At home, a December race can mean gloves, wet roads and darkness by teatime. Lanzarote has a different proposition. On Saturday December 5th, the Font Vella Lanzarote International Marathon brings runners to the island’s east coast for a marathon, half marathon and 10K, with all three finishing in Costa Teguise. You still have to cover the distance yourself, but a day by the pool makes a decent recovery plan.
This is a race worth building a trip around. It also pays to understand the course and the transport before booking your flights.
The Three Races
The marathon starts in Costa Teguise at 8:00am. Runners head south along the coast towards Puerto del Carmen, turn around and return to Costa Teguise. That gives you a second look at the scenery, plus the possibility of a headwind on the way home. The official marathon time limit is six hours.
The half marathon starts in Puerto del Carmen at 10:30am and runs north to the shared finish in Costa Teguise. The 10K starts in Arrecife at noon, also heading towards Costa Teguise. The different start lines make your choice of accommodation and race morning transport more significant than they might be for a city marathon with one central start.
The organiser describes the coastal course as nearly flat, with elevation reaching around 30 metres. There are no big climbs to plan for, but open stretches, wind and rising temperatures can make an apparently quick route feel harder than it looks on paper. Parts of the course remain accessible to pedestrians, so keep an eye on the route as well as the sea.
There is a 5K Santa Claus race at 6:00pm on Thursday December 3rd, with children’s races earlier that evening. A wheelchair half marathon is also on the Saturday programme
What Is December Weather Actually Like?
Spain’s meteorological agency, AEMET, records an average December daytime high of 21.8°C at Lanzarote Airport and an average overnight low of 15.4°C. Its long term average rainfall for the month is 29mm, spread across roughly four days with measurable rain.
That makes a welcome change from an Irish winter, but it is no promise of perfect race weather. Marathon runners start early, while the 10K does not set off until noon. Pack for warmth after your run, bring sun protection, and check the forecast before deciding how ambitious to be with your pace.
Where to Stay and How to Reach the Start
Costa Teguise is the simplest base for most runners. The race expo, marathon start and finish area are there, as are the buses taking half marathon and 10K runners to their start lines. Staying in Puerto del Carmen puts half marathon runners near their start, although they will finish in Costa Teguise and need to arrange their return.
According to the race FAQ, the organiser’s buses leave Costa Teguise for Puerto del Carmen at 8:30am and Arrecife at 10:00am. Book your bus place in advance through your registration. Do not assume you can turn up on race morning and take a spare seat.
Race numbers are collected at the expo in Costa Teguise in the days before the race. The published schedule lists a limited Saturday collection window from 6:30am to 7:30am; the organiser says this service must be booked beforehand. If your flight arrives late on Friday, sort that detail before you travel.
Direct Lanzarote flights are advertised from Dublin, Cork and Belfast International. Check flight days and baggage costs for your particular trip. You can manage a race weekend with buses and taxis; a hire car becomes more useful if you plan to travel around the island after the event.
Make More of the Island
The race follows the coast, but Lanzarote’s volcanic interior deserves some time of its own. The island has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1993, and its lava fields, pale villages and vineyards look unlike anywhere you will meet on the road between the start and finish.
Timanfaya is the obvious first stop if you have a day to spare. Further north, Cueva de los Verdes takes visitors into a lava tube, while Jameos del Agua brings together the same volcanic landscape and the work of Lanzarote artist César Manrique. The island’s official attractions service requires online tickets with a timed slot for Timanfaya’s Montañas del Fuego and Cueva de los Verdes, so book those before setting off.
For a slower day, visit La Geria, where vines grow in hollows cut into volcanic ash, or head north to Órzola for the ferry to La Graciosa. The crossing takes about 30 minutes. Back near your hotel, a plate of papas arrugadas with mojo sauce and a glass of local Malvasía is a more satisfying account of Lanzarote than another list of resort restaurants.
Entry Fees and Essential Details
The official registration platform currently lists the following prices. Booking fees are extra, and later price tiers are already shown, so check the amount at checkout.
Marathon - €85 now, rising to €90
Half marathon - €70 now, rising to €75
10K - €55 now, rising to €60
Thursday 5K Santa Claus race - €20 now, rising to €25
The main races take place on Saturday December 5th, 2026. Register and check the latest race instructions at the official event website.
Lanzarote will not run the final kilometres for you. It does offer a fairly compelling place to put your feet up once they are done.
