'El Río', an event you should not miss at La Graciosa
The Canary Islands are a worldwide destination thanks to their large and famous sporting events. Many sport lovers keep visiting these islands to participate in such events including races and competitions.
The next sporting event will be held on the 5th October 2019. It is one of the most famous events in the Canary Islands and it attracts the attention of many participants, as also a huge audience who wants to enjoy the atmosphere of competition. It is a swimming-crossing event called “El Río” – it is already its 17th edition!
What is this event about? It is a an open water swimming where participants must swim across the stretch, starting at Lanzarote – Playa Bajo el Risco – and finishing at Caleta de Sebo, in La Graciosa.
Its name ‘El Río’ has its origin in the marine reserve located between Lanzarote and La Graciosa, where this event is carried out. It is the biggest marine reserve in Spain and one of the most loved places in the Canary Islands.
The distance that participants should swim is 2600 meters (aprox. 1,62 miles) that must be completed maximum in one hour – the countdown starts after the first participant reaches the finish line. It is definitely a difficult challenge, which means it is necessary to be fit to participate in it.
Lanzarote, worldwide referent in big sporting events
This popular swimming event started in 1993. 50 participants accepted the challenge to swim from Lanzarote to La Graciosa in its first edition. Since then, the participants lists always get full, reaching a total of 675 adult participants and 50 young participants between 14 and 17 years old.
The event usually starts around 1pm. Previously the participants arrive at the starting point at Bajo Risco in Lanzarote by the event organization’s boats ahead of the start of the competition.
Due to the huge amount of spectators the event organization recomends to book the ferry tickets from Lanzarote to La Graciosa in advance. Get your ferry ticket online here from here – and avoid the queues and make the most of your free time.
In this video, you can watch a documentary about the 25th edition of 2017 ‘El Río’.
You can also follow the last event arrangement of this year on social media! Through the #TnELRIO hashtag or @Travesiaelrio the official Twitter account of the event, as you can always find information about the previous events in the last years on the internet.
You will be able to see the 5th October’s live results through the app ‘Tracking Sport’ – the audience will be able to get the event progress updates on the Lanzarote Deportes website too!
If you want to participate in the next year’s edition, keep an eye on the application period – which starts at early July and it is closed in late August. So, in order to not miss your opportunity to sign up, stay tuned to official updates!
Lanzarote’s population feels really proud to know their island is an excellent sporting destination and international sports referent. Apart from ‘El Río’, some high level competitions and different sports are carried out in the Canary Islands.
Due to its excellent weather, diverse geography and the passion for sports, Lanzarote has become a worldwide sporting events destination. Each year elite athletes travel to the island. People from around the world arrive in Lanzarote to compete in different sports: triathlon, trail, running, cycling, mountain bike, golf, swimming, surfing, windsurf, sailing, diving and many other sports.
Throughout the year, there are worldwide recognized sporting events in Lanzarote, such as Octava Isla Challenge, Ironman Lanzarote, Lanzarote International Marathon, European Freestyle Protour, Lanzarote International Triathlon, Volcano Triathlon, Famara Total, San Ginés International boat race, or the Haria Extreme Lanzarote, and more. All of them are high level competitions. There are not only competitions for professional athletes, but events for amateurs in Lanzarote as well. For all family members, with special events for children – like the Sailfish Lanzarote Open Water or the NU-TRI-CROSS – and other competitions for couples – such as the Swim Run Lanzarote.
In order to find information about all sports competitions on the island throughout the year, you can visit the website Deportes del Cabildo de Lanzarote, where you will find all what you need to know about upcoming events: schedule, application period and signing up requirements.
Make the most of your visit to Lanzarote and La Graciosa
After the competition, make the most of your stay and discover all that you can see in Lanzarote. Get ready to be astonished by its landscapes, enjoy its beaches, its mountains, volcanos, and the tasty Canary cuisine.
And of course, to participate in ‘El Río’ in the future!
