Captivating tourists

The 38th Marabana – Havana’s Marathon, returns as the most important sports venue of Cuba and of the Caribbean. Year after year the Cuban marathon brings together runners from all over the island and many participants from other countries, making it a grand international event.

This legendary race through the Cuban capital is the most important sports day of the year, last year drawing 3000 runners of which 500 were from other countries. This year’s edition also marks Havana’s 505th anniversary on 16 November, and the Marabana is included in the programme of cultural and sporting events to celebrate this anniversary. Events will take place in the city from 2–17 November under the slogan “Havana lives in me”.

Race number bibs will be handed out at the Tryp Melia Habana Libre Hotel from 13–16 November from 09.00 to 20.00, and from 15-16 November the race bib collection service will be open 24 hours a day. The official presentation of the Marabana – Havana Marathon will take place at the same location on Friday 15 November at 17.00.

The course runs through the most iconic places in the Cuban capital, those that captivate its visitors. The marathon takes place over two laps of a course, starting and finishing at the Ramón Font Multipurpose and Sports Centre. The route runs through Havana’s streets and avenues including: Paseo del Prado, Refugio, Av. Zulueta, De las Misiones, Malecón, Calzada, 12th Street, 23rd Street, 26th Avenue, Boyeros, Santa Catalina, Primelles, Vía Blanca, Boyeros, Salvador Allende, Reina and Paseo del Prado.

What really attracts the participants is the 8km seafront along the cinematic Malecón. The sound of the waves and the ambient music of the Cuban people are the perfect travelling companions for treasuring memories that will remain in the minds of the participants for life. The Malecón sums up the history and daily life of Havana, the best expression of the life of those who live in and provide the Cuban capital with colour.

Marabana – Maratón de La Habana seeks to involve everyone in its great celebration of Cuban sport. For this reason the event offers four different distances. International participants can choose which of the distances they want to run on the event’s website: the full marathon through the centre of Havana, a half marathon, a 10km run or a 5km run.

The Marabana – Maratón de La Habana, is certified as a member of AIMS (Association of Marathons and Distance Races) and stands out for the large number of runners coming from other countries. In 2019 this exceeded 60 nationalities. Havana’s Marathon starts and finishes in front of the monumental Capitol and is the only Cuban event officially certified as an international race.