The Amazing Race en Discovery Channel 1

Development and Filming

Discovery Channel greenlit the first installment on November 2008.

Filming lasted for 23 days and covered nearly 14,600 km (9,100 mi). The first season spanned nine countries in two continents. This season marked a first time visit by any race franchise outside of the American edition to visit North America. Among them, 7 have been visited by the original American version, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and Peru. Colombia and the Dominican Republic have never been visited in the American version.

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.

There were only two teams present at the Finish Line in Mexico; specifically the Mexican teams (Casilda & Casilda and Guillermo & Gabriel).

Cast

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 also a team of Non-identical twins.

Results

The following teams participated in the Race, with their relationships at the time of filming. Placements are listed in finishing order:

Prizes

The prize for each leg is awarded to the first place team for that leg.

Leg 1 (Brazil)

Airdate: September 20, 2009

The Detour in this leg was Flores (Flowers) and Árbol (Tree). In Flores, teams made their way to Lago Negro. Once there, teams had to take a swan boat out and paddle to the other shore 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. Once in the village, teams searched in the "Arvore dos desejos" for a "Mimo" with their names written on it, which they had to give to a Goblin in order to receive their next clue.

Leg 2 (Brazil → Argentina)

Airdate: September 27, 2009

In the Leg's Roadblock, one team member had to search a bag with a goalkeeper's clothing inside; once wearing the clothing, the person had to defend a penalty kick. If they didn't defend a penalty kick in 5 minutes, they had to let another team try to complete the task. In the Speed Bump, Ariel & Nora had to take a van and deliver 5 packs of papers to some newsstands. The Detour was a choice between Caballos (Horses) and Caballerizas (Stables). In Caballos, teams had to ride by horse in the Arena and pick up two flags. Once they gave the flags to the handler, they received their next clue. In Caballerizas, teams had to clean a stable completely and take the mess in a wheelbarrow to the fertilizer's reservoir. When completed, the handler gave them their next clue.

Leg 3 (Argentina)

Airdate: October 4, 2009

In the Fast Forward, teams had to put in order 1,000 toy soldiers and make 25 rows with 40 soldiers in each; once completed, that team would win the Fast Forward. In the Leg's Roadblock, one team member had to search in a vineyard for a box with wine bottles inside. They had to take 18 bottles, label them, and put in their boxes; when finished, they would receive their next clue. The Detour was a choice between Aire (Air) and Piedra (Stone). In Aire teams had to do a zipline. In Piedra teams received a stone with a copy of a rock drawing, then had to search for that drawing on the hill and show it to the Shaman to receive their next clue.

Leg 4 (Argentina → Chile)

Airdate: October 11, 2009

In the Leg's Roadblock, one team member had to jump from a platform into the Pacific Ocean. Then, he or she had to swim 30 meters below the platform; once finished, the instructor would give them the next clue. The Detour was a choice between Mariscos (Seafood) and Carnada (Bait). In Mariscos, teams had to eat an entire plate of Mariscal Frio. oOnce finished, they would receive the next clue. In Carnada, teams had to place bait onto 100 fish hooks. Once finished, they would receive their next clue.

Leg 5 (Chile → Peru)

Airdate: October 18, 2009

In the Leg's Roadblock, one team member had to make a big bubble, drive a robot and transport two stones, then in a Gyroscope they had to read out loud a famous phrase; once finished the instructor gave them their next clue. The Detour in this leg was Dulce (Sweet) and Salado (Salted). In Dulce, teams had to buy a packet of good luck cookies and look for a cookie with a message inside. Then they had to find that message in the sidewalk quarries. When they found it, they had to show it to the Chinese master to receive their next clue. In Salado, teams had to go to a Chinese-Peruvian restaurant called 'Chifa' and cut two ducks, hack 6 pounds of onion and ten heads of garlic, following an exotic recipe. Once finished, the cook gave the next clue.

Leg 6 (Peru)

Airdate: October 25, 2009

In this Leg's Roadblock, one team member had to jump off the highest Bungee Jump in South America. The Detour in this leg was Hojas (Leaves) and Granos (Grains). In Hojas, teams had to search for three coca leaves among many different leaves. Once found, they had to give them to the Master Healer to receive the next clue. In Granos, teams had to transport 100 maize cobs to a large course. Once completed, the Cacique gave the next clue.

Leg 7 (Peru → Colombia)

Airdate: November 1, 2009

In this Roadblock, one team member had to rappel down a waterfall to receive the next clue. The Detour in this leg was 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 some colors missing. When judged correct, they received the next clue. In Táctil, teams had to receive a chocolate massage. When finished with the massage, they received the next clue. In the Speed Bump, Casilda & Casilda had to perform a Colombian Tejo to receive the next clue.

Leg 8 (Colombia)

Airdate: November 8, 2009

The Detour in this leg was Hacia Adelante (Onward) and Hacia Arriba (Upward). In Hacia Adelante, teams had to go to Baluarte Santo Domingo and pick 12 baskets, then take them to Baluarte San Pedro Mártir and give them to a man who would give them the next clue. In Hacia Arriba, teams had to climb up a ship's mast, take two flags, and give them to the captain in order to receive the next clue. In the Leg's Roadblock, a team member had to eat a bottle of local candies to receive the next clue.

Leg 9 (Colombia → Panama)

Airdate: November 15, 2009

The Detour for this leg was Pasacables (Cableman) and 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 6 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. If they sailed safely for 15 minutes, the captain would give them their next clue. In the Leg's Roadblock, at the Cargo Terminal of the Pacific, a team member had to look among 60 freight wagons for the only lamp which could be turned on; once it was found, they received the next clue.

Leg 10 (Panama → Dominican Republic)

Airdate: November 22, 2009

In the Leg's Roadblock, a team member had to hit a professional pitcher's throw to receive the next clue. The Detour was a choice between Ofrenda (Offering) and Astucia (Cunning). In Ofrenda, teams had to search for a small statuette inside a cave and take it to a big statuette in another place in the cave. Once they put them together properly, they would receive the next clue. In Astucia, teams had to form a square from pieces of a tangram. When finished, they would receive the next clue.

Leg 11 (Dominican Republic → Costa Rica)

Airdate: November 29, 2009

In the Leg's Roadblock, a 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. The Detour was Palas (Shovels) and 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. In the Speed Bump, Matías & Tamara had to clean six hotel rooms; once completed, the chamberlain gave them their next clue.

Leg 12 (Costa Rica → Mexico)

Airdate: December 6, 2009

Airdate: December 13, 2009

In this Leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to eat 3 Mexican tacos with grasshoppers, Maguey Worm and several species of cricket to receive the next clue. This leg's first Detour was a choice between Altura (Height) and Profundidad (Deepness). In Altura, teams had 3 minutes to climb a greasy pole; each team member had to reach one flag on the top of the pole. Once they had collected two flags, they would receive the next clue. In Profundidad, teams had 3 minutes to dive into a shark tank, where each team member had to find a marked stone on the bottom of the tank; once they had collected the two marked stones, they would receive the next clue.

In the Leg's second Roadblock, one team member had to take a flag from one wrestler's boot in three minutes, while three wrestlers were fighting with him/her. In the leg's second Detour was Mariachis or Trajineras (Spanish). In Mariachis, teams had to find an image of Santa Muerte under a hat worn by one of the mariachis playing. In Trajineras, teams had to find a trajinera (typical boats of Xochimilco) called "Zita" and find the clue inside the boat.