The Amazing Race 36 Recap Week 2 Live Blog: The race continues in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Tonight’s episode of The Amazing Race 36 on CBS takes teams through colorful Puerto Vallarta, where Detours, Roadblocks and a dramatic Pit Stop shake up the leaderboard. Read our live recap for a play-by-play of Week 2 as teams hunt for clues, navigate local challenges and race toward Casa Kimberly.
The leg begins with teams instructed to find Iguana Bridge. Rod & Leticia arrive first, followed closely by Ricky & Cesar. At the bridge they discover a Detour: Balloon Collection or Color Correction. Balloon Collection requires retrieving six bunches of balloons from three different locations and delivering them; Color Correction requires scanning papel picado banners to find one with an incorrect color pattern. Rod & Leticia and Ricky & Cesar both opt for Balloon Collection. As Ricky & Cesar work, Derek & Shelisa approach and ask for directions to the bridge, but Ricky & Cesar decline to help.
Rod & Leticia finish the Detour first and receive a clue directing them to Lázaro Cárdenas Park, where a Roadblock awaits. Ricky & Cesar complete the Detour shortly after. Other teams gradually reach Iguana Bridge: Derek & Shelisa, Juan & Shane, Sean & Michelle, Yvonne & Melissa and several more all begin the leg with various choices at the Detour.
At Lázaro Cárdenas Park the Roadblock requires one team member to paint a Day of the Dead calavera design on their partner’s face. Leticia chooses to paint Rod, while Ricky paints Cesar. Teams must also walk to the Pit Stop wearing monarch butterfly wings after finishing the Roadblock, adding a quirky local touch to the challenge.
Team No. 1 arrives at the pit stop
Several teams initially try the Color Correction Detour, but many find it trickier and switch to Balloon Collection. Anthony & Bailey and Angie & Danny both start with Color Correction and quickly change course. Sunny & Bizzy persist at Color Correction, while other teams begin finding the balloons and delivering them.
Rod & Leticia complete the Roadblock and race on foot—monarch wings in place—to the Pit Stop at Casa Kimberly, where Phil Keoghan congratulates them: Rod & Leticia are Team #1 and win Expedia points toward a trip to Lisbon, Portugal. Ricky & Cesar arrive soon after as Team #2.
Back at the Roadblock, Derek & Shelisa and Juan & Shane push through, while some teams struggle to locate Iguana Bridge at all. Sean & Michelle, for instance, misstep by beginning the Roadblock before they’d found the bridge, forcing them to remove paint and go back once they realize their mistake.
Looking for the bridge
Kishori & Karishma and other teams struggle with navigation, which creates huge shifts in placement. Juan & Shane discover the correct order—Detour then Roadblock—and move ahead, while Sean & Michelle and Kishori & Karishma must backtrack after realizing they tackled the Roadblock prematurely. Teams that focused on Balloon Collection gain ground over those who stayed longer at Color Correction.
Derek & Shelisa reach the Pit Stop as Team #3. Juan & Shane follow as Team #4. Amber & Vinny, Anthony & Bailey, and Yvonne & Melissa all manage strong showings: Yvonne & Melissa secure Team #5. Angie & Danny complete the Roadblock and place next, with Amber & Vinny and Anthony & Bailey arriving soon after.
Teams that switched Detours—like Chris & Mary and Kishori & Karishma—attempt to catch up, and the competition tightens as crews head into the Roadblock. With the sun climbing, heat and fatigue begin to influence decisions and pace.
Overcome by heat
Temperatures take a toll. Chris requests a break and Angie needs to lie down briefly, showing how physical pressure and heat can affect performance on an Amazing Race leg. Still, teams press forward: Anthony & Bailey finish the Roadblock and then search for the Pit Stop, while others confirm directions with locals to avoid further delays.
As teams check in, Angie & Danny are declared Team #6 on the mat. Sunny & Bizzy eventually greet Phil as Team #9 after a frantic sprint from the Roadblock. Kishori & Karishma manage to overtake a struggling Sean & Michelle and arrive as Team #10. Sean & Michelle crawl in behind them as Team #11.
Chris & Mary arrive at the Pit Stop last. Phil delivers the difficult news: Chris & Mary are eliminated from The Amazing Race 36. They depart the race disappointed but proud of their effort and grateful for the experience.
Episode Summary
1st place: Rod & Leticia
2nd place: Ricky & Cesar
3rd place: Derek & Shelisa
4th place: Juan & Shane
5th place: Yvonne & Melissa
6th place: Angie & Danny
7th place: Amber & Vinny
8th place: Anthony & Bailey
9th place: Sunny & Bizzy
10th place: Kishori & Karishma
11th place: Sean & Michelle
Eliminated: Chris & Mary
That concludes this week’s Amazing Race 36 action in Puerto Vallarta. Tune in next week for another episode recap as teams continue their international race for the grand prize.