XXII Travesía de San Juan RCNA

Swimming in Arrecife means navigating a coastline shaped by its volatile history with the Atlantic. The water here is generally calm, shielded by the black volcanic reefs that historically gave the city its name and protected early fishing boats from both currents and maritime raiders. As you swim the 2000m course, you move through these same natural harbors, passing the Islote de La Fermina, a site that remains central to the city’s identity. The orientation of the swim requires awareness of local wind patterns, which can shift the surface conditions, though the sheltered nature of the reef provides a stable environment for the event. You will navigate past the Castillo de San Gabriel, a fortress built in the 16th century to defend against the devastating raids of pirates like Dogan, who in 1571 left the settlement in ruins. This structure, connected to the mainland by the stone path of the Puente de Las Bolas, serves as a silent witness to the city's maritime endurance.

A landscape of stone and sea

While pushing toward the transition at the El Reducto beach bridge, the coastal landscape shifts from the rugged volcanic rock to the modern skyline dominated by the Arrecife Gran Hotel. This contrast defines the swim: you are moving between the deep, dark volcanic history of the island and the vibrant, evolving city center. The maritime culture here is deeply rooted, often celebrated through the local tradition of the 'jolateros', small, improvised boats once crafted from discarded tin drums that still appear in local festivities. Further along the coast, the defensive line is completed by the presence of the 18th-century Castillo de San José, which now houses a prominent art center. Your effort in the water is timed to avoid the extreme heat spikes associated with the 'calima'—the Saharan dust events that can cause rapid, intense temperature shifts. As you complete the loop and head toward the club’s ramp, remember that those looking for a different pace can explore the La Tiñosa crossing or, later in the season, the EMMAX event at Playa Honda.