Maratón Santa Fe – Coronda para Aficionados

The current of the Coronda River pulls rhythmically against your stroke, a constant, downstream push averaging 4 km/h that dictates the pace of your journey. As you pass the confluence where the Monje stream feeds into the river, the water widens at the La Boca Balneario. This stretch is known for its summer crowds, though from your position in the main channel, the bank appears as a quiet, sediment-rich edge of the vast Paraná River basin. You are navigating the 48km route of the Maratón Santa Fe – Coronda para Aficionados, a long-distance crossing that connects the northern launch at Costanera Este with the finish at the Balneario Municipal de Coronda.

Navigating the river banks

As you progress, the landscape changes where the Carcarañá River meets the Coronda. Here, the banks shift into dramatic ravines that rise up to 20 metres, cutting through the terrain with sharp, vertical profiles that stand in contrast to the flat, marshy plains of the surrounding wetlands. This specific confluence holds a deeper historical layer; it is the site where the Venetian explorer established the Sancti Spiritus Fort in 1527, marking the first European presence in the region. While you keep your line, you might spot local fishers targeting species like *sábalo* and *patí*, which are common in these waters and central to the local river ecology.

Race day logistics

This event is strictly non-wetsuit, and the water temperature in late November typically settles between 26°C and 28°C. Because of the significant logistical support required for a 48km river swim—including mandatory motorized support boats for every participant to navigate the currents safely—the entry fees range from 460 to 1380 USD. The race organizers, the Asociación Maratón Acuática Río Coronda, enforce a rigid 10-hour time limit. This is not a casual outing; applicants must demonstrate their readiness by providing proof of a 4-hour swim completed within the last two years. For those seeking the elite, professional version of this historic route, the Maratón Acuática Internacional Santa Fe – Coronda takes place in early February, covering a slightly longer 59km course. As you near the final kilometers, the industrial scale of the Coronda Prison remains visible from the water, a stark structure that has overlooked this section of the river since 1933.