Sights in Mar Del Plata
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Baquina de Pescadores
Mar del Plata is one of the country's most important fishing ports and seafood-processing centers. At Baquina de Pescadores - the picturesque wharf hidden behind the ugly YPF fuel tanks - fisherfolk and stevedores follow their routine on and around kaleidoscopically colored wooden boats, monitored by sea lions who have established a large colony - mostly male - along one side of the pier.
In the early morning, unfazed by the chilly sea breeze, the fishermen load their nets and crates before spending the day at sea, escorted by the sea lions. At about 17:00, the pier gets noisy and hectic as the returning fishermen sort and box the fish, bargain for the best price and tidy…
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Ship Graveyard
Just past the sea lion colony is the port's fantastic graveyard of ruined ships, half-sunken and rusting in the sun. Here the Escollera Sur (southern jetty) begins its long stretch some 2km out to sea, with panoramic views of the city from its tip. Climb the yellow ladders and walk on top of the sea wall for the best views. You can walk back to the Centro Comercial Puerto (the port's commercial center) and close the day in one of its great restaurants.
Local buses 221, 511, 522, 551, 561, 562 and 593 go to the wharf from downtown. A taxi costs around Arg$15.
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Sierra & Laguna de los Padres
A popular weekend destination for marplatenses, the lake and soft hills to its west offer a bucolic setting and a range of outdoor activities, including horse riding, biking, trekking and rock climbing. The spot was first settled in 1746 as a Jesuit Mission aimed at rounding up the nomadic tribes of the area - you can see a replica of the original chapel by the lake's shore. There are plenty of places to eat, and campgrounds as well(take bus 717 from Av Luro).
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Aquarium Mar del Plata
Located 10km south of the center, near the lighthouse, is Mar del Plata’s aquarium. Animals on display include penguins, flamingoes, crocodiles and lots of fish. There are sea-lion, dolphin and water-skiing shows, along with a cinema. You can also swim with sharks (among other watery creatures) and sit on the beach. Get here on bus 221 or 511.
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Museo Municipal de Arte Juan Carlos Castagnino
Built in 1909 as the summer residence of a prominent Argentine family, the Villa Ortiz Basualdo is now the Museo Municipal de Arte Juan Carlos Castagnino. Resembling a Loire Valley castle, its Belgian interior exhibits paintings, photographs and sculptures by Argentine artists.
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Museo Archivo Histórico Municipal Roberto T Barili
In the Villa Emilio Mitre (1930), a former summer residence of the Argentine oligarchy, the Museo Archivo Histórico Municipal Roberto T Barili houses a superb collection of late-19th-century photographs, along with other exhibits recalling Mar del Plata’s colorful past.
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Costanera Sur
Beyond the lighthouse and the limits of Mar del Plata proper is the Costanera Sur. This area is less urbanized, and though the beaches are filled with yet more balnearios in the summer, they're a quieter option if you're here outside of the peak season.
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Centro Cultural Villa Victoria
Victoria Ocampo, founder of the literary journal Sur, hosted literary salons with prominent intellectuals from around the world at this, her summer chalet. It’s now a cultural center that features changing art and cultural exhibitions.
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Museo del Mar
Housing the most extensive seashell collection you’re ever likely to see, the Museo del Mar exhibits more than 30,000 shells, representing 6000 species from around the world. The museum also contains a small tide pool, an aquarium and a cafe.
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Punta Mogotes
Mar del Plata's beaches are safe and swimmable, if impossibly crowded in the summer. Just past the port you'll find the huge Punta Mogotes complex - slightly more chilled and favored by families, who fill the balnearios to overflowing in January.
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Playa Varese
Mar del Plata's beaches are safe and swimmable, if impossibly crowded in the summer. To the south of Playa de los Pescadores are Playa Varese and Cabo Corrientes, a pair of small waveless beaches, also public, that are protected by small rocky headlands.
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Torre Tanque
This interesting, medieval water storage tower, atop Stella Maris hill, was finished in 1943 and offers great views over Mar del Plata. There’s a tiny museum inside; after checking it out, climb the spiral stairs or take the elevator.
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Catedral de San Pedro
Facing the leafy Plaza San Martín at San Luis, this neo-Gothic building features gorgeous stained glass, an impressive central chandelier from France, English-tile floors and a ceiling of tiles from other European countries.
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Playa Bristol
Mar del Plata's beaches are safe and swimmable, if impossibly crowded in the summer. Downtown fronts onto the most central beach, Playa Bristol, with its wharf and fishermen's club bearing the huge neon Quilmes sign.
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Playa La Perla
Mar del Plata's beaches are safe and swimmable, if impossibly crowded in the summer. The next beach to the north of Playa Bristol is Playa La Perla , favored by a younger crowd and filled with balnearios.
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Playa Grande
Mar del Plata's beaches are safe and swimmable, if impossibly crowded in the summer. South of Playa Varese, at the more fashionable end of town, lies Playa Grande, also crowded with balnearios.
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Museo Municipal de Ciencias Naturales
Kids and science fans might enjoy the Museo Municipal de Ciencias Naturales, a small science museum with a small aquarium, scary spiders, lots of butterflies and dinosaur bones.
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Playa Escondida
For the adventurous, there’s Playa Escondida, some 25km south of Mardel and possibly Argentina’s only legal nude beach. Bus 221 gets you there.
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