What is Jungle Marathon Brazil?
Jungle Marathon is an extreme footrace that takes place in the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, in the protected Tapajos National Forest.
What is the distance?
The race offers 3 distances: a marathon distance of 42km, a 4 stages 127km distance and a 6 stages 254km distance.
Do I need to be an experienced ultra runner to take part?
No. The race is open to anyone over 18 with a sense of adventure. You need to have a reasonable level of fitness, but mental tenacity is as important as physical fitness. Why not start with the marathon or 4 stage race, and then come back in the future and tackle the 6 stage event?
What kind of people take part?
Over the years we have had competitors from all over the world from 18 to 70 years old. They vary in levels of fitness, and come from all walks of life. Students, professionals, firemen, military personnel, retired individuals, bankers, beauticians, models, chefs, we even had a porn star join us one year!
They all share the same sense of adventure and a desire to test their limits against nature.
Who organises the race?
The race is organised by Shirley Thompson, the pioneer of extreme races in the Jungle, who commands a team of over 200 staff during the race to ensure you are well cared for.
How much does it cost?
The entry fee is £2,500 UKL. This can be paid in installments by either bank transfer, credit card or paypal.
How many competitors take part?
We have a field limit of 75 as our race takes place in a protected area of jungle and we need to ensure that there is no impact on the environment.
How do I get to the race start?
You need to fly to the airport of Santarem in the State of Para in Northern Brazil. Then take a taxi to the village of Alter do Chao, which is about 30km from Santarem airport and it is here you will join the river boat that sails to the jungle.
Do I need any vaccinations to travel to the Amazon?
Check with your local GP or travel clinic.
We recommend yellow fever. You should also consider taking anti malaria medication
Do I need a visa?
Check with your local Brazilian Embassy. Normally citizens of Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada and China and Japan will require visas. Jungle Marathon can provide you with a letter stating that you are taking part in the race.
Is the jungle dangerous?
Yes. The jungle is a potentially dangerous environment, but we do everything we can to minimize risk. (please read the “your safety” section). That said, we do expect every participant to be vigilant at all times and to follow our advice on Jungle Safety.
Will I see wild animals or snakes?
You may well encounter snakes on the trail from time to time especially if it has been raining. Other animals tend to run away or camouflage themselves.
Each year 2 or 3 runners encounter a jaguar, and many hear them at night. You may see monkeys scurrying between the trees, caiman and piranha on the river crossings and anaconda in the swamps. You will hear and see a host of beautiful birds and giant butterflies. You may see river dolphins in the Tapajos especially during the sail to base camp. Shuffle your feet when you enter the Tapajos, as there are often stingray.
What about insects? Will I get bitten?
There are thousands of species of insects, but you will generally not be bothered by them during the day. Use a good insect repellent at sunrise and sunset, the most popular time for mosquitos.There are ticks in the swamps and thousands of ants. Watch out for the bullet ant which can give you a nasty sting.
Never sit on the jungle floor unless you have something to sit on.
What is the terrain like?
The jungle terrain is very undulating, you will have lots of climbs and descents, which are not high but are steep. If it has been raining, these slopes tend to be very muddy and challenging to climb. You will often cross streams , so expect to have wet feet during most of the course. Two stages start with a deep river crossing where you will need to swim, and one stage has a 1km river decent in fast flowing water. Two stages will take you through swamps where you could end up neck high in muck.
I can’t swim. Is this a problem?
No, we have safety staff in the deep river crossings and they will help you across. Your backpack will float, so use it for buoyancy.
What is the race format?
The race is a self-sufficient stage race. You carry all your kit with you in a backpack. This includes your hammock, your food, clothing, compulsory items and anything else you need. The race provides you with bottled water at checkpoints during each stage and at the start and the finish. There is also boiling water that you can use for preparing your food. You sleep at pre-designated campsites where you will be able to use jungle showers and jungle loos. These are very basic!
What should I eat?
Most people rely on dehydrated camping type meals or things like ramen noodles. During the day they snack on nuts and raisins, potato crisps, jelly-beans and anything by Haribo. There is more info on food in the kit section.
Will my gear get wet with all the river crossings?
Yes, it can if you don’t put it in waterproof bags. As a double precaution, put items in waterproof bags and then tie your backpack inside a bin liner for the deep water crossings.
Does it get cold at night?
It can get relatively chilly in the early hours of the morning. Bring either a light -weight sleeping bag or even a sleeping bag liner to keep warm.
How much will my backpack weigh?
Backpacks generally weigh between 9kg and 15kg, depending how much stuff you bring with you.
How is the course marked?
We mark the trail with biodegradable tape, and you can generally see the next marker from the one you are at. At night we mark the trail with glow sticks.
What distance are the stages?
The stages vary in length from 20km to 110km or more. We change the course slighlty each year and also like to keep an element of surprise, so full stage distances will be revealed to you once you reach base camp.
Is there any medical support?
We have outstanding medical support. Our excellent medical team are all wilderness medicine trained. Our team generally comprises 12-15 medics. There are 2 medics at each checkpoint, medics at the start and at the finish and two ambulances with medics on standby during the stages. In addition we have a receiving medical team in Santarem should anyone need to be evacuated to hospital.
The race takes place in the Amazon Jungle, what about the impact on the environment?
We are warmly welcomed back every year by ICMBio, the federal agency who govern the Flona Tapajos, as they know we take every precaution necessary to ensure we leave nothing more than footprints. We have a zero tolerance on any runner who makes an impact on the environment. Never throw any rubbish on the ground and do not remove anything from the jungle.
Will we meet people who live in the jungle?
Yes. We work very closely with many of the little villages in the Tapajos National Forest. The villagers help us plan, prepare and mark trails. They are our guides for our checkpoint staff, they know the short-cuts out of the jungle if there is an emergency evacuation. The race is a huge event for them all and they enjoy being part of it and welcoming you to their region.
Does it rain a lot during the race?
The race is not held in the rainy season so you will only experience one or two downpours.
How can I acclimatise for the environment?
Unless you live in a hot humid environment, you cannot, so we do suggest that competitors try to get to the region a couple of days before the race to give their bodies a change to start acclimatising.
If I do arrive early, where should I stay?
Most runners stay in Alter do Chao which is a small picturesque village on the edge of the jungle. There are a number of small hotels and guest houses there.
http://www.beloalter.com.br
http://www.agualindahotel.com.br
http://www.hotelmirantedailha.com.br
Also check trip advisor for other guest houses and hostels.
Will I be able to change local currency in Alter do Chao or draw money?
No. Make sure you find a cash point on your point of entry to Brazil. There are no cashpoints in Alter do Chao and no facilities to exchange foreign currency.
If we haven’t covered any questions you have here, please email us on and we will get back to you asap.
