The Amazing Race 36 is the thirty-sixth season of the American reality competition show The Amazing Race. Hosted by Phil Keoghan, it featured thirteen teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, competing in a race around the Americas to win US$1,000,000. This season visited two continents and eight countries and traveled over during 11 legs. Starting in Puerto Vallarta, racers traveled through Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic before returning to the United States and finishing in Philadelphia. Filmed during the waning days of the COVID-19 pandemic global health emergency and prior to the 35th aired season, this season features chartered air travel rather than commercial air travel and other accommodations for the safety of the racers. The season premiered on CBS on March 13, 2024, and concluded on May 15, 2024.
Boyfriends Ricky Rotandi and César Aldrete were the winners of this season, while military pilots Juan Villa and Shane Bilek finished in second place, and married couple Rod and Leticia Gardner finished in third place.
Production Development and filming
Filming for this season began on October 25, 2022, outside of the United States for a second time in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with teams spotted with luchadores at Plaza Hidalgo and running along the Malecón. Much like the 33rd and 34th seasons, teams traveled by chartered plane. A Global Crossing Airlines Airbus A320 was used to transport teams and production crew between locations while reducing personal interactions associated with COVID-19 infections. On November 4, 2022, the show was in Córdoba, Argentina. This season also included first-time visits to Barbados and the Dominican Republic. The final episode was filmed in Philadelphia in mid-November. This season also had teams take part in a Mexican rodeo, paraglide in Colombia, race rally cars in Argentina, swim through waterfalls in the Dominican Republic, and visit the childhood home of Rihanna in Barbados.
Casting Casting for the season began on June 13, 2022, and closed on September 16, 2022.
Release Broadcast
On November 13, 2023, CBS officially announced this season's premiere date as March 13, 2024, following the third episode of Survivor 46 in the 9:30 pm time slot. Though this season is the 36th to air, it was the 35th to be filmed, with the 35th aired season being filmed in mid-2023. This change to postpone the season was made following the decision to air 90-minute episodes as a result of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike rather than re-edit the episodes for an additional 30 minutes. This decision was changed following season 35 with season 36 also including 90-minute episodes, and the episodes were re-edited to include cut footage.
Marketing The first trailer for this season was released on February 28, 2024.
Contestants The cast of thirteen teams includes former NFL wide receiver Rod Gardner and his wife Leticia, who were revealed early on February 6, 2024, in the lead-up to Super Bowl LVIII. The remaining twelve teams were revealed on February 21, 2024.
ContestantsAgeRelationshipHometownStatus19SiblingsMonmouth Junction, New JerseyEliminated 1st(in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)2260Father & DaughterWaltham, MassachusettsEliminated 2nd(in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)2726TwinsClearwater, FloridaEliminated 3rd(in El Peñol, Colombia)2639Married Aerobics InstructorsEast Point, GeorgiaEliminated 4th(in Medellín, Colombia)4626CousinsGaithersburg, MarylandEliminated 5th(in Santiago, Chile)22Austin, Texas57GrandparentsAlta Loma, CaliforniaEliminated 6th(in Córdoba, Argentina)5541Firefighter MomsEdgerton, WisconsinEliminated 7th(in Montevideo, Uruguay)37New Berlin, Wisconsin55Mother & SonWalla Walla, WashingtonEliminated 8th(in Christ Church, Barbados)27San Diego, California40GirlfriendsSan Diego, CaliforniaEliminated 9th(in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic)3830Dating NursesEnglewood, ColoradoEliminated 10th(in La Boca, Dominican Republic)3746MarriedLawrenceville, GeorgiaThird place3829Military PilotsSpokane, WashingtonRunners-up29Marine City, Michigan34BoyfriendsNew York City, New YorkWinners34
Future appearances Michelle and Sean Clark appeared on Wife Swap: Real Housewives Edition in 2025. In 2026, Ricky Rotandi competed on the sixth season of The Floor.
Results The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order. A placement with a dagger () indicates that the team was eliminated. An italicized placement indicates a team's placement at the midpoint of a Mega Leg.
+Team placement (by leg)Team123456a6b7891011Ricky & Cesar2nd2nd1st1st1st2nd2nd1st1st1st3rd1stJuan & Shane4th4th4th5th2nd1st1st6th2nd3rd2nd2ndRod & Leticia1st1st5th4th5th5th3rd3rd5th2nd1st3rdAmber & Vinny12th7th2nd2nd3rd3rd4th4th3rd4thYvonne & Melissa6th5th6th7th6th6th6th5th4thAngie & Danny7th6th9th3rd4th4th5th2ndSunny & Bizzy9th9th7th8th7th7th7thDerek & Shelisa3rd3rd3rd6th8th8thKishori & Karishma10th10th8th9thMichelle & Sean5th11th10thAnthony & Bailey8th8thChris & Mary11thMaya & Rohan Notes
Race summary
Leg 1 (Mexico)
Episode 1: "You Can't Drive While You're Crying" (March 13, 2024) Eliminated: Maya & Rohan Locations Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (The Westin Resort & Spa – Playa El Salado) (Starting Line) Puerto Vallarta (Malecón – Voladores Pole) Puerto Vallarta (Calle Corona 408 & In Search of Reason Plaza Hidalgo) Puerto Vallarta (Lienzo Charro Miguel "Prieto" Ibarria) Puerto Vallarta (Plaza de Los Arcos del Malecón) Episode summary Teams set off from Playa El Salado in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and had to search the hotel parking lot for a car with their first clue. Teams then had to drive to the Malecón and find their next clue by the voladores pole. This season's first Detour was a choice between Pick 'Em Up or Pin 'Em Down. In Pick 'Em Up, teams had to transport a pair of rocking horses down a steep hill to the sculpture In Search of Reason in order to receive their next clue. In Pin 'Em Down, teams had to watch a Mexican-style professional wrestling match and then pair up the masks of five fighting duos in order to receive their next clue. After the Detour, teams had to drive to the Lienzo Charro Miguel "Prieto" Ibarria, which had their next clue. In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to complete a charro challenge by jumping through seven spinning lassos in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: the Plaza de Los Arcos del Malecón. Additional note Although the last team to arrive at the Pit Stop was eliminated, there was no rest period at the end of the leg and all remaining teams were instead instructed to continue racing.
Leg 2 (Mexico)
Episode 2: "Trust But Verify" (March 20, 2024) Prize: Cashback rewards for a trip for two to Lisbon, Portugal (awarded to Rod & Leticia) Eliminated: Chris & Mary Locations Puerto Vallarta (La Iguana Bridge) Puerto Vallarta (Isla Cuale) Puerto Vallarta (Lázaro Cárdenas Park) Puerto Vallarta (Casa Kimberly) Episode summary At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel on foot to their next clue at La Iguana Bridge. This leg's Detour was a choice between Balloon Collection or Color Correction. In Balloon Collection, teams had to obtain six balloon bunches and exchange them for their next clue. In Color Correction, teams had to search among numerous strings of papel picado for one with an incorrect color pattern in order to receive their next clue. After the Detour, teams found their next clue at Lázaro Cárdenas Park. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to paint a Day of the Dead calavera design onto their partner's face in order to receive their next clue. After the Roadblock, teams had to don monarch butterfly wings and travel on foot to "the bridge that connects Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's houses" in order to find the Pit Stop: the Casa Kimberly.
Leg 3 (Mexico → Colombia)
Episode 3: "It's Not Over Til Phil Sings" (March 27, 2024) Prize: Cashback rewards for a trip for two to Cape Town, South Africa (awarded to Ricky & Cesar) Eliminated: Anthony & Bailey Locations Puerto Vallarta → Medellín, Colombia Guatapé (El Peñón de Guatapé) Guatapé (Calle 29 Parqueadero Municipal) Guatapé (El Cordero de Guatapé) El Peñol (Casa Loma) El Peñol (Casa Loma – Finca Cafetera) Episode summary During the Pit Stop, teams were flown to Medellín, Colombia, and traveled to Guatapé. Teams departed in groups 15 minutes apart based on the order of their arrival at the previous Pit Stop and had to climb to their next clue atop El Peñón de Guatapé. This leg's Detour was a choice between Bandeja Paisa or Yipao. Teams first had to travel by water taxi into town. In Bandeja Paisa, teams had to prepare three plates of bandeja paisa in order to receive their next clue. In Yipao, teams had to load a Willys Jeep with furniture, much like during a Yipao parade, in order to receive their next clue. After the Detour, teams had to travel to El Cordero de Guatapé and then travel by tuk-tuk to Casa Loma, where they found their next clue. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to harvest and process one kilogram of ripe Arabica beans in order to receive their next clue, which directed teams to the nearby Pit Stop.
Leg 4 (Colombia)
Episode 4: "Those Who Wander Are Not Lost" (April 3, 2024) Prize: US$2,500 each (awarded to Ricky & Cesar) Eliminated: Michelle & Sean Locations San Felix (Parapente BlueSky) Bello (Mirador La Meseta) Medellín (Comuna 13 – Reversadero 1) Medellín (Botero Plaza) Medellín (Parques del Río Medellín) Episode summary Prior to the start of this leg, teams paraglided into Medellín. Teams then departed from Mirador La Meseta in groups 15 minutes apart based on the order of their arrival at the previous Pit Stop, and had to travel by taxi to their next clue at the escalators in Comuna 13. This leg's Detour was a choice between Dance Vibe or Wall Scribe. In Dance Vibe, teams had to perform a 30-second breakdance routine in order to receive their next clue. In Wall Scribe, teams had to solve a rebus puzzle in order to receive their next clue from local artist Chota 13. After the Detour, teams found their next clue at Botero Plaza. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to memorize and post the names of 12 of the plaza's total of 23 sculptures by Colombian artist, Fernando Botero, on a designated map in order to receive their next clue, which directed teams to travel on foot to the Pit Stop: Parques del Río Medellín.
Leg 5 (Colombia → Chile)
Episode 5: "Save The Stress For Later" (April 10, 2024) Prize: Cashback rewards for a trip for two to Singapore (awarded to Ricky & Cesar) Eliminated: Kishori & Karishma Locations Medellín → Santiago, Chile Santiago (Plaza de Armas) Santiago (Argomedo Performance Garage) Santiago (Skatepark Parque Araucano) Santiago (Parque Quinta Normal Parque Escalada Los Silos) Santiago (Estación Mapocho) Episode summary During the Pit Stop, teams were flown to Santiago, Chile. Teams departed from Plaza de Armas in groups 15 minutes apart based on the order of their arrival at the previous Pit Stop and had to find Marilyn Monroe's 1956 Ford Thunderbird, which was at the Argomedo Performance Garage, before receiving their next clue. Teams then had to drive to Skatepark Parque Araucano and find their next clue. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to build a skateboard so that it matched an example in order to receive their next clue. This leg's Detour was a choice between Perform for Pesos or Climb for Clues. In Perform for Pesos, one team member had to perform as a chinchinero, a one-man band street performer, while their partner played maracas and collected CLP$2,500 (US$2,60) from passersby in order to receive their next clue. In Climb for Clues, both team members had to climb a six-story former cement factory, retrieve a ribbon, and exchange them for their next clue.