São Paulo Marathon

The Race

The Maratona Internacional de São Paulo is one of South America's largest marathons, with a field capacity of approximately 15,000 runners across all distances. The course is a loop through central São Paulo, starting and finishing near Parque do Ibirapuera - a 158-hectare park in the southern city centre that serves as São Paulo's equivalent of Central Park. The course runs through the urban boulevards of the Jardins, Paulista, and Ibirapuera districts.

São Paulo sits at approximately 760 metres above sea level, which is not high enough to significantly affect running performance but is worth noting for runners who have only trained at coastal altitude. The course is largely flat by the standards of a major city marathon. April is the southern hemisphere early autumn: temperatures are in the 18--25°C range with moderate humidity, and rain is possible but race mornings are generally clear.

The race is organised by Yes! Comunicações and has run annually for several decades. It is a well-established event with full road closures, comprehensive aid stations, and strong local crowd support along the Jardins and Paulista sections.

Entry

Open entry - no ballot or qualifying standard required. Register at yescom.com.br/maratonasp. The race fills its 15,000 capacity across distances - do not leave registration late. Entry fees are denominated in Brazilian reais (BRL).

Race Weekend

Expo and Number Collection

The expo is typically held at a large São Paulo venue in the days before the race. Check yescom.com.br/maratonasp for the current location and hours. Number collection is required before race morning.

Getting to the Start

The start is near Parque do Ibirapuera. Metro Line 5 (Lilac) serves the Ibirapuera area from Largo Treze de Maio and surrounding stations. Uber and taxis are widely available. São Paulo traffic is heavy even on race morning - allow 60 minutes from hotels that are not within walking distance of the park.

The Course

The course runs through the main avenues of south-central São Paulo - Avenida Brigadeiro Luís Antônio, Rua Augusta, Avenida Paulista, and the Ibirapuera park perimeter. The route is fully closed to traffic. Crowd support is strong on the Paulista section, which is a weekend cultural gathering point in São Paulo independent of the race.

The Finish

The finish is in the Ibirapuera park area. The park itself provides a large, shaded post-race zone for recovery. Bag collection and refreshments are in the finish area. Metro and taxis are available from the park's main gates.

Where to Stay

Stay in Jardins or Itaim Bibi. Both neighbourhoods are within 1--2km of Parque do Ibirapuera and have the highest concentration of quality hotels and restaurants in the city. Vila Madalena, slightly further north-west, is the most interesting neighbourhood for food and nightlife if that matters post-race.

Book two to three months ahead. April is a high-demand month in São Paulo and the Jardins boutique hotels have limited availability. Avenida Paulista and the business-district hotels have more rooms but less character.

See & Do

São Paulo rewards the runner who stays an extra day. The Ibirapuera park loop, MASP on Paulista, and the Mercado Municipal are all within easy reach of the finish area. Santos on the coast is the obvious day-trip extension - 90 minutes by road and an entirely different pace of life from the metropolitan centre.

After the Race

The Maratona de São Paulo runs in April, the start of the southern hemisphere autumn. The city is past its rainy peak and the temperatures are at their most comfortable for walking. Ibirapuera and the Jardins neighbourhood cover two post-race days without effort. For runners extending the trip, Santos is the coastal option; Iguaçu Falls - a four-hour flight south - is the more ambitious add-on if the race is part of a broader Brazil trip.