After a six-week delay, the Pacific coast of Mexico is finally ready. Puerto Vallarta by UTMB opens its fourth edition on April 16, welcoming close to 2,000 runners to the ancestral territory of the Wixárika people for three days of racing between the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Bay of Banderas.
A rescheduled edition
Originally planned for March 5-7, the event was postponed after a wave of unrest in the State of Jalisco disrupted air and ground transportation around Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Organizers cited runner safety as the decisive factor.
Taking your feedback into account, and guided by our commitment to delivering the experience you deserve, we believe this is the best path forward for everyone involved. Our goal is to welcome you under the right conditions so you can fully experience what you have been preparing for over the past months. - Race organizers, February 2026
The new April window pushes the event deeper into the Mexican dry season, promising warmer temperatures on the coast and drier single-track through the jungle descents.
Five races, one playground
The program spans the full UTMB World Series ladder, from a family-friendly beach run to a mountain ultra that climbs out of Mascota and tumbles down the Cuale river canyon into the Puerto Vallarta boardwalk.
- Hikuri 100K - the flagship ultra from Mascota to the Malecón
- Nakawé 50K - a mountain loop through Sierra Madre ridgelines
- Haramara 50K - jungle and coastal singletrack
- Ereno 20K - a short but punchy intro to the terrain
- Pata Salada 5K - the beachfront opener
Expected weather
Forecasts for April 16-18 point to classic late-dry-season conditions on the Pacific coast: highs around 32°C (90°F) and overnight lows near 15°C (58°F), with little to no rain expected. The coastal sections will run under full sun and high humidity, while nights above Mascota (around 1,200 m elevation) will feel significantly cooler, a useful window for the Hikuri start before dawn.
Main terrain challenges
The course is not the steepest on the UTMB circuit, but it is consistently demanding. The Hikuri 100K racks up roughly 3,500 m of positive gain over ancestral paths used by the Wixárika, crossing the ranges of Cerro del Cabro and Piedra Bola before diving into the Cuale river canyon and its jungle singletrack down to the Malecón.
- Heat and humidity: exposed sections through low vegetation can turn brutal after mid-morning; hydration and electrolyte strategy will decide races
- Technical descents: loose rocks, roots and river crossings in the Cuale canyon reward strong downhillers and punish tired quads
- Altitude shift: starting around 1,200 m in Mascota and finishing at sea level means the body has to manage a long, cumulative descent
- Navigation and exposure: long, remote ridgelines on the Sierra Madre require self-sufficiency between aid stations, especially at night
Elite field on the Hikuri 100K
The Hikuri 100K headlines the weekend with 24 elite entries, including 19 North American athletes split between the United States and Mexico.
Men
Tyler Green (USA, UTMB Index 870) arrives as the numerical favorite, with Spain's Marcos Ramos (867), fresh from his 2025 Mallorca 50K victory, ready to push him on the long climbs. Mexico leans on Jupiter Carrera (844), the 2025 Chihuahua 100K winner racing on home soil, while Mike McGonagle (USA, 796), the reigning Grindstone 100 Mile champion, brings strong late-race legs to the equation.
Women
Germany's Lotti Brinks (767) lines up after winning the Desert RATS 100K outright in 2025, one of the standout ultra performances of last season. Rachel Drake (USA, 758) returns to 100K racing after motherhood, and she will share the course with Canada's Sarah Bergeron Larouche (744), the 2025 Grindstone 50K champion, and American Careth Arnold (735).
More than a race
The 2026 edition also puts community at the forefront. Female participation reaches 34% of the field, 77% of entrants are local athletes, and organizers have introduced female hygiene kits at every aid station. Partnerships with CEMBAB and Ángeles en Libertad extend the event's impact beyond the finish line on the Malecón.
What to watch
With the Hikuri 100K starting before dawn in Mascota and the front pack expected on the Puerto Vallarta boardwalk inside eleven hours, Thursday into Friday will set the tone. The Nakawé 50K and Haramara 50K close out the weekend on Saturday, with Running Stones and UTMB World Series Final slots on the line.