PC12 Adventure Race returns to Colombia in July 2026

The PC12 Adventure Race will hold its fifth edition in Colombia from July 12 to 18, 2026, as a 500-kilometer Adventure Racing World Series qualifier. The event will draw 15 international teams and award the winner a free entry to the 2026 Adventure Racing World Championship in Corsica.

Why it matters: - PC12 is one of adventure racing’s toughest qualifying events, and the 2026 winner will lock in a free entry to the Adventure Racing World Championship in Corsica. - The race showcases Colombia as a destination for high-endurance, multi-discipline expedition racing across remote terrain. - The course is designed to test athletes with trekking, biking, paddling, rope work, caving and packrafting over 500 kilometers.

What happened: - The PC12 Adventure Race will return for its fifth edition from July 12 to 18, 2026. - The race is a 500-kilometer, non-stop, unassisted expedition event and an Adventure Racing World Series qualifier. - The event will start Sunday, July 12, at 09:12 from an undisclosed location. - Teams will gather in Zipaquirá, about 50 kilometers north of Bogotá, before the start. - The opening ceremony will take place at the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, an underground Roman Catholic church built 200 meters below ground in a salt mine. - Teams will attend a briefing at 17:12 on July 10 and begin moving toward an intermediate location on July 11 before the mystery start.

The details: - Race director Juan Diego Aristizabal said the 2026 course will include caves, canyons, rivers, high mountain moors and viewpoints. - The route will run through Boyacá and Santander. - The multi-discipline course includes trekking, mountain biking, paddling, rope work, speleology and Class 3 packrafting. - Organizers say the race keeps logistics aligned to the course, even when that means moving gear boxes and bikes by boats or mules. - The race name comes from a past expedition mishap involving a misplaced checkpoint labeled PC12. - Organizers turned that nickname into a signature feature: a surprise checkpoint with food and sometimes showers or beds, often tied to a community project. - The race always starts 12 minutes past the hour. - This year’s theme is “From the depths of the earth, where raw nature breathes and the soul awakens.” - The event is known for interactions with locals in remote villages and for highlighting Colombia’s colors, flavors and hospitality.

Between the lines: - The field is deep enough to make the title race competitive, but Vidaraid enters as the clear favorite based on its record in South American expedition racing. - The mystery-start format and logistics-heavy course reinforce the race’s identity as a true expedition, not a standardized endurance event. - By centering the Salt Cathedral and remote landscapes, the race blends sport, tourism and local terrain into one branded experience.

What's next: - Fifteen teams from Colombia, Spain, Brazil, Ireland, France, the U.S., Sweden and Costa Rica will line up for the 2026 edition. - Defending champions Vidaraid will race with Urtzi Iglesias, Jon Ander Arambalza, Marco Amselem and Rachel Nolan. - Other teams to watch include USWE x Terra Venture, 38.6 Degrees, Team Bois Raid / DSA, Team Avallon, Sleeper's, Explora Mayari Palante and SETI. - Live tracking and team updates will be available through the official event website and the race’s social channels. - The winning team will earn entry to the Adventure Racing World Championship 2026 in Corsica in October.

The bottom line: - PC12 2026 is set up as a brutal, scenic and highly competitive qualifier that could reshape the road to the world championship.