Travesía a nado Picoco-Playa de Regla

On November 1, 1755, the Great Lisbon Earthquake sent a massive surge of water tearing across the Atlantic, reaching the coast of Chipiona just one hour after the tremors. The sea rose violently over the cliffs, flooding the town and leaving a mark on local history that is still commemorated annually by the procession of the Christ of Mercy. Today, the waters of Playa de Regla offer a much calmer experience for swimmers, though the geography of this coastline remains deeply shaped by the sediment of the Guadalquivir river, which deposits clay into the sea and dictates the local underwater topography. Swimmers taking on the 1500m adult race will find themselves navigating these same waters that have served as a maritime gateway since Roman times.

Landmarks of the swim

As you sight your line, the Chipiona Lighthouse dominates the horizon. Standing 69 meters tall on Punta del Perro, this 1867 structure is the tallest in Spain and serves as a constant reference point throughout the course. Its base is constructed from unique oysterstone, a sedimentary rock embedded with visible mollusc shells that reflect the geological history of the area. Further out, the Salmedina reef looms as a persistent legend. Submerged during high tide and marked by a cardinal beacon, this rocky outcrop sits about 7 km out and is whispered in ancient texts to be the site of the 'Ars Gerionis', the mythical tomb of the giant Geryon. The area is also steeped in religious lore; legend tells that the image of the Virgin of Regla was brought here by sea by Augustinian monks fleeing Vandal invaders in Africa, only to be hidden in a local cistern for centuries before its discovery in the 14th century.

Race day logistics

The XX Travesía Nado Picoco-Playa de Regla is scheduled for August 23, 2026, maintaining a tradition that draws local enthusiasts and visitors alike. The event features a 1500m main distance for those 16 and older, alongside shorter 100m and 200m races for younger age groups. Registration is capped at 250 participants for the main event, reflecting the focused, community-driven nature of the competition. For those looking to continue their season in the region, the Rota swim takes place just weeks earlier on August 12, offering a different coastal perspective nearby, while those who have already competed in the Puerto de Santa María crossing in July will find a similar technical challenge in the currents of the Cádiz coast.