Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB
Tenerife Bluetrail 110K by UTMB
Los Cristianos (Arona) → Puerto de la Cruz
Race guide
Updated 29 June 2026
The Tenerife Bluetrail 110K by UTMB is a point-to-point mountain race that slices across the entire island of Tenerife, starting at sea level on the southern coast at Playa de Los Cristianos (Arona) and finishing at Puerto de la Cruz on the northern shore, also just above sea level. The 110 km route packs in 5,915 m of climbing and reaches a high point of 3,554 m on the flanks of Teide, making it far more than the numbers suggest — this is a race of dramatic vertical swings, volcanic terrain, and a full crossing of one of the most distinctive landscapes in European trail running. What makes the Bluetrail genuinely hard is the structure of the suffering: the first third climbs steadily to Vilaflor at 1,474 m, then the route pushes all the way up to El Parador at 3,234 m before the course drops sharply to Portillo Alto at 2,133 m and eventually plunges toward the coast through Tigaiga at just 485 m. Runners arrive at the finish in Puerto de la Cruz at 8 m elevation, having ridden an altitude roller-coaster that demands both mountaineering patience and a strong descending game. The Day 02:00+1 cut-off at the finish gives a firm ceiling, and the distance between the high alpine world near Teide and the subtropical coast means conditions can shift dramatically within a single hour of running.
Course & Terrain
The route divides naturally into four distinct acts. The opening 33 km to Vilaflor climbs from the dry, sun-baked south coast through increasingly pine-forested ridges; the footing is generally runnable but the heat and cumulative ascent drain legs quietly. From Vilaflor the course rises aggressively toward El Parador at 3,234 m — this central mountain section crosses volcanic pumice and lava fields on the slopes of Teide, where the altitude is real and the air noticeably thin. The 59 km checkpoint at El Parador (drop bag only, no crew) marks both the highest point neighbourhood and a psychological pivot. From there the course descends to Portillo Alto at 2,133 m before beginning the long northern descent through the laurisilva forest of Tigaiga at 485 m — a completely different biome, often humid and technical underfoot. The final push from Tigaiga down to Puerto de la Cruz at 8 m is steep and sustained, and legs that haven't been managed carefully will be brutally exposed here.
The Decisive Climbs and Descents
The climb from Vilaflor to the El Parador zone — gaining roughly 1,760 m over about 26 km — is where the race is decided for most runners. Altitude effects kick in above 2,500 m; breathing becomes laboured, perceived effort spikes, and the volcanic terrain offers little shade or shelter. Runners who have pushed hard on the early, runnable sections almost always pay the full debt here. The descent from El Parador toward Portillo Alto (dropping over 1,100 m) feels like relief but is technically demanding on loose volcanic ground and punishes quads that weren't conserved. The second decisive section is the drop from Portillo Alto through to the coast: nearly 2,125 m of descent spread across the final 36 km, much of it through steep forest trails. This is where the race is either salvaged or lost — strong descenders in good shape can make up enormous time, while those running on empty simply survive.
How to Pace and Fuel It
The single most important lesson from runners who have cracked this race is that a patient first half is not a weakness — it is the investment that funds a strong finish. The early kilometres out of Los Cristianos feel free and generous, the terrain runnable and the atmosphere energising. That ease is a trap. Banking patience through the first 33 km to Vilaflor, and resisting the urge to push on the long climb toward Teide, is what separates finishers from runners who blow up above 3,000 m with 50 km still to go. Treat the climb to El Parador as a controlled effort, not a race. Fuelling across 110 km on this course requires front-loading carbohydrates in the accessible early sections and arriving at El Parador with full pockets, because it is a drop-bag-only stop with no crew support. The heat on the southern half of the course accelerates sweat loss and suppresses appetite — drink and eat proactively rather than reactively. A proven mental approach for the long, grinding descent sections is to break the remaining distance into small, manageable chunks: pick a landmark or a number of kilometres and reset at each one, rather than letting the scale of what remains become overwhelming. Managed in segments, even the most demanding late-race stretch becomes achievable.
Conditions to Expect
Tenerife's unique geography means runners experience multiple climate zones in a single race. The southern start around Los Cristianos is typically hot, dry, and sunny — temperatures can be high even in the early hours of the race. As the route climbs toward Teide, temperatures drop sharply and wind exposure increases significantly; above 3,000 m near El Parador, cold and wind are genuine hazards regardless of what it feels like at the start. Mandatory kit requirements exist for a reason on this section. As the course descends into the northern laurel forests approaching Tigaiga, conditions flip again: humidity rises, the air feels heavier, and trail surfaces can be slippery with moisture and leaf litter. Runners should prepare for at least a portion of the race in darkness — the finish cut-off of Day 02:00+1 means most runners will spend a significant stretch of the descent from Portillo Alto to the coast running through the night. A reliable headtorch with spare batteries and clothing for both the high alpine cold and the warm coastal humidity are non-negotiable.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 0 m · —
8.5 km · 330 m · Sat 00:30
19.5 km · 1053 m · Sat 02:50
33.3 km · 1415 m · Sat 06:30
37.8 km · 1708 m · Sat 07:30
50.5 km · 2140 m · Sat 10:30
60.7 km · 3532 m · Sat 15:10
74 km · 2132 m · Sat 18:05
81.6 km · 1689 m · Sat 19:35
93 km · 468 m · Sat 21:35
100.7 km · 286 m · Sun 00:10
106.5 km · 61 m · —
110.2 km · 7 m · Sun 02:00
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