Quito Trail Ecuador by UTMB®

There’s a belief that the Earth has a belly button. And that navel is in Quito 🌍.

The capital of Ecuador is one of the few cities in the world built right on the line of the Equator at an altitude of 2 850 meters above sea level, making it officially the highest capital in the world after La Paz ⬆️. Good news: the organizers of the Quito Trail by UTMB have decided to make it the ultimate playground for runners who find standard races way too easy 🤪. In August, six race formats depart from and return to the heart of Quito, a city classified as an UNESCO World Heritage site 🌍. In other words, you finish your race by winding down into one of the best-preserved old colonial towns in Latin America. Imagine finishing an 80 km with views of the baroque façades of the 17th centurywhile your legs feel like jelly — epitome of an epic finish 🤩. And for a fun fact: Quito is nicknamed "La Carita de Dios" (the little face of God), because its landscapes are so stunning that even your aches won’t hurt as much! 😅

What makes this race truly unique is its route. The trails start in the tropical jungle and climb into the Andesinto a breathtaking biodiversity 🌿. Specifically, during the race you might encounter a giant hummingbirdor a spectacled bear. Or both at once (no guarantees, but keep your eyes peeled) 🐻. Each of the six races is named after iconic regional animals: the "80K Oso" (the Bear), is the ultramarathon of 76 kmand 4 400 mD+, with 3 Running Stones UTMB to boot 🤯. The "50K Nutria" (the Otter) offers 53 km and 2 800 mD+ 🦦, enough for a long haul without limping for a week 😬. The "30K Tucán" and the "20K Quinde" (the Hummingbird 🐦) offer a shorter adventure for those who want to enjoy without burning out 😎. And if you’re new to it, the "12K Humboldt", in honor of Alexander von Humboldt, the Prussian scientist who explored these lands in the 19th century and literally fell in love with them, and the "6K Rana" (the Frog 🐸) welcome everyone with open arms 🤗.

Running at 2 850 meters above sea level, that means a very concrete thing: the air is thinner 🫧. Available oxygen is about 25 to 30% lower than at sea level. In other words, your heart works harder, your breathing races, and what seemed like a small climb suddenly feels like a survival episode 🥵. That’s why international runners are strongly encouraged to arrive a few days early to acclimatize 🤓. Quito, an extraordinary city, is also worth lingering in, between local markets, volcanoes in view (the Pichincha towering just above the city 🌋) and standout Ecuadorian cuisine 🌮.

Being part of the UTMB World Series, it’s no accident. It means runners lining up here accumulate Running Stones, the precious passport to enter the draw for the UTMB Mont-Blanc—a trail race that’s arguably the most iconic on the planet 🌍. Every stride toward Quito is a step toward Chamonix. For the ambitious, it’s a wonderful way to turn a trip into South America into a strategic stop for a project that goes well beyond borders 😌.

Quita pursue animals, might as well do it at Quito Trail by UTMB ✨.