Introducing Pinamar

Bathed by a tropical current from Brazil, Pinamar’s waters are pleasantly warm, and its clean beaches slope gradually into a sea abundant with fish.

The town lacks the nightlife options of Villa Gesell and Mar del Plata, and its southern neighborhoods of Ostende and Valeria offer some semblance of tranquility along the teeming coast. Cariló’s mansions, chic boutiques and fashionable restaurants make it the top end of town.

Pinamar was founded and designed in 1944 by architect Jorge Bunge, who figured out how to stabilize the shifting dunes by planting pines, acacias and pampas grass. It was the refuge for the country’s upper echelons, but is now somewhat less exclusive, with the best-heeled beachgoers heading for Punta del Este, leaving Pinamar to a more laid-back crowd.

A new film festival, Pantalla Pinamar, takes place in December (www.pantallapinamar.com in Spanish) and there are concerts and parties on the beach around New Year.