Desafío Doñana

Andalucía Desafío Doñana is a triathlon staged on the Atlantic coast of Huelva, around Matalascañas in the municipality of Almonte, beside Doñana National Park. The 16th edition took place on Saturday 17 October 2026 and combined the Spanish Long Distance Triathlon Championship and the Spanish Aquabike Championship with a middle-distance race. The date of the next edition has not been announced yet.

Routes and distances

• Long distance (Spanish championship): 3,000 m swim, 110 km bike, 30 km run.
• Aquabike (Spanish championship): 3,000 m swim and 110 km bike, with no run.
• Middle distance (Andalucía Desafío Doñana): 1.9 km swim, 72 km bike over two laps, 20 km run.

In the 2026 edition the swim started from Torre de la Higuera beach, the bike leg was a road loop between Matalascañas and Mazagón, and the run followed Matalascañas beach and the Doñana dune area. First starts were at 8:15 for the elite men, with age-group and aquabike waves from 8:20.

Registration

For the 2026 edition entries opened on 3 August and closed on 5 October, and 319 athletes were registered shortly before race day. Entry details for the next edition have not been published. Check the official website for updates.

Why race it

The event is organised by the Andalusian Regional Government, the Spanish Triathlon Federation and the Andalusian Triathlon Federation, with support from Almonte Town Council and the Huelva Provincial Council. It is a race for triathletes and aquabike athletes, but its bike leg, on flat coastal roads beside a national park, makes it relevant to cyclists who want to test themselves over 72 or 110 km.

Where to stay

Race weekend in Matalascañas means an early start, with the first waves entering the water at 8:15, so arriving the day before to register and rack your bike is the sensible plan. Accommodation along this stretch of the Huelva coast is limited and the pine forests and dunes of Doñana make for a quiet, restful night before a long day. Because the bike course links Matalascañas with Mazagón, staying on the Mazagón side also puts you on the roads you will be racing.

Parador de Mazagón – Mazagón, about 23 km from the start. This four-star hotel sits beside the beach within the natural surroundings of Doñana National Park, with an outdoor pool, gym and gardens for loosening up after the race. For cyclists it has a private, enclosed indoor space with bike parking boxes, a repair station and an inflation pump, plus bike rental, laundry for muddy or salty kit and air-conditioned rooms. It is a calm option for riders who want to keep the machine safe and race-ready, and the drive to Matalascañas leaves time for an unhurried breakfast before bib checks.

Book early for event weekend, when rooms near the coast fill quickly, and browse more cycling-friendly accommodation for other options in the area.