The Amazing Race 5

The starting line was at Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California.

After the anemic ratings for The Amazing Race 4, CBS chairman and CEO Les Moonves doubted whether the series would be renewed for another season.[1] After much deliberation, CBS officially ordered a fifth installment of The Amazing Race in September 2003. Some observers cited the series' recent Emmy win as the factor behind its renewal.[2] While CBS flirted with the idea of a fall premiere, it ultimately gave season 5 a summer broadcast to create momentum for The Amazing Race 6 on the fall schedule.[3]

This season introduced two major twists to The Amazing Race: the Yield and the non-elimination penalty.[4] The Yield allowed one team to force another team to stop racing for a predetermined amount of time. The Yield was available on each leg, except the last two, although it was not shown on each episode. The non-elimination penalty required teams finishing last on non-elimination legs to be stripped of any money they had accumulated and, in addition, they received no money at the start of the next leg. This was also the first season to see the number of Fast Forwards reduced; only two were available in the entire season.[5]

Filming for The Amazing Race 5 began on January 30, 2004, and finished on February 27.[6] This season traveled 72,000 miles (116,000 km), which was the show's longest route yet, covering six continents and twelve countries.[7] The teams visited nine countries not previously seen on the show: Uruguay, Argentina, Russia, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, and Canada.

During pre-production, the producers moved the Dubai leg from the originally planned location of Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul was eventually visited on The Amazing Race 7. Production also moved the legs in the Philippines from Japan, but Japan was eventually visited on The Amazing Race 9.

The Zorb task in Leg 10 was filmed at a New Zealand farm owned by a friend of host Phil Keoghan. Prior to the season, Keoghan experienced rolling in the Zorb and insisted it be a task on the show.[8]

Marshall & Lance were the first team in Amazing Race history to quit.[9] When they arrived at the Roadblock site in Luxor, Egypt, after all of the other teams had already left, they decided to give up rather than complete the task.

After arriving in Punta del Este, Uruguay, teams visited The Hand to look for their clue.

• Episode 1: "Clearly, I'm More Intelligent than You" (July 6, 2004)
• Prize: A vacation to Hawaii (awarded to Alison & Donny)
• Eliminated: Dennis & Erika

Locations

• Santa Monica, California (Santa Monica Pier) (Starting Line)
• Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport) → Montevideo, Uruguay
• Ciudad de la Costa → Punta del Este
• Punta del Este (The Hand )
• Punta del Este → Gorriti Island
• Gorriti Island → Punta del Este (Dock)
• Maldonado (José Francisco González Meat Warehouse)
• Maldonado (La Rosada Carniceria)
• Punta del Este (Conrad Hotel (in Spanish))
• Punta Ballena (Casapueblo)

Episode summary

• Teams set off from the Santa Monica Pier and drove themselves to Los Angeles International Airport, where they had to book one of two flights to Montevideo, Uruguay. The first flight on American Airlines carried four teams; while the second flight on United Airlines carried seven teams, but arrived 25 minutes earlier than the first flight. Once there, teams had to travel by bus to Punta del Este and find their next clue at The Hand.
• Teams had to travel by boat to Gorriti Island in order to find their next clue, which instructed them to search for tickets hidden on trees for one of three departure times the next morning. Once teams claimed a ticket, they could not choose another one.
• After returning to the mainland the next day, teams had to search the dock for their next clue, which instructed them to travel to the José Francisco González warehouse in Maldonado in order to find their next clue. From the meat warehouse, teams had to carry a 55-pound (25 kg) slab of meat 0.5 miles (0.80 km) to a butcher at La Rosada Carniceria in order to receive their next clue. Teams then had to travel to the Conrad Hotel in order to find their next clue.
• This season's first Detour was a choice between Zips or Chips. In Zips, teams had to go to the roof of the Conrad Hotel, pull themselves across a zipline 210 feet (64 m) above the ground, and then take a second zipline 18 stories down to the hotel pool in order to retrieve their next clue. In Chips, teams had to play roulette in the hotel casino with 20 chips and received their next clue only if they won a game. If teams lost all of their chips, they would have to do the Zips task.
• Teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: Casapueblo in Punta Ballena.

After arriving in Buenos Aires, teams visited the grave of Evita Perón at La Recoleta Cemetery.

• Episode 2: "It Turned Ugly Just Now" (July 13, 2004)
• Eliminated: Alison & Donny

Locations

• Punta Ballena (Casapueblo)
• Montevideo (Shake Mega Disco)
• Colonia del Sacramento → Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Buenos Aires (La Recoleta Cemetery)
• Buenos Aires (La Recoleta Cemetery → Plaza de las Naciones Unidas (in Spanish) – Floralis Genérica or Teatro Lola Membrives (in Spanish))
• San Antonio de Areco (La Estancia La Invernada)
• San Antonio de Areco (La Porteña)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams had to travel to Shake Mega Disco in Montevideo, where they had to find a plastic globe on the dance floor filled with foam that they had to rip open in order to retrieve the clue inside. Teams were then instructed to travel by ferry to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Once there, teams had to find the grave of former Argentine First Lady Evita Perón, which they had to figure out was at La Recoleta Cemetery, in order to find their next clue.
• This leg's Detour was a choice between Perro or Tango. In Perro, teams had to walk eight dogs on a one-mile (1.6 km) course while using a provided map to navigate past a series of three checkpoints to the Floralis Genérica in order to receive their next clue. In Tango, teams had to travel to the Teatro Lola Membrives, which was filled with tango dancers. Teams were given a photo of a tango dancer and had find the dancer who matched their photo in order to receive their next clue. If the teams gave the photo to the wrong dancer, they had to get a new picture and try again.
• After the Detour, teams had to travel by taxi or bus to La Estancia La Invernada in San Antonio de Areco in order to find their next clue.
• In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to enter a corral and attempt to remove a bandana from the neck of one of the calves in order to receive their next clue.
• Teams had to travel by horse-drawn carriage to the Pit Stop at La Porteña.

After arriving in San Carlos de Bariloche, teams traveled to the Civic Center, where the mayor handed them their next clue.

• Episode 3: "I Got Electrocuted" (July 20, 2004)
• Eliminated: Jim & Marsha

Locations

• San Antonio de Areco (La Porteña)
• Buenos Aires → San Carlos de Bariloche
• San Carlos de Bariloche (Centro Cívico (in Spanish))
• San Carlos de Bariloche (Del Turista Chocolate Factory)
• Villa Cerro Catedral (Villa Catedral → Cerro Catedral)
• Río Negro (Bahia Lopez)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams had to drive to Aeroparque Jorge Newbery and catch a domestic flight to San Carlos de Bariloche in the Patagonia region of Argentina. Once there, they had to go to the Civic Center and find the mayor, who gave them their next clue. Teams then had to find the Del Turista Chocolate Factory in order to find their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to bite through 11,000 chocolates until they found one of only 20 with a white center, at which point they received their next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to drive to Villa Catedral and then take a gondola up Cerro Catedral in order to find their next clue.
• This leg's Detour was a choice between Smooth Sailing or Rough Riding. In Smooth Sailing, each team member had to paraglide in tandem with an instructor off the edge of the hill, sail 5,000 feet (1,500 m) through the air, and down to the base of the mountain. When they successfully landed, they received their next clue. In Rough Riding, each team had to ride a mountain bike six miles (9.7 km) through a rugged trail course down the mountain in order to receive their next clue.
• Teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: Bahia Lopez in Río Negro.

Teams ended this leg in Russia at Catherine's Palace outside Saint Petersburg.

• Episode 4: "Who Says Pageant Girls Don't Eat?" (July 27, 2004)
• Eliminated: Bob & Joyce

Locations

• Río Negro (Bahia Lopez)
• San Carlos de Bariloche → Buenos Aires
• Buenos Aires → Saint Petersburg, Russia
• Saint Petersburg (Battleship Aurora)
• Saint Petersburg (SKA Hockey Rink or Anichkov Palace)
• Saint Petersburg (Senate Square – Bronze Horseman)
• Pushkin (Old Tower Restaurant)
• Pushkin (Catherine's Palace)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel by bus back to Buenos Aires, and then to fly to Saint Petersburg, Russia. Once there, teams made their way to the battleship Aurora in order to find their next clue.
• This leg's Detour was a choice between Block 5 Shots or Drink 1 Shot. In Block 5 Shots, teams had to travel to the SKA hockey rink, dress in ice hockey gear, and block five shots by professional hockey players in front of the goal in order to receive their next clue. In Drink 1 Shot, teams had to travel to Anichkov Palace, where they had to balance a shot glass of vodka on the blade of a saber, tilt the sword to their mouth, and drink the vodka without dropping the glass in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to find their next clue at the Bronze Horseman statue at Senate Square. Teams then had to travel to Old Tower Restaurant in Pushkin, where they found their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to eat one kilogram (2.2 lb) of caviar in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams rode in a horse-drawn carriage to the Pit Stop at Catherine's Palace.

In Cairo, teams visited the famous Giza pyramid complex, including the Sphinx, which was the Pit Stop for this leg.

• Episode 5: "Are You Good at Puzzles?" (August 3, 2004)

Locations

• Pushkin (Catherine's Palace)
• Pushkin → Saint Petersburg
• Saint Petersburg (Hermitage Museum)
• Saint Petersburg → Cairo, Egypt
• Cairo (Tower of Cairo)
• Giza (Pharaonic Village → Qorsaya Island)
• Giza (Giza Pyramid Complex – Osiris Shaft)
• Giza (Pyramid of Khafre)
• Giza (Sphinx)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams had to return by train to Saint Petersburg and then travel to the Hermitage Museum. There, teams had to find Rembrandt's The Return of the Prodigal Son, where they received their next clue from a curator, which instructed teams to fly to Cairo, Egypt. Once there, teams found their next clue at the Tower of Cairo.
• In this season's first Fast Forward, one team had to go to the Pharaonic Village and find a marked sarcophagus that they had to carry through the village, across the Nile River on a ferry, and to a temple on Qorsaya Island. Colin & Christie won the Fast Forward.
• Teams who chose to not attempt the Fast Forward had to travel to the Osiris Shaft in order to find their next clue
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to descend down a series of ladders into the depths of the Osiris Shaft. There, they retrieved a satchel of puzzle pieces, which they had to carry back up the ladder to the surface and present to an Egyptologist in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to assemble the puzzle pieces on top of the marked area of a map in order to figure out their next destination: the base of the Pyramid of Khafre.
• This leg's Detour was a choice between Rock & Roll or Hump & Ride. In Rock & Roll, teams had to use an ancient Egyptian technique of using round logs to move a sled carrying two rocks weighing approximately 600 pounds (270 kg) across an area the length of a football field in order to receive their next clue. In Hump & Ride, teams had to pick a pair of horses to lead camels laden with carpets one mile (1.6 km) to a merchant in order to receive their next clue.
• Teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the Sphinx.

Additional note

• This was a non-elimination leg.

After arriving in the ancient city of Luxor, teams visited the Karnak Temple Complex in order to find their next clue.

• Episode 6: "Why Can't We Get a Camel?" (August 10, 2004)
• Prize: A vacation to Mexico (awarded to Colin & Christie)
• Quit: Marshall & Lance

Locations

• Giza (Sphinx)
• Giza (Great Pyramid)
• Cairo → Luxor
• Luxor (Karnak)
• Luxor (Nile River – Banana Island or Pigeon Farm)
• Luxor (Habu Temple)
• Luxor → Crocodile Island

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams had to descend 350 feet (110 m) through a narrow shaft into the Creation Room inside the Great Pyramid in order to find their next clue, which instructed teams to fly to Luxor. Once there, teams traveled to the Karnak Temple Complex, where they found their next clue.
• This leg's Detour was a choice between Herd It or Haul It. In both tasks, teams had to travel on a traditional carriage known as a kalesh. In Herd It, teams had to travel to Banana Island and load ten goats onto a sailboat and deliver them to a shepherd on the other side of the Nile River in order to receive their next clue. In Haul It, teams traveled three miles (4.8 km) to Pigeon Farm. Once there, teams had to use an ancient device to lift water from the Nile and fill an urn. Teams then had to transport the urn by donkey to a farmhouse and fill a cistern in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to travel to Habu Temple in order to find their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to choose a dig site and use archeological tools to dig in the sand until they unearthed a scarab in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop: Crocodile Island along the Nile River.

Additional notes

• Teams were instructed to take a charter flight to Luxor, but they could take a commercial flight if they could find one that would arrive in Luxor earlier.
• Phil came out to the Roadblock site after being informed that Marshall & Lance wanted to quit The Amazing Race, noting that it was the first time that any team had quit the race, and the first time that Phil had to come meet a team on the race course and not at the Pit Stop. After Marshall & Lance confirmed that they wanted to quit on account of Marshall's injured knees, Phil informed them that the other teams had already checked into the Pit Stop, and they would have been eliminated anyway.[9]

Teams ended this leg at the lookout over Lake Manyara in Tanzania.

• Episode 7: "Are You Sure This is Safe?" (August 17, 2004)
• Prize: A vacation to Latin America (awarded to Chip & Kim)
• Eliminated: Charla & Mirna

Locations

• Luxor (Crocodile Island)
• Luxor → Nairobi, Kenya
• Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – Z. Boskovic Air Charters)
• Nairobi → Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (Kilimanjaro International Airport)
• Kilimanjaro → Mto wa Mbu
• Kibaoni (Kavishe Hotel)
• Lake Manyara National Park (Lake Manyara Lookout)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to return to Cairo and then fly to Nairobi, Kenya. Once there, teams went directly to Z. Boskovic Air Charters, where they had to sign up for one of three charter flights to a mystery destination (Kilimanjaro, Tanzania). After arriving in Kilimanjaro, teams found their next clue outside of the airport instructing them to travel by bus to Mto wa Mbu.
• This leg's Detour was a choice between Buzzing or Busy. In Buzzing, teams had to travel by bicycle to a local honey farm. There, they had to put on beekeeper suits and harvest two kilograms (4.4 lb) of honey from traditional African hives in order to receive their next clue. In Busy, teams have to find a specific shop, where they had to load two chairs onto a bicycle-driven cart. When they delivered the chairs to a specific address, the owner gave teams a receipt. Teams had to return to the shopkeeper and give him the receipt in order to receive their clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to travel to the Kavishe Hotel in order to find their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to cook and eat one ostrich egg in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to travel to Lake Manyara National Park and ride a zipline across a 230-foot (70 m) deep gorge before they could check in at the nearby Pit Stop.

Teams visited the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.

• Episode 8: "I'm Going to Jail" (August 24, 2004)
• Prize: A vacation to the Caribbean (awarded to Colin & Christie)

Locations

• Lake Manyara National Park (Lake Manyara Lookout)
• Kilimanjaro (Kilimanjaro International Airport) → Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Dubai (Burj Al Arab)
• Dubai (Bur Dubai → Dubai Creek – Abdul Rahman's Dhow)
• Margham (Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve – Margham Dunes)
• Margham (Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve – Desert Oasis)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Teams had to sign up for one of three charter flights to Nairobi, Kenya, and then from Nairobi, fly to Dubai. Once there, teams found their next clue on the helipad of the Burj Al Arab, which directed them to a dhow on Dubai Creek, where the owner gave them their next clue.
• This leg's Detour was a choice between Off Plane or Off Road. In Off Plane, teams had to travel to the Al Quwain Aero Club and tandem skydive 10,000 feet (3,000 m) with an instructor to a landing site 40 miles (64 km) in the Margham Dunes. When teams successfully landed, they received their next clue. Each plane could only carry one team and planes departed 45 minutes apart. In Off Road, teams had to travel directly to the Margham Dunes, where they had to drive a truck over a six-mile (9.7 km) course through the desert ending at the skydiving landing site. If teams got stuck in the sand, they had to radio for help and wait to be extricated.
• After the Detour, teams had to ride a camel and use a GPS navigation device to guide them to the Pit Stop.

Additional note

• This was a non-elimination leg.

Teams finished the leg in Kolkata at the Victoria Memorial.

• Episode 9: "If You're Going to Whine, Just Shut Up!" (August 31, 2004)
• Prize: A vacation to Mexico (awarded to Colin & Christie)

Locations

• Margham (Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve – Desert Oasis)
• Dubai (Wild Wadi Water Park – Jumeirah Sceirah)
• Dubai → Kolkata, India
• Kolkata (Shaheed Minar)
• Baranagar (Kripamayee Kali Temple)
• Garia (Globe Brick Factory)
• Garia → Kolkata (Sealdah Railway Station)
• Kolkata (Lansdowne Road)
• Kolkata (Victoria Memorial)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams drove themselves to Wild Wadi Water Park, where both team members had to ride down the Jumeirah Sceirah in order to receive their next clue. Teams were then instructed to fly to Kolkata, India. Once there, teams found their next clue at the Shaheed Minar instructing them to travel to Globe Brick Factory in order to find their next clue.
• In this season's only other fast Forward, one team would have had to travel seven miles (11 km) to the Kripamayee Kali Temple and both team members would have had to have their heads completely shaved in order to win the Fast Forward award. Brandon & Nicole traveled to the temple, but when they discovered what the task entailed, they changed their minds and returned to the Roadblock.
• Teams who chose to not attempt the Fast Forward had to travel to the Globe Brick Factory in order to find their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to use a traditional Indian mold to make 20 mud bricks to the satisfaction of the factory worker in order to receive their next clue.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to travel by train to the Sealdah railway station in order to find their next clue.
• This leg's Detour was a choice between Heavy but Short or Light but Long. In Heavy but Short, teams had to travel over 10 miles (16 km) to Lansdowne Road and push a taxi 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) to a local garage, where they received their next clue. In Light but Long, teams would have had to travel to a flower market and find a particular stall in order to receive a garland, which they'd have had to release into the Ganges in order to receive their next clue. All teams chose to push the taxis.
• Teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata.

Additional note

• This was a non-elimination leg.

While in New Zealand, one team member went Zorbing down a hill for the Roadblock.

• Episode 10: "If They're Screwing the Helmet to My Head, It Can't Be Good!" (September 7, 2004)
• Prize: A vacation to Europe (awarded to Colin & Christie)
• Eliminated: Kami & Karli

Locations

• Kolkata (Victoria Memorial)
• Kolkata → Auckland, New Zealand
• Rotorua (Rotorua Museum)
• Rotorua (Okere Falls or Hell's Gate)
• Paengaroa (Matapara Farms)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Auckland, New Zealand. Once there, teams had to drive to Rotorua and find their next clue at the Rotorua Museum.
• This leg's Detour was a choice between Clean or Dirty. In Clean, teams had to drive 13 miles (21 km) to Okere Falls and perform an adventure sport called river sledging on the Kaituna River. With the help of two guides, teams had to complete a one-mile (1.6 km) course with only a small board (a sledge) for protection. At the end of the course, the instructor gave them their next clue. In Dirty, teams had to travel 10 miles (16 km) to Hell's Gate and search within the marked area of a bubbling mud pit for their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to drive to Matapara Farms in Paengaroa in order to find their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to inflate a Zorb, ride it down a hillside, and then walk it a short distance to cross the finish line at the bottom of the hill. Teams could then run to the Pit Stop.

One of the most iconic scenes in the history of The Amazing Race took place in the Philippines, where teams had to work with an ox-drawn plow.

• Episode 11: "It's Okay, Run Them Over!" (September 14, 2004)
• Prize: A vacation to Hawaii (awarded to Chip & Kim)

Locations

• Paengaroa (Matapara Farms)
• Auckland (Westhaven Marina)
• Auckland (Auckland Harbour Bridge)
• Auckland → Manila, Philippines
• Imus (Malagueña Motors)
• Victoria (Field)
• Pasay (Coconut Palace)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams had to drive to the Westhaven Marina in Auckland, find a yacht called the Hydroflow, and lower their next clue from the yacht's rigging.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to travel by boat to Auckland Harbour Bridge and climb a 75-foot (23 m) ladder to the girders beneath the roadway. From there, they had to walk along the girders to retrieve the clue on the other side, at which point they were then lowered to a waiting boat below.
• Teams were instructed to fly to Manila, Philippines. Once there, teams had to go to Malagueña Motors. There, teams had to decorate a jeepney with all of the provided items in order to receive their next clue. Teams were then driven to their next destination in the jeepney that they'd just decorated.
• This leg's Detour was a choice between Plow or Fowl. In Plow, teams had to use an ox-drawn plow to till a muddy field until the plow caught on a buried rope attached to a hidden clue. In Fowl, teams would have had to work together to herd 1,000 ducks from one pen to another 50 yards (46 m) away in order to receive their next clue. All teams opted to search the field with the ox-plow.
• Teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the Coconut Palace in Pasay.

Additional notes

• Chip & Kim chose to Yield Colin & Christie.
• At the Detour, Colin had a meltdown trying to direct the ox through the field, leading him to angrily scream, "My ox is broken!" This scene became one of the most memorable and iconic scenes in the history of The Amazing Race.[16]
• The ox-plow task was later revisited in season 25 as a Switchback.[17]
• Luli Arroyo, daughter of the then-Filipino president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, appeared as the Pit Stop greeter.[18]
• This was a non-elimination leg.

Teams visited the resort town of El Nido on this leg.

• Episode 12: "You've Just Made Me a Millionaire" (September 21, 2004)
• Prize: A vacation to the Caribbean (awarded to Brandon & Nicole)
• Eliminated: Linda & Karen

Locations

• Pasay (Coconut Palace)
• Manila (Luneta Park – José Rizal Monument)
• Pasay (A. Soriano Aviation)
• Manila → El Nido
• El Nido (El Nido Airport → El Nido Pier)
• El Nido (El Nido Pier → Bacuit Bay)
• El Nido (Pangulasian Island)
• El Nido (Lagen Wall)
• El Nido (Lagen Island)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams had to find their next clue at the José Rizal Monument in Luneta Park, which directed them to A. Soriano Aviation, where teams had to sign up for one of two charter flights to El Nido. Once there, teams took a marked jeepney to El Nido Pier and a marked boat to a buoy, where they found their next clue.
• Teams had to use binoculars to search for the one island of three that was displaying the Philippine flag – – where they would find their next clue. The other two islands displayed flags of other nations and teams could not ask their guide for help. Teams found their next clue on the shore of Pangulasian Island, and they were instructed to put on snorkel gear and search underwater for one of four giant clams, which contained their next clue.
• In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to climb the 150-foot (46 m) Lagen Wall using an ascender, retrieve their next clue, and then rappel back down.
• After the Roadblock, teams had to paddle a kayak to the Pit Stop on Lagen Island.

Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Canada, was the location of this season's final Detour.

• Episode 12: "You've Just Made Me a Millionaire" (September 21, 2004)
• Prize: US$1,000,000
• Winners: Chip & Kim
• Runners-up: Colin & Christie
• Third place: Brandon & Nicole

Locations

• El Nido (Lagen Island)
• El Nido (El Nido Airport) → Calgary, Canada
• Calgary → Banff (Unaired)[19]
• Banff (Banff Springs Hotel) (Unaired)[20]
• Banff National Park (Sunshine Village – Lookout Mountain)
• Calgary (Canada Olympic Park – Olympic Cauldron)
• Calgary (Canada Olympic Park – Bobsleigh, Luge, and Skeleton Track or Downhill Course)
• Calgary → Dallas, Texas
• Fort Worth (Fort Worth Stockyards – Cowtown Cattlepen Maze)
• Dallas (Trammell Crow Park)

Episode summary

• At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Calgary, Canada. Teams first had to take a charter flight from El Nido to Manila, and then fly to Calgary. Once there, teams had to travel to Banff National Park and ride the gondola to Lookout Mountain. They then had to hike up a 1,000-foot (300 m) snowy slope to the Continental Divide, where they found their next clue, which directed them to the Olympic Cauldron in Canada Olympic Park.
• This season's final Detour was a choice between Slide or Ride. In Slide, teams had to travel to the top of the Olympic luge course, where they had to complete the course in 34 seconds or less in order to receive their next clue. In Ride, teams had to ride mountain bikes through a snow-covered Olympic slalom ski course in three minutes or less to receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams were instructed to fly to Dallas, Texas. Once there, teams had to go to the Fort Worth Stockyards. There, teams had to enter the giant maze and find a wooden box with their names on it, which contained a picture of the Canada Olympic Park. Using a provided key, they then had to take the picture, find their way out of the maze, and place it on the board. They then retrieved another key that unlocked the glass box on the board, which contained their final clue, which directed them to the finish line at Trammell Crow Park.

Additional notes

• Teams traveled from Calgary to Banff by charter bus. This segment was unaired.[19]
• In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to build a First Nations teepee outside the Banff Springs Hotel. This task was unaired.[20]
• The task at the Fort Worth Stockyards was heavily truncated in the episode that aired. Teams actually had to enter the maze and find four wooden boxes with their names on them, each containing a picture of a place previously visited on the season (such as the Canada Olympic Park), using the four keys provided on their respective boards. They then had to take the picture, find their way out of the maze, and place it on the board. They had to repeat the process for the other two locations with pictures in numerical order. The fourth and last key on the board opened a wooden box which contained another key that unlocked the glass box on the board, which contained their final clue. The episode only showed teams looking for the photograph of the Canada Olympic Park and then finding the box with the key.
• Legs 12 and 13 aired back-to-back as a special two-hour episode.

The Amazing Race 5 received positive reviews. Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune called this season a "breakout success".[21] In 2016, this season was ranked 1st out of the first 27 seasons by the Rob Has a Podcast Amazing Race correspondents.[22] Kareem Gantt of Screen Rant called it "an otherwise near-perfect season."[23] In 2021, Jane Andrews of Gossip Cop ranked this season as the show's 2nd best season.[24] In 2022, Jason Shomer of Collider ranked this season among the show's top seven seasons.[25] In 2022, Rhenn Taguiam of Game Rant ranked this season as the tenth-best season.[26]

U.S. Nielsen ratings