Campeche 70.3 Logistics: Two Transitions, a Mandatory Shuttle, and Zero Improvising

Getting to Campeche

Campeche has an international airport just a few kilometers from the city, but most athletes arrive with at least one layover (typically via Mexico City). Plan your trip with margin: race reports from athletes who've made the trip describe long itineraries, and if you're traveling with your bike in a case, you want a buffer day for mishaps and reassembly.

Practical tip: land by Thursday for a Sunday race. You need time for check-in, bike drop-off, and at least a couple of days to acclimate to the heat.

Where to Stay

The organizer has named Hotel Katuxlan as the host hotel for 2026, with an advertised athlete rate from 2,480 MXN per night including breakfast (booking in advance, for stays from November 5 to 9). Other options mentioned in guides: Puerta Campeche, Casa Don Gustavo, Hotel Castelmar, Hotel Tucan Siho Playa.

The smart move: stay downtown, near the Sea Gate. T2, the finish line, check-in, and the morning shuttle all start from there. Your family sees you off on the shuttle, sees you three times on the run, and waits for you at the finish without moving the car.

The Key Point: Split Transitions

This race has T1 and T2 in different locations, and that changes everything logistically:

• T1 at Playa Bonita (Campeche Country Club grounds, south of the city): this is where the swim starts and where you rack your bike on Saturday.
• T2 and the finish at Moch Couoh Park, downtown, in front of the Sea Gate.

That means a gear bag system: the blue bag (bike gear) goes to T1, the red bag (run gear) goes to T2, both on Saturday. There's no going back to T1 after the race to grab forgotten running shoes: whatever isn't in the right bag, you don't have.

Pre-Race Timeline (from the 2025 guide, verify for 2026)

• Athlete check-in at the Campeche Convention Center in the days before the race.
• Bike check-in at Playa Bonita on Saturday, in 4 assigned time slots. Stick to your slot.
• Gear bags (blue and red) dropped off Saturday at their respective transitions.
• Bike pickup Sunday at T2 between 10:40 and 15:20: the organization transfers your bike, and you pick it up downtown. Convenient, but it means you won't see your bike Sunday morning until the start.

Race Morning: Mandatory Shuttle

There's no athlete parking at Playa Bonita. The only way to get to T1 is the free shuttle from the Sea Gate, from 4:00 to 4:30 AM, reserved for those with an athlete wristband. T1 opens at 4:15 and closes at 5:50, with a rolling start at 6:00.

Translation: wake up around 3:00-3:15, breakfast done, on the shuttle by 4:30. There is no plan B if you miss it. Set two alarms.

Registration and Slots

The 2025 edition sold out, and for 2026 the organizer has already flagged spots running low months before the race. If you're on the fence, decide early. The race awards slots for the 2027 70.3 World Championship; the exact number of slots for 2026 isn't available in the documentation we reviewed: check the official website.

For Supporters

Campeche is a UNESCO World Heritage colonial city, compact and pleasant: historic center, city walls, waterfront promenade. The three-loop run through downtown is ideal for spectating: your family sees you pass multiple times while staying in the same area. The finish at the Sea Gate is within walking distance of nearly every downtown hotel.

Logistics Checklist

• Flight arriving by Thursday, buffer day included.
• Hotel downtown, near the Sea Gate.
• Bike check-in time slot marked in your calendar.
• Blue and red bags packed Friday night, checked twice.
• Alarm at 3:00, on the shuttle by 4:30.
• Bike pickup at T2 by 15:20 on Sunday.

Campeche's logistics aren't complicated, but they are rigid. Show up prepared and on Sunday all you have to think about is racing.