Amazon expedition race turns Manaus into an endurance festival

By AI, Created 11:11 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – The Malacara Amazonas Expedition Race returns May 8-16, 2026, in Manaus, Brazil, blending a week-long sports festival with one of South America’s toughest adventure races. Elite teams from 15 countries will compete for a place at the Adventure Racing World Championship in Corsica, raising the stakes for a course that runs deep into the Amazon rainforest.

Why it matters: - Malacara Amazonas is using Manaus as a launchpad for a global endurance event that combines elite competition, tourism and public programming. - The race winner earns a free entry to the Adventure Racing World Championship in Corsica in October, making the event a direct gateway to the sport’s top stage. - The course is designed to test teams in one of the world’s harshest environments, with heat, water, isolation and navigation all part of the challenge.

What happened: - The 2026 Malacara Amazonas Expedition Race begins May 8 in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. - The event runs through May 16 and centers on the Ponta Negra waterfront, which becomes the official Malacara Arena. - Teams gather for an opening ceremony on May 9. - The race starts at 10:00 a.m. on May 10. - Athletes race in the Amazon from May 10-15. - The event is the 4th Adventure Racing World Series Qualifier of 2026. - The race is supported by Manaus City and Suunto Brazil.

The details: - Malacara Amazonas combines a world-class expedition race with a week-long sports and entertainment festival. - The arena program includes live music, beach volleyball, beach tennis, powerlifting, a public road race, sponsor activations and cultural experiences. - The race course includes long kayaking sections through remote waterways. - Competitors will face mountain bike stages in wet jungle terrain. - Trekking sections will take athletes through flooded forest. - Teams must deal with constant humidity, relentless water exposure, sleep deprivation and day-and-night racing. - Wildlife encounters are part of the environment, along with racing and navigating in true isolation. - Race Director Benito Brocca said the Amazon is “more difficult than you imagine.” - Brocca said athletes must manage their feet, gear, minds and teamwork “every hour.” - Teams from 15 nations are expected on the start line in Manaus. - Defending champions Team Kailas Fuga, formerly Brazil Multisport, are ranked No. 4 in the world. - Team Kailas Fuga includes Thai ultra runner and adventure racer Jay Jantaraboon. - Brazilian team Lagartixa is ranked No. 24 in the world. - Uruguay Ultra Sports is ranked No. 13 in the world. - Estonia’s Tactical Foodpack is ranked No. 16 in the world.

Between the lines: - Malacara Amazonas is positioning Manaus as a destination where major-city access and deep-wilderness racing can coexist. - The format gives the event broader appeal than a single race day, with festival programming aimed at fans, families and visitors. - The qualifier structure adds pressure because entry to the World Championship is now closed, leaving qualifying wins as the only path in. - The race also signals growing international interest in South American expedition racing, with strong teams from Brazil, Uruguay and Europe in the field.

What’s next: - Fans can follow live satellite tracking at live satellite tracking. - Live updates will also appear on ARWS live coverage and @malacararace on Instagram. - The Adventure Racing World Series will continue to publish updates across its media channels. - The winning team will secure the Malacara title and a place at the World Championship in Corsica in October.

The bottom line: - Malacara Amazonas is built as both a festival and a survival test, but only the teams that handle the Amazon’s physical and mental grind will finish near the top.