NAVAL, Biliran – The provincial government of Biliran will host La Routa, an international mixed-gender adventure race, on Nov. 20 to 24.
After a four-year hiatus, La Routa will be the Asian qualifying round for the 11-day Adventure Racing World Championship Series in El Salvador next year.
La Routa involves trekking, swimming, paddling, biking, rappelling, navigation, and special sections. Participants will be monitored through GPS.
Jason Garido, La Routa organizer, said the winner of the elite category will be given a free slot in the world championship.
Forty local and foreign teams are expected to join in the beginner, advanced, and elite categories of the race, which will have a distance of 350 kilometers.
The race, according to the organizers and the Department of Tourism-Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), is ideal to be held in Biliran considering its size.
Garrido added that Biliran was chosen because it is safe and does not have an insurgency problem.
It is also ideal for an adventure race because of its island terrain.
Biliran Gov. Gerard Roger Espina expressed optimism that the event will support their program in promoting the province as an adventure tourism destination in the region.
"The province is prepared and we are ready for the challenge. I'm proud to say that we are getting ready to open not only to locals but also tourists," Espina said.