Travesía de Ibicuy 2026 — 3ª Edición

The waters surrounding Ibicuy are defined by the immense sediment load of the Paraná Delta, which carries roughly 160 million tonnes of silt annually. This makes the river flow opaque and powerful, requiring swimmers to navigate currents that shift according to the volume of the discharge from the upper basin rather than coastal tides. While the water remains warm by the time of the late January event, the complexity of this vast alluvial basin—spanning up to 60 kilometers in width—means that sighting must be precise, as the maze of low-lying islands creates a constantly changing horizon for the long-distance athlete.

A landscape of history and nature

As you progress through the 7,000-meter course, the dense vegetation of the delta reveals remnants of the ancient Guaraní inhabitants. Their legacy survives in the form of 'cerritos', elevated earth and sand mounds originally constructed as flood defenses and strategic lookout points. These silent structures still rise above the wetlands, serving as markers during your stroke. This same remoteness that protected the Guaraní also provided refuge for 20th-century outlaws, including the Marxist writer Liborio Justo, who sought solitude in these islands during the 1940s to craft his prose. The wildlife remains a constant companion; it is common to spot a Neotropic cormorant diving nearby or a capybara resting along the muddy banks. The area carries a deep physical memory of instability, a reminder of the 1888 earthquake that shook the region with a magnitude of 5.0, a rare seismic event that solidified the landscape's reputation for sudden, tectonic shifts.

Race day mechanics

Organized by the MNB (Master Natación Buenos Aires), the Travesía de Ibicuy marks its third edition in 2026. The event offers a technical progression of distances, from the 400-meter entry level to the demanding 7,000-meter marathon swim. Because the race takes place within a major river arm, the organization relies on strict logistical coordination to manage water safety and ensure swimmers remain within the designated channel, away from local traffic. The high level of support, including escort vessels, is a direct response to the scale of the river, which remains the only major delta in the world that empties into another river system rather than the open sea.