This season visited five continents and nine countries and traveled over 40, miles 64, km. This season also saw the return of the Intersection. The sixteenth season spanned 40, miles 64, km across five continents and nine countries, including a first-time visit to the Seychelles.
In the episode which aired on February 28, , and featured the contestants departing Chile , Phil Keoghan acknowledged the February 27, , Chilean earthquake in a special opening. Leg 4 featured an Intersection for the first time since season Additionally, teams did a Roadblock together for the first time, where one person from each of the Intersected teams worked together to complete the Roadblock.
Applications were originally due on July 10, , but the deadline was extended. Semi-finalist interviews were held in August and the final casting interviews took place in Los Angeles in September and October Filming took place in November and December The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg.
Placements are listed in finishing order. The first five eliminated teams were sequestered at a villa in Puerto Vallarta , Mexico, to await the finale. CBS posted short videos on its website after each episode to show the eliminated teams interacting at the villa.
The Amazing Race 16 received mostly negative reviews. Andy Dehnart of reality blurred called it a "relatively weak season".
