Top Training Camp Destinations

Many triathletes have a favourite destination where training simply seems to click. For professionals, these locations often become seasonal homes during the off-season, or venues for key preparation blocks ahead of major races.

The same places that draw the world’s best athletes also attract age groupers searching for the perfect environment to train.

Two destinations consistently rise to the top of that list: the famous Club La Santa in Lanzarote, Spain, and the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai in Kona, Hawaii.

Lanzarote, Spain

Located just 130km off the coast of Africa, Lanzarote is one of Spain’s Canary Islands. Each May, the island hosts Ironman Lanzarote, widely regarded as one of the toughest races on the Ironman calendar. But beyond race day, Lanzarote has developed a reputation as a premier winter training destination.

The island’s volcanic landscape creates a dramatic training backdrop of black lava fields and rugged coastline. Climbs such as the Fire Mountains and Mirador de Haria are staples of local training routes and have become legendary among athletes who spend time on the island.

Just as important is the climate. Lanzarote enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine each year, with winter temperatures typically hovering around 22oC between December and mid-March. For athletes coming from North America or Northern Europe, the island offers a reliable escape from cold-weather training. While not as humid as Hawaii, the constant winds and expansive lava fields give Lanzarote a surprisingly similar feel.

Club La Santa

At the centre of the island’s endurance sport culture sits Club La Santa.

Founded in the early 1980s, Club La Santa is one of the oldest purpose-built sports resorts in Europe. Over the decades, it has evolved into a training hub that attracts both professionals and age group athletes from around the world. Ironman World Champion Lucy Charles-Barclay is a regular visitor, as are long-course stars Magnus Ditlev and Marjolaine Pierré, along with retired legend Anne Haug.

 

The resort sits on the northwest coast of Lanzarote with sweeping views across the Atlantic and immediate access to some of the island’s best cycling and running routes. Yet much of the appeal of Club La Santa begins before athletes even venture beyond the resort gates.

Triathletes will find three 50m pools at the heart of daily life at the resort. Training outdoors under Lanzarote’s sunshine quickly becomes routine, and just steps away is a saltwater lagoon that provides a controlled open-water environment.

Running options are equally abundant. The resort features a full athletics stadium with a track, along with coastal paths and trail networks that extend directly from the property.

Cyclists are equally well-supported. A large bike centre offers rentals, making it easy for visiting athletes to travel light and still experience the island’s legendary riding routes.

Inside the resort, athletes also have access to a comprehensive strength and conditioning environment. Beyond standard gym equipment, athletes can incorporate Hyrox-inspired workouts alongside their swim, bike, and run training.

Recovery is treated with the same level of attention. The Club La Santa Wellness Centre offers recovery-focused services alongside quiet hot water therapy areas as well as sauna and steam facilities designed to help athletes reset between demanding sessions.

For triathletes looking to escape winter and build momentum for the season ahead, Lanzarote remains a classic bucket-list destination – and there’s a good chance you will spot some of your favourite pros while you are there!

Kona, Hawaii

Equally legendary is the Kona district, synonymous with triathlon itself. Home to the Ironman World Championship, this part of the Big Island has long served as the sport’s most iconic race environment.

For athletes looking to prepare for Kona, or simply to experience the training grounds of the world’s best, few places compare.

Four Seasons Resort Hualālai

Located along the Kona-Kohala Coast, the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai offers a remarkable setting for triathlon training. The resort combines world-class hospitality with immediate access to some of the sport’s most famous training routes.

The property spans 865 acres along the Big Island’s rugged coastline and sits directly beside the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway, better known to triathletes as the Queen K. Average temperatures in Kailua-Kona range between 21 and 27°C, creating consistently warm conditions ideal for outdoor training year-round.

For those preparing for Kona, the experience is unmistakable. Rolling out of the resort places athletes almost immediately onto the Ironman World Championship bike course, where long stretches of exposed highway cut through the island’s legendary lava fields.

Yet, like the best training destinations, the appeal of Hualālai extends well beyond the roads outside the resort.

The property itself features eight pools woven throughout the grounds, including a dedicated lap pool well-suited for structured swim sessions. Just steps away, the Pacific Ocean provides opportunities for open-water swimming.

Athletes also have access to a comprehensive training environment that includes a fully equipped fitness centre with six distinct workout zones dedicated to strength training, cardiovascular conditioning (with top-of-the-line Woodway treadmills), and functional movement.

Recovery is treated with equal attention. The Hualālai spa and fitness centre spans more than 28,000 square feet within lush tropical gardens, offering massage and body treatments alongside whirlpools, sauna, steam rooms, and cold plunge pools, all designed to help athletes reset between demanding sessions.

Beyond training, the resort offers a level of comfort that allows athletes to focus fully on their preparation while experiencing the unique culture of the Big Island. Oceanfront accommodations, specialty suites and villas, and five on-site restaurants blend luxury with convenience.

Yet what makes training here truly special is the connection to triathlon history. Running along Ali’i Drive or riding through the lava fields along the Queen K places athletes on the very roads where world champions have trained and raced for decades.

In many ways, the Big Island is where triathlon’s mythology was written – and every training session here feels like stepping into that story.

For athletes looking to combine serious training with an unforgettable setting, the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai offers a rare opportunity to swim, bike, and run against the backdrop that continues to shape the sport.

Mel Sauve is an Ironman triathlete and a regular contributor to Triathlon Magazine. She also leads the magazine’s on-the-ground photography at major events, including the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 World Championships.