plenty of rolling terrain, followed by the Fan-Zone at 17.4 km (3,192 m). From there the course builds toward the day's high point, Cruz Loma, at 25.3 km (3,572 m) — the long, sustained climb that dominates the second half of the race. Once over Cruz Loma the route drops quickly: to the Mirador de Humboldt at 27.1 km (3,256 m) and then down to the finish at San Francisco (2,827 m). The closing five kilometres shed roughly 745 m, a steep, leg-testing descent to the line. The whole of the Tucán unfolds above 2,800 m, and much of it above 3,200 m, so this is high-altitude trail running from the gun to the finish.
Where the race is won and lost
The decisive stretch is the long approach to Cruz Loma. After the Fan-Zone at 17.4 km (3,192 m) the trail climbs close to 380 m to the 3,572 m summit at 25.3 km — and it does so late in the race, when altitude fatigue has already accumulated over the previous 25 km. Runners who spent too freely on the earlier rolling ground to Chirincho and the Fan-Zone will feel it badly here; those who paced the first two thirds patiently can move well past tiring rivals on this climb. The second key section is the final descent. From Cruz Loma the course loses about 745 m in the last five kilometres through the Mirador de Humboldt to San Francisco. It is steep enough to reward strong, controlled downhill running and to punish anyone whose quads are already shot. Arriving at the summit with something left for this drop is the difference between a fast finish and a cautious hobble.
Pacing and fuelling
The Tucán's clock is set by two intermediate cut-offs — the Fan-Zone (17.4 km) at Sun 11:30 and Cruz Loma (25.3 km) at Sun 14:00 — with a finish cut-off at San Francisco of Sun 15:30. The gap between the Fan-Zone and Cruz Loma is where the schedule tightens, because that is exactly where the biggest climb of the day sits, so build your plan around reaching the Fan-Zone with comfortable margin. Aid is available at the Fan-Zone (17.4 km) and Cruz Loma (25.3 km); the opening 17 km to the Fan-Zone, taking in Chirincho, is the longest self-supported carry, so leave the start line stocked. At altitude the body absorbs food and fluid more slowly, so eat little and often from early on rather than trying to catch up late, and drink steadily throughout. Top off at Cruz Loma before committing to the final descent — there is no aid between the summit and the line.
Conditions to expect
Elevation is the defining condition. The entire Tucán runs between 2,827 m and 3,572 m, so thin air is a constant rather than a feature of one summit. Expect climbing paces to slow noticeably, heart rate to sit higher than usual for the effort, and recovery between climbs to take longer. Acclimatising ahead of race day — ideally spending time in Quito or arriving already used to altitude — has a bigger effect on your result than almost any amount of extra fitness. The high, largely open ground above the tree line also means the weather near Cruz Loma can differ sharply from conditions down in the valley, with more wind and faster temperature swings up top. Carry a layer for the summit and the fast, chilled descent. Get the altitude management right and the Tucán is a rewarding day; underestimate it and the last climb to Cruz Loma becomes a long, airless grind.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 3061 m · —
11.4 km · 3301 m · —
17.4 km · 3192 m · Sun 11:30
25.3 km · 3572 m · Sun 14:00
27.1 km · 3256 m · —
30.4 km · 2827 m · Sun 15:30
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