Cruce Isla Tzibanzá

The reservoir of the Tzibanzá dam serves as a vast, tranquil expanse that transforms into a challenging stage for open water swimmers. Formed by the impoundment of the Moctezuma and Tula rivers, this water body sits within a deep canyon where the surface remains largely calm, though the depth—reaching over 100 meters in some channels—creates a distinct, dark blue quality that shifts with the surrounding mountainous shadows. Swimming here requires focus on the navigation of the reservoir's winding layout, as the water temperature remains stable and relatively comfortable for a September race date.

Historical currents and the landscape

As you pull through the water, you are traversing a geography shaped by millennia of human activity. Long before the 1640 establishment of the villa named for Viceroy Lope Díez de Armendáriz, this corridor served as a transit point for nomadic groups. These early hunter-gatherers left traces of their presence in the nearby caves; notably, the Cueva del Tesoro has yielded wooden tools such as the 'Atlatl Violeta', dated by radiocarbon analysis to between 7 and 132 CE. The area later became a hard-fought frontier where indigenous groups, including the Chichimecas and Pame, maintained their hold against colonial expansion into the Sierra Gorda, a history of resistance that remains etched into the rugged cliffs surrounding the reservoir.

The race course

Scheduled for September 5, 2026, the event offers distances of 1000m, 2500m, 5000m, and 7000m. The entry fee reflects the logistical complexity of the venue, including the mandatory use of safety buoys and the provision of support boats to navigate the narrow channels and move participants to the finish line. Due to the limited access roads, which are closed to traffic by 7:00 AM, the start time is set for 6:40 AM to manage congestion. The course provides a vantage point toward the town of Cadereyta de Montes, where the historic temple of San Pedro and San Pablo stands as a landmark, reinforcing the status of the town as a 'Pueblo Mágico' since 2011. While the desert flora of the Finca Schmoll collection provides a stark contrast to the reservoir on land, the race itself remains entirely focused on the endurance required to cross these historic, deep-water corridors.