Rio de Janeiro Marathon
Now is the time to experience South America’s most beautiful city and run along its famous coastline at the Rio de Janeiro Marathon. The name of the city is synonymous with sun, fun and rhythm of the sensuous samba. Few places on earth can match the hospitality, natural charm, beauty and excitement of this city. Now it’s your turn to discover it!
The Rio de Janeiro Marathon is one of the most picturesque marathons in the world. The 26.2 course hugs the beautiful beaches while the Serra do Mar Mountains provide the perfect backdrop for your marathon pictures. Christ the Redeemer towers over the course blessing the athletes as they pass through the city streets. An early start sets the stage to ensure you beat the heat of the day. You’d be hard pressed to find a more beautiful marathon than Rio. There is also a half-marathon option, which is held the day before on Saturday, June 21.
In addition to the race, there is so much to explore in and around the area. We also highly recommend joining the optional three-night extension to the UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature – Iguassu (Iguazu) Falls.
Meals Included
Daily buffet breakfast & Welcome reception
Transfers
Transport to and from the race start/finish
Accommodation
Choice of 3 or 4 nights accommodation
Entry
Guaranteed VIP race entry (in addition to the package price)
Excursions
Half-Day Sightseeing Tour to Corcovado
A Helping Hand
Support from the Marathon Tours & Travel team
Travel Package Information
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Itinerary
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Thursday, June 19
Arrive today in the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by gorgeous mountains and ocean waters and check into the Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana. Tonight there will be a welcome reception at the hotel.
Friday, June 20
Today enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour visiting the famous Corcovado Mountain – a short and scenic train ride through the forest takes you to the summit. Here, 2,400 feet above the city, stands one of South America’s most famous and inspiring landmarks – the 125 foot statue of “Christ the Redeemer.” The panorama of the city below is testament to why most visitors consider Rio one of the most spectacular cities in the world. A stop at the Expo to pick up your race bib is also planned for today. Enjoy the rest of the day on your own. (Breakfast included)
Saturday, June 21
Half-Marathon Day! Transportation to the race start and back from the finish line is provided from your hotel. Come cheer on the half-marathon runners or enjoy a free day to explore Rio de Janeiro at your leisure. Join us this evening for a pre-race dinner at the hotel.(Breakfast and Dinner included)
Monday, June 23
Enjoy a leisure morning before transferring on your own to the airport for your flight home. If interested, we can help to arrange an optional half-day tour before your departure. Those joining the post-race extension to Iguassu Falls will have an early morning transfer to the airport. Details will be shared as the date gets closer. (Breakfast included)
Itinerary subject to change.
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Extensions
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Post-Race Extension | June 23 – 26, 2025
Iguassu Falls
It is challenging to describe the scale and beauty of Iguassu Falls. You will be able to visit the falls from both the Brazilian and Argentinian side to be able to fully experience one of the “New 7 Wonders of Nature”. This is an adventure that should not be missed! Please find a copy of a sample itinerary below, dates of activities may change based on availability.
Monday, June 23 – You will have the morning at your leisure before the group transfer from the Fairmont Copacabana to the airport for your flight to Iguassu Falls.
Flight Schedule (subject to change)
- Depart: GIG at 11:15am – Arrive: IGU at 1:30pm
Upon arrival we will check into the hotel for the evening. Dinner at the hotel will be at your own expense. (Breakfast included)
Tuesday, June 24 – This morning after breakfast, you will be treated to a tour of the Argentine side of the Falls. First, we will cross the Tancredo Neves Bridge with its lovely view of the Iguassu Canyon heading towards Iguacu National Park. Here we will visit the upper walkways, which allow a different perspective and more intimate contact with the Falls. The highlight of the trip is a visit to the suspended platform at the very brink of the Devil’s Throat! (Breakfast included)
Wednesday, June 25 – Today, enjoy a walking tour of the Brazilian side of the Falls. Starting from the hotel, a moderate walk brings us high above the river to a series of galleries with breath-taking views. Inside Iguassu National Park, we ride through the Macuco Trail in an open jeep-towed wagon permitting a free view of the fantastic scenery. During the ride, we stop for those who wish to take a dip in one of the Falls (optional). Next is the Macuco Safari, which an inflatable bi-motor boat will bring us up-river, passing the canyon to have a direct look at the rapids. Rocks, wildlife and a spectacular green landscape complete the scenery until it reaches the great horseshoe known as the Devil’s Throat. To top the tour off, the pilot will give everyone a splash by navigating through the spray of one of the Falls! (Breakfast included)
If time allows in the itinerary, we will offer the following optional tours:
- Parque das Aves – Bird Sanctuary
- Helicopter Tour of the Falls
- Churrascaria Show with Dinner at Rafain
Thursday, June 26 – After breakfast this morning, the group will transfer to the airport for your flight back to Rio to connect with your international flight home. (Breakfast included)
Flight Schedule (subject to change)
- Depart: IGU at 2:15pm – Arrive: GIG at 4:10pm
Please be sure to book your return international flight home from the Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG) after 8:00 PM.
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Packages & Rates
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Rio de Janeiro Tour | Four-Night Package: June 19 – 23, 2025
Features:
- Four nights’ accommodation at the Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana
- Breakfast daily at the hotel
- Welcome Cocktail Reception
- Half Day Rio City Tour with admission to Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer)
- Pre-Race Dinner (Saturday, June 21)
- Roundtrip race day transfers to and from the hotel
- Post-Race Celebration Drinks
- Services of Marathon Tours & Travel staff
- Guaranteed VIP Race Entries (in addition to the package price)
- Exclusive VIP Start Corral – Just after the Elite Runners
- VIP area at the finish line with exclusive bathrooms, buffet, lockers, and massages (for runners)
Iguassu Falls Extension | Three-Night Package: June 23 – 26, 2025
Features:
- Roundtrip airport transfers with English speaking guide
- Roundtrip Airfare to/from Iguassu Falls (subject to change)
- Monday, June 23, 2025
- Depart: GIG at 11:15am – Arrive: IGU at 1:30pm
- Thursday, June 26, 2025
- Depart: IGU at 2:15pm – Arrive: GIG at 4:10pm
- Monday, June 23, 2025
- Three (3) nights’ accommodation at the Belmond das Cataratas
- Daily buffet breakfast
- Private sightseeing tours on air-conditioned motorcoaches with licensed English-speaking guides
- Half-Day Walking Tour of the Brazilian side of the Falls
- Macuco Safari Boat Tour
- Half-Day Tour of the Argentinian side of the Falls
- All hotel taxes and service fees
- Services of Marathon Tours & Travel Staff (minimum 20 guests required)
Not Included:
- International round-trip airfare
- Airport transfers
- Race Entry Fees
- Optional Activities
- Incidentals
- Travel Insurance
- Visa – New Requirement for Australian, Canadian and U.S. nationals as of April 10, 2025. You can apply for your e-Visa online here.
Airfare:
You should fly in and out of Galeao International Airport (GIG) in Rio de Janeiro. For those on the Iguassu Falls extension, please be sure to book your return flight home from Rio after 8:00 PM.Rates (all prices in AUD dollars and per-person rates)
Note: The hotel has nightly entertainment at the pool from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Noise from the pool WILL be heard in the Ocean View Rooms.
*Includes Exclusive Gold Lounge Access for gourmet breakfast, cocktails, and private check in/out.
Fairmont Rio de Janeiro CopacabanaDouble Occupancy Single Occupancy Fairmont City View Room $2,402 per person $3,705 per person Fairmont Ocean View Room $2,831 per person $4,555 per person Race Entry FeesRace Entry Fee VIP Wonderful City Challenge Entry (42K & 21K) $522 VIP Marathon Entry (Sunday, June 22nd) $265 VIP Half Marathon Entry (Saturday, June 21st) $265 VIP 10K Entry (Sunday, June 22nd) $234 Iguassu Falls ExtensionBelmond das Cataratas (5*) Double Occupancy Single Occupancy Superior Room $3,377 per person $4,954 per person
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Hotels
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Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Ipanema (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
You will enjoy four nights at the recently renovated Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana. This is a five star property, ideally located along Copacabana Beach and is just a few steps away from the most famous beach in Brazil. This modern, luxury hotel is just minutes from downtown Rio.
Belmond Hotel das Cataratas (Foz do Iguassu, Brazil)If you are joining us on the Iguassu Falls extension, your hotel is the beautiful Hotel Das Cataratas, the only hotel located within Brazil’s Iguassu National Park. Enjoy exclusive access to this magnificent sight in the evening and at dawn, when the park is closed to other visitors.
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Event Information
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Race Date:
- Saturday, June 21 (Half-Marathon)
- Sunday, June 22 (Marathon & 10K)
Race Time:- 6:00 AM – Half-Marathon (Saturday, June 21)
- 5:00 AM – Marathon (Sunday, June 22)
- 8:30am – 10K Family Run (Sunday, June 22)
Course: The 26.2 course weaves through city streets starting and finishing in Flamengo on beautiful loop course. With the Serra do Mar Mountains rising inland from Rio’s fabulous shoreline, this scenery with oceans to your right and mountains to your left, makes this event one of the more picturesque marathons in the world. The half-marathon tour starts in Leblon and takes you through the most famous beaches in Rio (Leblon, Ipanema, Copacabana, Botafogo and Flamengo).
Temperature: June is the late fall/early winter season in Rio, but the average temperature still is 70F (21C). The temperature drops to a comfortable 68F in the evening (18C).
Entry Fee:
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Wonderful City Challenge (42K & 21K) – $335
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Marathon – $170
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Half Marathon – $170
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10K – $150
Eligibility: The minimum age limit for the marathon is 21 years old, 18 for the half-marathon.
Time Limit: The course time limit for the Marathon is six (6) hours, Half-Marathon is three (3) hours and the 10K is 90 minutes.
Number Pickup: A time will be organized for the group to stop at the Expo to pick up your race bib during the city tour. The Expo is open June 19 from 9 AM to 5 PM; June 20 from 9 AM to 7 PM; and June 21 from 8 AM to 5 PM at Casa Maratona located at Marina da Gloria (Aterro do Flamengo).
Difficulty: Mostly flat, with heat and humidity.
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Registration & Booking
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Rates: Land Prices may change due to currency fluctuations or changes in any taxes or park fees.
Reservations and Payments: A completed tour application together with a deposit of $500.00 per person must be received before confirming your reservations. Final payment must be received by March 15, 2025.
Cancellations: All payments, including your deposit, are non-refundable and non-transferrable. Non-transferrable includes applying your balance to another person, another year or another trip. Should you cancel for any reason, you will forfeit your trip investment. Therefore, travel insurance for every trip is highly recommended. All cancellations must be received in writing.
Not included in price: All items not specifically listed under tour features. The race entry fee and required Brazilian visa is additional.
Insurance: For your protection, trip cancellation, baggage, health and accident insurance is highly recommended for all participants. However, no representation or description of the insurance made by our staff constitutes a binding assurance or promise about the insurance.
Travel Insurance for U.S. Residents
Travel Insurance for Canadian ResidentsSecurity Policy: Marathon Tours & Travel’s security policy requires that anyone staying in our room block must be registered as part of our package. If a registered client attempts to house a non-registered guest and /or invite them to attend any of our scheduled activities, the registered guest’s tour package will be forfeited and parties may be denied access to future tours. Please note that no exceptions will be made as this policy will be strictly enforced.
Responsibility: These tours are operated by Marathon Tours, Inc. of Chelsea, MA who acts only as an agent for the passenger to the companies offering such services and assumes no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity caused by any reason whatsoever by any party offering such services. All terms and conditions offered are governed by the laws of Massachusetts. The right is reserved to cancel the tour prior to departure with a refund, less applicable credit card and processing fees, made as full settlement to the passenger. The right is reserved by Marathon Tours, Inc. to deny acceptance of a booking application by any person. Marathon Tours, Inc. may make any changes or alterations in the itinerary as it deems necessary for the proper handling of the tour. The sole responsibility of any airline used is limited to that set out in the passenger contract evidenced by the ticket. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time that the passengers are not on board their aircraft.
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