Argentine married couple Matías Franchini and Tamara Reichelt were the winners of this season, while Venezuelan godfather and godson Daniel España and David Galavis finished in second place, and Chilean friends Ferna Guzmán and Fran Coombs finished in third place.
The route markers in this season were colored blue and black, including the clue envelopes and the Pit Stop. Also different from other editions is the fact that the opening shows the teams' country of origin.
Only two teams, both of which were Mexican teams (Casilda & Casilda and Guillermo & Gabriel), appeared at the Finish Line in Mexico City.
Casting
Applications were accepted from 17 November 2008 to 31 January 2009.
This season counted with eleven teams from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela. The cast includes the first team in the history of the franchise composed of a godfather and a godson, a homosexual dating couple, and a team of non-identical twins.
The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order.
A red placement with a dagger (†) indicates that the team was eliminated.
An underlined blue placement with a double-dagger (‡) indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop in a non-elimination leg, and had to perform a Speed Bump in the following leg.
An italicized placement indicates the team's placement at the midpoint of a double leg.
A green ƒ indicates that the team won the Fast Forward.
A brown > indicates that the team used the Yield and a brown < indicates the team on the receiving end of the Yield.
A brown ⊃ indicates that the team used the U-Turn and a brown ⊂ indicates the team on the receiving end of the U-Turn.
^Casilda & Casilda initially arrived 2nd, but were issued a 1-hour penalty for doing the incorrect option at the Detour. All of other teams checked in during this time, dropping Casilda & Casilda to last.
^ abDiego & Miguel and Mario & Melissa were issued 1-hour penalties for not completing a task. Since they were the only two teams remaining to check in at that point, and since Diego & Miguel arrived at the Pit Stop before Mario & Melissa, Diego & Miguel had their penalty time assessed at the beginning of the next leg, while Mario & Melissa were eliminated.
^Ariel & Nora initially arrived 3rd, but were issued a 4-hour penalty for not completing the Speed Bump. All of the other teams checked in during this time, dropping Ariel & Nora to last.
Prizes
Leg 1 – $200 credit card issued by Visa for each team member.
Leg 2 – $200 credit card issued by Visa for each team member.
Leg 3 – $300 credit card issued by Visa for each team member.
Leg 4 – $300 credit card issued by Visa and a Nintendo DSi for each team member.
Leg 5 – $300 credit card issued by Visa and a Wii for each team member.
Leg 6 – $400 credit card issued by Visa and a Palm Treo Pro for each team member.
Leg 7 – $400 credit card issued by Visa and a Wii for each team member.
Leg 8 – $500 credit card issued by Visa and a Palm Treo Pro for each team member.
Leg 9 – $600 credit card issued by Visa and a Nintendo DSi for each team member.
Leg 10 – $800 credit card issued by Visa and a Palm Treo Pro for each team member.
Leg 11 – $1000 credit card issued by Visa and a Palm Treo Pro for each team member, and a 7-night stay at The Fairmont Mayakoba Hotel & Spa located at the Riviera Maya, Mexico with a spa treatment.
Leg 12:
Midpoint – 2 tickets courtesy of Mexicana Airlines, 7 nights in the State of Yucatán (2 nights at Hotel Mayaland Resort, Chichen Itza + 3 nights at the Hacienda Xcanatún, Mérida + 2 nights at Hotel Lodge Uxmal, Uxmal).
Finish Line – $250,000
Race summary
Destinations
Air travel Rail travel Water travel Bus travel Helicopter travel Bicycle travel Gondola travel
This series' first Detour was a choice between Flores (Flowers) or Árbol (Tree). In Flores, teams made their way to Lago Negro, where they had to paddle a swan boat across the lake to pick up a basket of flowers from a villager. Then they had to go back to the dock and give the basket to a female villager to receive their next clue. In Árbol, teams made their way to the Aldeia Do Papai Noel, where they had to search the "Arvore dos Desejos" for a wooden block called a "mimo" with their names written on it that they had to give to an elf to receive their next clue.
Additional tasks
At Garganta do Diabo Falls, teams were instructed to find bikes at Espaço Naipi and then ride to Mirante 2. From there, teams had to walk to the Canion Iguaçu entrance to find their next clue.
At Canion Iguaçu, teams had to rappel down to the Iguaçu River and then raft four kilometres (2.5 mi) down the river to Puerto Macuco to find their next clue.
At Foz do Iguaçu International Airport, teams had to sign up for one of two flights to Porto Alegre. The first flight would carry six teams and would depart just over ten hours before the second flight with the remaining five teams. Teams would be released in the order and with the time differences when they signed up.
At Hotel Deville, teams had to wait until noon for the hotel's valet to give them keys to a car with their next clue.
At Mini Mundo, teams were given a board with five pictures of characters and five pictures of places and had to search the park to correctly match each place where a character was located to receive their next clue.
At the start of this leg, teams had to drive to Estádio Olímpico Monumental in order to find their next clue.
In the series' first Roadblock, one team member had to search the Estádio Olímpico Monumental for a gym bag which contained a goalkeeper uniform, don the uniform, and then successfully block a penalty kick in order to receive their next clue. If they were unsuccessful after five minutes, they had to go to the back of the line before they could try again.
For their Speed Bump, Nora & Ariel had to deliver a pack of newspapers to each of five newsstands before they could continue racing.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Caballos (Horses) or Caballerizas (Stables). In Caballos, teams had to ride horses around the arena and pick up two flags that they could exchange for their next clue. In Caballerizas, teams had to completely clean a stable and take the waste in a wheelbarrow to the fertilizer reservoir in order to receive their next clue.
After the Detour, teams had to hire a remise to go to the Buenos Aires Zoo and find a living statue of a gaucho, to whom they had to give money in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop: the Floralis Genérica at the Plaza de las Naciones Unidas.
In this season's only Fast Forward, one team had to arrange 1,000 toy soldiers to make 25 rows with 40 soldiers in each to win the Fast Forward award.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to search a vineyard for 18 wine bottles of three different colors, label them, and put the bottles in their corresponding boxes to receive their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Aire (Air) or Piedra (Stone). In Aire, teams had to ride a zip-line over the Mendoza River to receive their next clue. In Piedra, teams received a stone with a drawing and had to search Cerro Tunduqueral for the matching petroglyph to receive their next clue from a shaman.
Additional tasks
At Parque San Martín, teams had to find their next clue on a marked vehicle.
At Feria de Puente del Inca, both team members had to write a message at least 50 words long on a postcard to their families to receive their next clue from the postman.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to jump from a platform into the Pacific Ocean and swim 30 meters underneath the platform to receive next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Mariscos (Seafood) or Carnada (Bait). In Mariscos, teams had to eat an entire plate of a cold mollusk dish called Mariscal Frío to receive their next clue. In Carnada, teams had to place bait onto 100 fish hooks to receive their next clue.
Additional tasks
At the start of the leg, teams had to board a van, each of which carried three teams, that would take them to Santiago.
At Baquedano Metro Station, teams had to find the Bibliometro and ask for a copy of Historia de la vida privada en Chile, Volume 2, which had their next clue.
Once in Valparaiso, teams had to find the site from the cover of the book they received in Santiago, Paseo Atkinson, and then find a girl identical to the one on the book cover to receive their next clue.
After riding Ascensor El Peral down to Muelle Prat, teams had to travel by boat to Muelle Barón to find their next clue.
At Caleta Portales, teams had to find a Diego Maradona impersonator to receive their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to make a big soap bubble, drive a robot to transport two stones, then read a famous scientific quotation out loud in a gyroscope to receive their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Dulce (Sweet) or Salado (Salted). In Dulce, teams had to buy a packet of fortune cookie with a provided Visa card at Hong Kong Market and search for the one cookie containing a message. Then they had to find that message in the sidewalk tiles on Capon Street to receive their next clue from the Chinese master. In Salado, teams had to buy two cutting boards and a knife with a provided Visa card at Hong Kong Market, find the Salón China Restaurant and cut two ducks, three kilograms (6.6 lb) of onions and ten heads of garlic to receive their next clue from the chef.
Additional task
At Makaja Beach, both team members had to paddle a surfboard to a buoy and return to shore to receive their next clue.
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Train Station) to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu (Recinto Del Guardián)
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to perform the highest bungee jump in South America to receive their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Hojas (Leaves) or Granos (Grains). In Hojas, teams had to search for three coca leaves among many different leaves and give them to the Master Healer to receive their next clue. In Granos, teams had to transport 100 maize cobs through a large course to receive their next clue from the cacique.
Additional tasks
At Hotel Europa, teams had to sign up for one of three departure times, all of which were the following morning.
At Plazoleta de San Blas, teams had to find Ñusta Maria to receive their next clue.
From Pisac Bridge, teams had to take local transportation to the Písac Market, where they had to search for a particular stall for their next clue.
At Puesto de Lanas, teams had to unravel balls of wool until they found a huayruro seed with the word 'Peru' and then deliver the seed to Quispe's house to receive their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to rappel down a waterfall to receive the next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Visual or Táctil (Tactile). In Visual, teams had 15 seconds to observe a Fernando Botero painting in Virgilio Barco Public Library, then fill in another painting with the correct missing colors to receive their next clue. In Táctil, teams had to receive a chocolate massage to receive their next clue.
For their Speed Bump, Casilda & Casilda had to play tejo until one team member struck a gunpowder-loaded target with a stone before they could continue racing.
Additional tasks
In Coloma Farm, teams had to fill and sew four bags with 44 pounds (20 kg) of coffee in each one to receive the next clue.
At a ETB Phone Booth near Santamaría Bullring, teams had to call a number to listen to their next clue.
Leg 8 (Colombia)
Airdate: November 8, 2009
Bogotá (Plaza de Las Nieves – Portal Interactivo ETB)
This leg's Detour was a choice between Hacia Adelante (Onward) or Hacia Arriba (Upward). In Hacia Adelante, teams had to go to Baluarte Santo Domingo, retrieve 12 baskets, and deliver them to Baluarte San Pedro Mártir to receive their next clue. In Hacia Arriba, teams had to climb up a ship's mast, take two flags, and give them to the captain to receive their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to eat a bottle of local candies to receive their next clue.
Additional tasks
At Portal Interactivo ETB, teams had to check in on the website AeroRepública, then go to the airport to receive their next clue from a flight attendant.
At Hotel Sofitel Cartagena Santa Clara, teams had to unscramble a phrase from the novel Love in the Time of Cholera, written by Gabriel García Márquez. They had to look for the phrase in a copy of the novel. When they thought it was right, they had to say the phrase to the typist, then give the paper with the phrase on it to a judge to analyze; if the phrase was right they would receive their next clue.
At Parque de Las Flores, teams had to search for a salesman with their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Pasacables (Cableman) or Timonel (Helmsman). In Pasacables, teams had to go to the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center, then pass a cable above a metal rod high above them. After passing three cables above the rod (with six shots per turn), a cableman would give them the next clue. In Timonel, teams had to go to Sidmar Marine Training School and sail a boat in a simulator of the Panama Canal without crashing into any other boat for 15 minutes to receive their next clue from the captain.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to search among 60 freight wagons at the Cargo Terminal of the Pacific for a working lamp to receive their next clue.
Additional tasks
At Figali Convention Center, teams received a picture and had to look for that picture painted on a Diablo Rojo to receive their next clue. Then teams had to travel by Diablo Rojo to their next destination.
At the Gamboa Rainforest Resort Marina, teams had to find their next clue among the boats. Then they had to take a boat to San Antonio Island.
On San Antonio Island, each team member had to put a traditional Embera tattoo on the other. When finished, they had to row in a native canoe until they reached a trail that took them to the Pit Stop.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to hit a professional pitcher's throw to receive their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Ofrenda (Offering) or Astucia (Cunning). In Ofrenda, teams had to search for a small statuette inside a cave, take it to a big statuette in another place in the cave, and place it as an offering to receive their next clue. In Astucia, teams had to form a square from pieces of a tangram to receive their next clue.
Additional task
At the Caoba Cigar Factory, teams had to roll 10 cigars to receive their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to choose a site, dig to get a chest with keys inside, then search for another chest and try to open it with one of the keys they found. The clue was inside one of the chests, but there were many empty chests buried.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Palas (Shovels) or Remos (Paddles). In Palas, teams had to create the picture of a seahorse in the sand, following an example exactly. When they had completed this correctly, the sculptor would give them their next clue. In Remos, teams had to row a kayak to a boat in the sea, where a sailor would give them their next clue.
For their Speed Bump, Matías & Tamara had to set up six hotel rooms by making the beds and folding a pair of towel swans in each room before they could continue racing.
Additional tasks
At Espadilla Norte Beach, teams had to solve a mathematical challenge in which they had to discover the heaviest coconut among eight coconuts using a scale to receive their next clue.
In the Planetarium at University of Costa Rica, teams had to order the planets of the solar system by their distance from the Sun, from nearest to farthest including Ceres, Pluto and Eris, to receive their next clue.
In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to eat three Mexican tacos with grasshoppers, Maguey Worm and several species of cricket to receive their next clue from the waiter.
This leg's first Detour was a choice between Altura (Height) or Profundidad (Deepness). In Altura, teams had three minutes to climb a greasy pole with each team member having to grab a flag from the top of the pole to receive their next clue. In Profundidad, teams had three minutes to dive into a shark tank, where each team member had to find a marked stone on the bottom of the tank to receive their next clue.
In this season's final Roadblock, one team member, regardless of who performed the first Roadblock, had to grab a flag from one wrestler's boot in three minutes to receive their next clue.
This season's final Detour was a choice between Mariachis or Trajineras. In Mariachis, teams had to find an image of Santa Muerte under a hat worn by one of the mariachis playing to receive their next clue. In Trajineras, teams had to find a trajinera (typical boats of Xochimilco) called "Zita" and find the clue inside the boat.
Additional tasks
In Cenote del Jaguar, teams had to participate in a Mayan ritual, enter a cenote, and search for their next clue in the wall.
At the Angel of Independence, teams had to drive a Segway to a Go Visa advertisement with only a picture as reference.
At Estadio Olímpico's court, teams had to match the Pit Stops with the greeters in order of appearance to receive their final clue.