PANAMA · RUNNING
Key Facts
- —The date Sunday 15 November 2026, the 50th Panama International Marathon, first run in 1976.
- —The start 4 a.m. for the marathon, which is also 4 a.m. Eastern time because the US clocks go back on 1 November.
- —Where it is Panama City, with the start and finish in the parking area of the InterContinental Miramar hotel on the bay.
- —Entries and prices Sold on maratoninternacionaldepanama.com; 2026 prices are unconfirmed, and 2025 early-bird entry was US$65 for the marathon and US$30 for 5 km.
- —How to watch No live broadcast or stream has been announced for the US.
- —For US visitors Americans need no visa for stays under 180 days, but must show an onward ticket and at least US$500.
The 50th Panama International Marathon starts at 4 a.m. on Sunday 15 November 2026 in Panama City. For US runners it is a certified course, in US dollars, on the same clock as the East Coast.
The Panama International Marathon follows the bay and the Cinta Costera waterfront and finishes where it starts, at the InterContinental Miramar hotel. Entries are sold online, though the 2026 prices, kit pickup and extra start times have not yet been published.
What the Panama International Marathon Is
The Panama International Marathon is the country’s best-known road race, and the 2026 edition is its 50th. The official map prints 1976 to 2026, and the Club Corredores del Istmo, a Panama City running club, runs it under president Gregorio Miro.
The race offers a full marathon of 42.195 km, a half marathon, a 10 km, a 5 km and relay teams. The official course map says the 42 km route is certified by World Athletics, the sport’s governing body, and by AIMS, the road-race association.
For US readers, the draw is a flat city course beside the sea in a country where the US dollar is in everyday use. The organisers moved the 2026 race to 15 November, according to Panama’s daily Panama America, to avoid a clash with the Costa Rica marathon.
Football fans have a reason to visit too, since the national team <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/panama-world-cup-history/”>qualified for the 2026 World Cup</a>. A race weekend fits easily into a short trip from most US hubs.
Schedule and Start Times in Eastern Time
The Panama International Marathon starts at 4 a.m. on Sunday 15 November 2026, according to the race site and the organising club. Panama does not use daylight saving time and sits at UTC minus 5.
US clocks fall back on Sunday 1 November, so from that day Eastern time is also UTC minus 5. On race day a 4 a.m. start in Panama City is therefore 4 a.m. in New York, Miami and Washington.
Runners in Chicago and Dallas should subtract an hour, so the start is 3 a.m. Central time. Those on the West Coast should subtract two hours, which makes it 1 a.m. Pacific time.
The start and finish are in the parking area of the InterContinental Miramar hotel, according to the official course map. Start times for the half marathon, 10 km and 5 km have not been published for 2026.
In 2025 the half marathon and relays started at 5:45 a.m. and the 5 km at 6 a.m., the organisers announced then. Treat those times only as a guide until the 2026 schedule is posted.
The Course Along the Bay
Runners leave the Miramar hotel and reach the 5 km mark opposite the Ministry of Public Works on Avenida Balboa. The 10 km mark comes as they leave the marine corridor, the road built over the water, toward Cinta Costera 3.
The route then follows the Amador causeway, with the 15 km mark before the Figali convention centre and the turn at the Flamingo island gate. The 20 km mark comes just after that turn, and the half marathon mark follows at 21 km.
On the way back, the 25 km mark is where runners leave the new marine stretch toward Cinta Costera 3. The 30 km mark is on Cinta Costera 1, and the 35 km mark is at the Punta Pacifica hospital.
The 40 km mark is where runners enter the deprimido, the sunken road under the city’s main avenue. The finish at 42.195 km is back in the hotel parking area.
The Panama International Marathon course is mostly flat and runs beside the water, so the main challenge is the weather. Panama’s rainy season normally runs until December, so expect warm, humid air even at 4 a.m.
Entries, Prices and How to Register
Entries for the Panama International Marathon are sold through the official race website, which sends runners to a registration page run by the platform Njuko. The site lists the 5 km, 10 km, 21 km, 42 km and relay events, and relay teams register through a separate link.
The site says online card payments were under maintenance when the page was last checked. Runners who paid by Yappy, a Panamanian payment app, or at the Seiko boutique can use a verification link to register.
The 2026 price list has not been confirmed on the website. A Panama America report in March 2026 quoted US$60 for the marathon, US$50 for the half marathon and US$30 for the 5 km.
The race site still shows 2025 early-bird prices of US$65 for the marathon, US$65 for the half marathon and US$30 for the 5 km. It adds US$5 for taxes and online service, so check the final price at checkout.
Places in the Panama International Marathon have sold out early before, since Panama America reported that entries closed early in 2025. Runners who want a place should not wait for the race month.
Register only on the official site or at the sponsor’s shop, and keep the confirmation email. The organisers have not said whether foreign runners need a medical certificate.
Getting There and Where to Stay
Most US runners heading to the Panama International Marathon will fly into Tocumen International Airport, the country’s main gateway, which sits east of the city. For routes and fares from US cities, see <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/flight-to-panama/”>our guide to flights to Panama from the United States</a>.
The start is at the InterContinental Miramar hotel on the bay, so staying there or nearby avoids a long ride before a 4 a.m. start. The race site links to a hotel booking page, but it does not state a room rate or a race package.
Public transport at that hour is unreliable, and the State Department advises caution on public transport because of theft. Use a ride-hailing app or a licensed taxi, and agree the fare first, since taxis have no meters.
Book the ride the evening before and ask the driver to wait until you are at the start gate. Streets near the course may close early on race morning, so allow extra time.
Safety, Entry Rules and Costs for US Visitors
Americans need no visa for stays under 180 days, according to the US State Department, but passports must be valid for three months beyond arrival. Officers can ask for an onward ticket and proof of at least US$500.
The State Department rates Panama at Level 2, which means exercise increased caution because of crime, in its advisory of 19 August 2026. It names pickpocketing and purse snatching in tourist areas and tells visitors not to resist a robbery.
Race day itself is dark and early, so carry only a phone, a card and your bib and leave watches and jewellery at the hotel. Do not leave bags in a parked car, because break-ins are a common warning for visitors.
Panama uses US dollar notes in daily life, so no currency exchange is needed. The Tourist Police in Panama City can be reached at 511-9260, and the US Embassy at +507 317 5000 around the clock.
The State Department also asks travellers to enrol in its free STEP alert service before they go. Runners should carry a copy of their passport and travel insurance details on race day.
What Is Not Confirmed Yet
For the Panama International Marathon, the 2026 prices, kit pickup details and start times for the shorter races have not been published. In 2025 kits were handed out at the Miramar hotel on the Friday and Saturday before the race.
The prize money for 2026 is listed on the official site only as coming soon. The organisers have not announced an elite field or a time limit for the marathon.
No live broadcast or stream of the Panama International Marathon has been announced for US viewers, and no prediction market covers the race. Results for earlier editions are posted on the official race site, and the 2026 results are likely to appear there too.
More: Latin America news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Panama International Marathon 2026?
The marathon is on Sunday 15 November 2026 and starts at 4 a.m. Panama time. That is also 4 a.m. Eastern time, because the US clocks go back on 1 November.
How do I enter the Panama International Marathon?
Entries are sold online through the official race website, which links to a Njuko registration page. The 2026 prices have not been confirmed, and 2025 early-bird prices were US$65 for the marathon.
Do US citizens need a visa to run in Panama?
No, Americans can run the Panama International Marathon on a tourist stay of up to 180 days, according to the US State Department. They need a passport valid for three months, an onward ticket and proof of at least US$500.
Sources: Maraton Internacional de Panama, official race site (2026 edition, entries, routes), accessed 16 October 2026; Maraton Internacional de Panama, 2026 course map (42 km), accessed 16 October 2026; Club Corredores del Istmo, race listing for 15 November 2026, accessed 16 October 2026; Panama America, Maraton Internacional de Panama festeja 50 anos, 18 March 2026; US State Department, Panama International Travel Information, advisory issued 19 August 2026, accessed 16 October 2026.
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error
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