Lost City Marathon and Half-Marathon
If you have questions regarding Marathon Tours & Travel’s Lost City Marathon Packages please: EMAIL OUR TRIP DESIGNER or CALL 617-242-7845
Follow the footsteps of the Maya and find yourself at the inaugural Lost City Marathon! Nestled in the dense rainforests of the Chiapas region on the Yucatan peninsula, the ancient Mayan city of Palenque, famous for its well preserved and impressive Mayan architecture, offers the start line for a trail Marathon of unrivaled lush vegetation and breathtaking beauty.
Only 10% of Palenque has been fully discovered and along with providing a fascinating glimpse into the religious and cultural practices of the Maya people which thrived in this once vibrant and powerful city, it has now been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical and cultural significance.
Featuring both a marathon and a half marathon, the awe-inspiring route follows jungle trails, majestic rivers, picturesque ranches, and small villages. It will be a challenging race crossing various surfaces, including water and steep hills, but certainly worth getting your feet wet.
Keep your eyes open and enjoy the rich bird life and look for the different species of butterflies found on the open planes – there are over a hundred! Howler monkeys, scarlet macaws & toucans can be found in the jungle if you step lightly (they often scatter when runners approach). If you are lucky enough to spot a howler monkey, know that they sometimes amuse themselves by throwing small branches from the treetops at onlookers who stop to stare.
Meals Included
Meals per the itinerary
Guide
English-speaking Tour Leader
Transfers
Airport transfers
Accommodation
Standard or Deluxe Rooms
Entry
Guaranteed Entry
Celebration Party
Celebration Dinner
Travel Package Information
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Itinerary
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Thursday, February 20
Welcome to Villahermosa and Palenque, México. Plan your arrival to Villahermosa (VSA). Seven flights arrive from Mexico City daily. A representative will meet you at the airport and Villahermosa airport busses will be waiting to transport you to Palenque (2.5 hours drive). Guests can check into the hotel in Palenque after 3:00PM. (no meals included)
Friday, February 21
Today, we will drive to the Maya ruins of Palenque where you will start your run. The Palenque ruins were once a great Mayan city but perished on the brink of the 9th century after almost 1000 years of existence. Its location between the flat Yucatan and the mountains, positioned Palenque to become a connecting center for several city states and, as such, had some of the finest architecture of all the Maya cities. It is estimated that only 10% of the buildings have been excavated with the rest of the city still lost to the jungle. After the guided tour, you will have time to explore the area on your own before the bus leaves. Before returning to our respective hotels, runners will meet at the Chan-Kah Jungle Resort for lunch and a race briefing by the race officials. You will receive your race packets and important details about tomorrow’s race will be explained and questions answered.Back at your hotel the rest of the afternoon can be used to relax at the hotel or take a stroll through Palenque. In the evening a pasta buffet dinner is served at your hotel. (Breakfast, lunch & dinner included)Saturday, February 22
Race Day! Enjoy an early breakfast at your hotel and catch a bus at 6:00AM to take all runners & spectators to the start. Runners will be dropped off at the parking lot outside the Palenque Archeological Zone where personal belongings for the finish can be left. The race will start in waves at 7:00 AM, with marathon runners in the first waves and half marathon runners in the last waves. 10 minutes before the start of each wave, runners in that wave will enter the Archeological Zone and line up. Item that are not being used for the race may not be taken into the Archeological Zone. Nothing can be left within the first 3km of the start. The finish line is located at the Chiapaneca restaurant where runners will enjoy a post-race meal. Shuttle buses bring runners back to their hotels. (Breakfast, Lunch at finish area, Dinner & Dinner included)
Sunday, February 23
Optional Excursion and Celebration Dinner. After yesterday’s run you have the option to relax at the hotel pool or take another visit to the Palenque ruins on your own. Additionally, you can book the optional excursion to the Agua Azul and Misol-ha Waterfalls with our Adventure guides. The Misol-Ha is a single drop 25-meter-high waterfall that plunges into a circular crystal-=clear pool surrounded by lush vegetation. A boardwalk will bring you safely behind the waterfalls, giving you a spectacular and awe-inspiring view. In the evening, enjoy a celebratory dinner with your new friends! (Breakfast & celebration dinner included) (Excursion also includes lunch)
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Monday, February 17
Welcome to Playa del Carmen! Plan your arrival to Cancún airport (CUN) and be transferred to Playa del Carmen (45-60 minute drive) according to your arrival time. Luggage can be stored at your hotel if you arrive before 3:00PM giving you time to enjoy the beach or stroll the city when you arrive. Pre-nights are available if you’d like your room ready before 3:00PM or wish extra time to explore. (Deluxe Package: all-inclusive upon check in | Standard Package: no meals included)
Tuesday, February 18
Today you have a full day to relax by the beach and enjoy Playa del Carmen. (Deluxe Package: all-inclusive | Standard Package: Breakfast included)Wednesday, February 19
Chichén Itza, Cenote and Campeche. After breakfast it is time to say goodbye to the beach as we head inland for the amazing Chichén Itzá. Named one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World in 2007, Chichén Itzá is the most famous of the Maya cities is home to El Castillo – a geometrical, astronomical and architechtural masterpiece that rises majestically in the center of the archeological zone. Chichén Itzá has many excavated and reconstructed buildings including one of the finest ball courts from the period of the Maya. After our guided tour in Chichén Itzá we continue our journey west, making a stop by a cenote for a swim. Cenotes are sinkholes where the limestone bedrock has collapsed and exposed groundwater. The Maya used these as a source of fresh water while today they are more popular as natural swimming pools. In the evening we reach the coastal city of Campeche – an often-overlooked gem of the Yucatan peninsula. The city center has well preserved Baroque colonial buildings and a walled historical district. (Breakfast included)
Thursday, February 20
Today starts with sightseeing in Campeche before heading to Palenque, a town located 8km from the Maya ruins of Palenque. A vibrant square and several good restaurants will delight you. (Breakfast included)
Friday, February 21
Today, we will drive to the Maya ruins of Palenque where you will start your run. The Palenque ruins were once a great Mayan city but perished on the brink of the 9th century after almost 1000 years of existence. Its location between the flat Yucatan and the mountains, positioned Palenque to become a connecting center for several city states and, as such, had some of the finest architecture of all the Maya cities. It is estimated that only 10% of the buildings have been excavated with the rest of the city still lost to the jungle. After the guided tour, you will have time to explore the area on your own before the bus leaves. Before returning to our respective hotels, runners will meet at the Chan-Kah Jungle Resort for lunch and a race briefing by the race officials. You will receive your race packets and important details about tomorrow’s race will be explained and questions answered. Back at your hotel the rest of the afternoon can be used to relax at the hotel or take a stroll through Palenque. In the evening a pasta buffet dinner is served at your hotel. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)Saturday, February 22
Race Day! Enjoy an early breakfast at your hotel and catch a bus at 6:00AM to take all runners & spectators to the start. Runners will be dropped off at the parking lot outside the Palenque Archeological Zone where personal belongings for the finish can be left. The race will start in waves at 7:00 AM, with marathon runners in the first waves and half marathon runners in the last waves. 10 minutes before the start of each wave, runners in that wave will enter the Archeological Zone and line up. Item that are not being used for the race may not be taken into the Archeological Zone. Nothing can be left within the first 3km of the start. The finish line is located at the Chiapaneca restaurant where runners will enjoy a post-race meal. Shuttle buses bring runners back to their hotels.(Breakfast, lunch at finish area, and dinner included)
Sunday, February 23
Optional excursion and celebration dinner. After yesterday’s run you have the option to relax at the hotel pool or take another visit to the Palenque ruins on your own. Additionally, you can book the optional excursion to the Agua Azul and Misol-ha Waterfalls with our Adventure guides. The Misol-Ha is a single drop 25-meter-high waterfall that plunges into a circular crystal-=clear pool surrounded by lush vegetation. A boardwalk will bring you safely behind the waterfalls, giving you a spectacular and awe-inspiring view. In the evening, enjoy a celebratory dinner with your new friends! (Breakfast, lunch with optional excursion, and dinner included)
Monday, February 24
Our time in Palenque has come to an end. Today we will check out of our hotel and drive to Mérida to spend the night. Mérida is the capital of the state of Yucatan and has a rich cultural heritage of both the Maya and Spanish periods. It is also known to be the safest city in all of Mexico. (Breakfast included)
Tuesday, February 25
After an early breakfast our bus will take us from Mérida to the airport in Cancún. Expected arrival is at 12:00 PM, so please keep this in mind when booking your flight home. If your flight home does not match the bus arrival time, post-nights are available at the airport. (Breakfast included)
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Packages & Rates
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Lost City Marathon Tour | Four-Night Package: February 20 – 24, 2025Lost City Marathon Tour | Eight-Night Package: February 17 – 25, 2025Features:
- Four or Eight-Night Hotel Accommodations
- Airport/hotel transfers
- Bus transportation as described in the program
- Meals per itinerary
- Snack lunch and one beer or soft drink at the finish area after race
- Celebration dinner
- Guided tour to Palenque ruins including entry ticket
- Guided tour to Chichén Itzá ruins including entry ticket
- English-speaking tour leader
- Guaranteed race entry (additional $265)
Note: If choosing the Deluxe Package, your stay in Playa del Carmen is all inclusive (some food and alcoholic beverages at a fee).
Race entry includes:- English-speaking race officials
- English-speaking medical team from Denmark
- Timing and results
- Medal
- Craft Runners T-shirt
- Manned water and energy drink stations along the route
- Collapsible cup for hydration
- Transportation to start area and from finish area to hotel
Not Included:
- Optional excursions
- Travel and health insurance
- Meals not stated in the itinerary
- Beverages
- Personal expenses
- Anything not mentioned under Package Features
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance for U.S. Residents
Travel Insurance for Canadian ResidentsRates (all prices are per person in US dollars) – 2025 Rates Coming Soon
Package Options Double Occupancy Single Occupancy Four-Night Package: Standard $1040 per person $1200 Four-Night Package: Deluxe $1360 per person $1725 Eight-Night Package: Standard $1570 per person $2045 Eight-Night Package: Deluxe $2095 per person $2820 Marathon and Half-Marathon Entry Fee $265 per entry
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Hotels
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Four-Night Deluxe Package: Chan-Kah Resort Village Palenque
All rooms are built as an independent “villa” and located under the trees. The resort pool has been built to resemble a cenote and is ideal for a relaxing day.
Four-Night Standard Package: Maya Tulipanes HotelCentrally located in the town of Palenque you will find many restaurants nearby and the town square is a short 10-minute walk away. The hotel has a pool and relaxing courtyard with trees to offer shade during the hottest hours of the day.
Eight-Night Deluxe PackageViva Wyndham Azteca, Playa del Carmen (2-nights): Located directly on the beach, this all-inclusive hotel has it all!
Gamme Campeche Hotel, Campeche (1-night): Welcoming hotel with comfortable spaces, an outdoor pool and restaurants offering local cuisine. The hotel welcomes you to make yourself at home.
Chan-Kah Resort Village, Palenque (4-nights): All rooms are built as an independent “villas” and located under the trees. The resort pool has been built to resemble a cenote and is ideal for a relaxing day. Treat yourself to a body scrub, a body wrap, or a facial at SPA Y TEMAZCAL CHAN-KAH, the onsite spa.
El Castellano hotel, Mérida (1-night): Located in the city center, you are close to the main square of the city and just steps from the Cathedral. This hotel offers local flavor and traditional richness with the, the comforts of an outdoor pool and gym facilities.
Eight-Night Standard PackageHacienda Paradise, Playa del Carmen (2-nights): Located just one block from the beach and right on the edge of the town center you will have access to all of Playa del Carmens treats at an affordable level.
Misión Campeche Hotel, Campeche (1-night)
Maya Tulipanes, Palenque (4-nights): Centrally located in the town of Palenque you will find many restaurants nearby and the town square is a short 10-minute walk away. The hotel has a pool and relaxing courtyard with trees to offer shade during the hottest hours of the day.
Del Gobernador Hotel, Mérida (1-night)
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Event Information
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Race Date: Feb 22, 2025
Race Time: Marathon and Half-Marathon will start in waves with the first wave departing Palenque at 7:00AM. The number of waves depends on the number of registered runners.
Course: Starting in Palenque, both Marathon and Half-Marathon runners will pass by remnants of the ancient Maya city through lush jungle trails for the first 3km at which time the path turns downhill and changes to asphalt and gravel road until you reach the foothills of the mountains. Here it begins to ascend and soon after the Half-Marathoners turn off to complete a relatively flat loop through ranches and the village of Cardenas and the finish line. The Marathon route continues to ascend from the junction point and ventures onto narrow trails, challenging hills and refreshing river crossings before heading downhill to run the Half-Marathon loop before crossing the finish line.
Temperature: February is one of the driest months in Mexico, with hot weather and pleasant water temperatures. You can expect an average daily high of around 80°F. It is one of the most popular months to visit as it is not too hot and there is very little chance of rain. Shorts and T-shirt/singlet are preferred by many, but you may opt for long tights and sleeves to avoid ticks when running through the jungle.
Entry Fee: Our guaranteed race entry with our four or eight-night package is $265 for the marathon or half-marathon. It includes transportation to the start, a race T-shirt, finishers medal and lunch after the race at La Chiapaneca Restaurant. Your entry is guaranteed after receipt of a completed tour application form and deposit.
Time Limit: The Marathon and Half-Marathon course time limit is seven (7) hours NET.
Difficulty: Challenging hilly course on trails and gravel roads. Half-Marathon is somewhat flatter.
For more information click here
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Registration & Booking
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Reservations and Payments: A completed tour application together with a deposit of $400 per guest must be received before confirming your reservations. Final payment must be received before November 1, 2024. Final payments received after November 1, 2024, will be charged a $50 late payment fee.
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. Land Prices may change due to currency fluctuations.
Insurance: For your protection, trip cancellation, baggage, health and accident insurance are 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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Recommended Resources
Meet the Reps
Marcie Clawson
Trip Designer | Cycling Product Manager
Marcie Clawson
Trip Designer | Cycling Product Manager
Born and raised in Canada, Marcie discovered the magic of road cycling in grade six after earning a 10-speed bike selling oranges for her school fundraiser. Although active in soccer, basketball and rowing during her school years, she admits that physical activity took a backseat to a career in design.
While raising her kids in New England, she rekindled her love of cycling in 2016 and, as a personal challenge, added running and swimming in 2018 to compete in her first 70.3 Triathlon in Prague, CZ to celebrate her 50th birthday. Since then, she has completed two full and five half distance triathlons; and a number of gravel and CX races. Her love of travel and cycling has spurred her to ride her bike more than 24,000 miles in the last six years including multi-day adventures across Czech Republic and three different states. She has circumvented Lake Champlain and conquered mountains in Austria, Canada and the US on two wheels.
Though competitive in nature and fueled by the excitement of a new venue, Marcie found that her greatest joy in racing Triathlon came from the challenge of planning for the unexpected and getting to know people along the course, hearing their stories and motivations and finding out their “WHY”.
A self-admitted “Jack of all trades”, Marcie comes to MTT with work experiences as both a bicycle mechanic and a producer of custom cycling endurance apparel. Marcie currently manages running packages to Big Five, Petra, Iceland Volcano, Polar Circle, Midnight Marathon, Lost City, First Light, Queenstown, Great Wall, and our very own Patagonia Running Festival. She is excited be a part of your journey and to help you to achieve your “WHY”.
