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Introducing Atlantic Coast
Argentines can justly claim Latin America’s highest peak (Cerro Aconcagua), its widest street (9 Julio) and perhaps its prettiest capital, but its beaches are nothing to write home about. Nonetheless, while well-heeled porteños head to Uruguay and Brazil to while away the summer, most folks flock to the string of resort towns that dot the Atlantic Coast.
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The coastal towns, for the most part, overflow in January and become very quiet – verging on depressing – in winter. As for the beaches, there’s no white sand or turquoise waters here. The sand is darkish and the water cloudy but clean, while savage winds can turn sunbathers into milanesas in moments, sand sticking to their skins like crumbs on a schnitzel. Which explains the balnearios – beach clubs that offer a range of services from bathrooms to babysitters, but most importantly tents.
But while it’s no paradise, the Atlantic coast does offer a quick escape from the steamy capital, and plenty of outdoor activities. Mar del Plata is a bustling metropolis in its own right, with a rich cultural life and a great annual film festival. Pinamar attracts a hip summer crowd, while tiny Mar Chiquita boasts a worthwhile nature reserve.
Even by Argentine standards, prices are hard to pin down, rising sharply in December through February before declining until late March, when most lodgings close. Bargains can be found in the cooler months, though Easter marks an excuse to raise them briefly.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
