Mar del Plata is one of the most important cities in the country, not only because of the number of inhabitants and economic importance, but also because it is the most popular summer vacation center.
When to get there:
Due to its numerous beaches, the better time to go to Mar del Plata is during the summer. However, its extensive infrastructure makes it a city that can be accessed at any of the seasons.
Weather:
Mild; during the summer the temperatures are pleasant, ranging between 18º C and 23º C, while winter is cold, with an average temperature of 7º C. Summer is the rainiest winter.
how to get there:
By land: National Route Nº 2 -connecting with the City of Buenos Aires, National Road Nº 9 -the provinces of Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero and Cordoba, and National Route Nº 226 -with Tandil and Balcarce-. By air: It has an international airport, with flights arriving from Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mendoza and other cities.
The coast –
Mar del Plata being the most important city- , which goes from the south of
Buenos Aires Province to Patagonia, is an important tourist center that attracts, mainly in summer, tourists from all over the country, and more and more foreign tourists as well. Even though the sea water is not warm, the wideness of the beaches, the size of the waves, the diversity of landscapes and activities and warm cities and towns make it an almost irresistible option to spend summer or winter.
One of the characteristics these places have is that in many of their beaches there are tents- with certain facilities such as chairs, tables and deckchairs – which can be rented for one, fifteen, thirty days or even the whole season. The beaches may also have changing rooms, gyms, swimming pools, restaurants and bars. These facilities have been developed since Argentinean people like spending the whole day on the beach.
Coastal cities usually have all kinds of casinos, which are always full of tourists. The ones in Mar del Plata and Pinamar are the most visited, but those in Mar de Ajó, Miramar and Necochea also have their public.
For families, honeymooners, teenagers traveling alone, or groups of friends, the Atlantic coast is part of the imaginary and the local idiosyncrasy for holidays. The variety of cities, places and beaches is so wide that almost everybody can find a place they like.
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is one of the most important cities in the country, not only because of the number of inhabitants and economic importance, but also because it is the most popular summer vacation center. It is the entrance to the local beach for anybody who wants to visit it. Located in Buenos Aires Province, 404 km. from the Argentinean Capital city, it has more than 650.000 inhabitants, an international airport, a train terminal and an important dock and fishing center. Besides, it offers a rich cultural life through its theatres, cinemas and cafés, and you can not miss trying its restaurants, specialized in sea food.
Founded in 1874, it was until middle 1950s the meeting center of political, cultural and show elites in the country. Then it became more and more popular until it became the touristy summer center, with millions of visitors – it receives almost 3 million people every season -. This tourist attraction has made it a cozy place, with accommodation options and activities for all ages, tastes and social classes.
Apart from its almost 40km.long coasts, Mar del Plata is surrounded by hills, so it is common to find undulating streets, which offer wonderful views of its impressive and open beaches.
Things you cannot miss in Mar del Plata
Hotel Provincial
It is one of the typical pictures in Mar del Plata. The entrance and the terrace of this hotel, next to the old sea dogs made of stone and the sea behind are a picture you should have if you visit the city. It will be open again at the end of 2008, as the place to celebrate meetings in the city. Before that it will be the seat of the Film festival.
Beaches
During the summer, Mar del Plata beaches receive so many people that it could take several minutes to reach the sea. However, the beaches in the center of the city are so traditional and emblematic that it is impossible to miss them. Bristol beach is the oldest, no doubt, followed by La Perla and Punta Mogotes.
Shopping: sweaters and alfajores
As in any big city, anything can be bought. The most traditional products are sweaters, manufactured by artisans or industries, but always combining excellent tread and design. And the alfajores are the typical souvenir after vacations in the city. Even though they can be bought in any other part of the country, a box brought from Mar del Plata tastes different.
Port
A walk through the port cannot be missed. You should try the delicious food, buy sea products or just enjoy watching the old sea dogs, seagulls, fishing boats, nets. Try a walk along the breakwaters while watching the old ships cemetery, or even take a fishing excursion.
Sports: Surf and Golf
The height and intensity of waves and the way they break make surfers from all around the world chose Mar del Plata. Golf lovers have the possibility of playing in golf courses in front of the sea, in a landscape of hills or in the heart o fan old colorful forest.
Night life
During the summer season there are endless options in Mar del Plata. From theatre, cinema, music, football matches such as Boca vs. River to fashion parades, parties, discos, bars, and craftsmen street markets. Something that cannot be missed is going to the Casino, the Central or the refined Hotel Hermitage.
Partido de la Cosra (Coastal County)
It is made up by a series of
small beach towns that precede Mar del Plata. They are full of families and very quiet. Each of these towns offers different options, but always very peaceful. From north to south the towns are: San Clemente del Tuyú, Las Toninas, Santa Teresita, Mar del Tuyú, Costa del Este, Aguas Verdes, La Lucila del Mar, San Bernando, Mar de Ajó and Nueva Atlantis.
Mundo Marino (Sea World)
It is the biggest aquarium in South America. There are killer whales, dolphins and old sea dogs shows you can enjoy. Your family can also visit a penguin breeding colony, match the impressive aquariums, and enjoy shows and games.
Pinamar
Near Mar del Plata, and following the Partido de la Costa, you can find
Pinamar town, which is more exclusive. Its main characteristic, which gives the town an attractive beauty and named after it, is that it is covered by pine woods.
Pinamar is the biggest town in the county, and it has the best beaches, hotels, shops, restaurants. However, the buildings, sandy streets and high pines make it look less urban than Mar del Plata.
Other towns in the county, which are more relaxed and peaceful are Ostende, Valeria del Mar and the exclusive Cariló, where the forest and the sea combine with the rustic architecture, which has turned the town into the most expensive place on the Argentinean coast.
In any of these tour places, resides visiting its long beaches, people can practice water sports, tennis, golf, 4x4 trips and walks. During the summer, film and jazz festivals are organized.
Villa Gesell
It is located next to Pinamar. This
city not only has woods but also dunes. For a long time it was the beach chosen by bohemian and hippies and nowadays it is the place chosen by young people for their vacations, its night life is one of the most exciting in the area.
During the last years, small towns have appeared very near Gesell. One of them is Mar de las Pampas, a fancy place where nature is respected and it has become the first Slow City in Argentina. Mar Azul and Las Gaviotas are the neighboring places, with low profiles, not many buildings and less crowded and wilder beaches. For those who seek quietness and few people, these are ideal sites.
Miramar
This summer city, one of the southern cities in Buenos Aires Province, offers good infrastructure and big beaches with high waves. It has gradually become a family vacation center. Besides water activities and horse riding, it is an important fishing center for fishing lovers.
Necochea
Placed next to Miramar, this
peaceful city combines beaches, green woods, and River Quequén Salado. The beach is surrounded by dunes, which make it an excellent place for 4x4 trips.
Other water sports can also be practiced: windsurf, surf, jet ski, sailing, diving, rowing or swimming. You can also visit history museums or the casino.
Monte hermoso
It is the
last beach city in Buenos Aires province. During the last years, it has become more important due to the visitors who come looking for a more relaxed place. The beach is 32 km long, it has a smooth slope and is surrounded by dunes, bathed by warm water, and not polluted at all. The sun rises and sets on the sea due to its privileged geographical position.
Sauce Grande River, from Sierra de la Ventana till its estuary, travels among dunes, generating the Sauce Grande Lagoon, a 2,900 hectares water mirror, located only 10 km. far from the center of the city.
Río Negro
Río Negro Province, in Patagonia. Even tough its western margin has important ski centers and famous winter vacation cities such as Bariloche, there are many
tourist centers on its eastern margin, dedicated to sun and beach. Due to the combination of oceanographic and climatic factors, and the warm and transparent waters of San Matías Gulf, particularly in San Antonio bay, a peculiar coastal geography is formed. The width of tides, the coastal currents circulation system of the Atlantic, the high temperatures in summer and the lack of showers contribute to this phenomena.
The "Cliffs route ", known more as the Coastal Road, stretches from El Cóndor beach to San Antonio Este Port, following almost in all its extension the line of the coast. It runs along cliffs that have roads leading to wide beaches, easy to arrive on, two protected natural areas -Punta Bermeja and Caleta de los Loros – and four urban sites: La Lobería, Bahía Creek, Pozo Salado and Bahía Rosas.
Las Grutas
It is the second most visited place in the province, after Bariloche. The water of the sea reach 25º C in summer. It offers wide beaches of thin golden sand, with soft slopes, surrounded by cliffs and dunes.
The Atlantic Ocean bathes the coast of San Matías Gulf, warm, transparent and very rich, they are ideal for water sports, resting, walking, fishing and diving.
The uneven coast produces caves on the beach when the tide goes out, from where the warm sea and waves can be enjoyed.
Playas Doradas
This developing city is situated to the south of Las Grutas. It stretches through Somuncurá plateau, Las Minas de Hierro, surrounding hills and beaches 28 km away. Placed among the hills, the city has various landscapes and natural environment in good state. All these make it a good place for different recreational activities.
Chubut
In the southern part of the country, the coast of this province is besieged by a turquoise ocean. It is the place chosen by whales, penguins and sea elephants. It also has beaches to enjoy under the sun.
In Península Valdés, with Puerto Madryn city as a base, you can watch sea fauna. Besides, it is the most important diving center in the country. You can practice windsurf. It has more than 30 km. of beaches and white cliffs, creating a unique scenery, impossible to miss.
Radatilly Beach, in the south of the province, has a 3 km beach, ideal to enjoy the last hot summer days and the prevailing winds which allow the practice of car-sailing, and also other water activities. The landscape is framed by two geographical accidents: Punta del Marqués, to the south, and Punta Piedras, to the north. In the first one, you can visit a settlement of old sea dogs, which can be observed through strategically placed binoculars.
Santa Cruz
The water is now probably too cold, but there may be brave people who dare swim in it. If that is not the case, only lying on the beach is enough. Puerto San Julián beaches are so blue they dazzle you. Surrounded by cliffs, La Mina, Los Caracoles, Cabo Curioso, each beach in San Julián Bay is a shelter for the traveler.
The coast along Route 3
From Buenos Aires City to Cabo Vírgenes in Tierra del Fuego, the National Route Nr 3, allows you to travel all along the Argentinean coast. They are 3.063 km. of beaches, cliffs, woods, whales, old sea dogs and elephant seals, and a lot of different colors on the sea, from brown to deep blue, and green, light blue, turquoise in the middle.
