BUENOS AIRES Days Out : Mar del Plata, ARGENTINA

Hello everyone, today we are going out from the craziness of the big city looking for peace and relax.Finding excitement in Buenos Aires isn’t difficult, but finding peace and tranquility, on the other hand, can be quite a task.

MAR DEL PLATA, Buenos Aires, Argentina

We have many options to go out for some few days when in Buenos Aires. I classify them in 3 groups: countryside, river and beaches! So, take your best shorts and swimsuit… we are going to the beach, yea!

MAR DEL PLATA, Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA

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MAR DEL PLATA, located along the coast of Buenos Aires Province (roughly 4/5 hrs by car, or 50 minutes by plane), is a perfect place to spend a long weekend (and more!) if you just want to get away for some rest and relaxation.

But, why we should go to Mar del Plata?

Most travellers come to Mar del Plata for on reason and one reason only… beaches!. But we think there is soooo much to do. Mar del Plata is not only the most popular city along the Argentinean Coast, but it also is where we have more offers, attractions and things to do… let’s start!

• A City-break among Nature 

Parks, beaches, fields, sierras and lakes… what do you prefer?

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• Walks with Panoramic Views

Take an stroll along the sea. Enjoy the beauty of the Mar del Plata’s 47km coast.

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• It’s Pleasant and Friendly

 

I specially loved the “Corredor Saludable” (or Healthy Corridor): every Sunday morning a section of the coast is closed to the vehicles and people just take it!. There also are free sport classes and activities.

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• Long Nightlife -with sunrise included!

Mar del Plata’s nightlife is diverse, busy and well known: – Downtown: music fountain, coffee shops, restaurants, pubs, casino – Guemes Street: pubs, restaurants and shopping – Hipolito Yrigoyen Street -my favourite one!: restaurants, live music and many pubs that offer house-brewed beers – Playa Grande: pubs, live music and night clubs – Port: seafood restaurants and pubs (see the map below)

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• Food, Dishes and Traditional Meal

Influenced by traditions and the sea, there is much to taste than just meat and dulce de leche… Fish, seafood, pastas, asado, alfajores, ice creams, sandwiches de miga, candies, pastries, churros.

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• Wide Beaches -and fresh water!

Golden sand, white sea foam, rough waves, impressive cliffs, one of the oldest hill system with millenarian stones (Tandilia Hill System) and green esplanades, all along its 47 km of coast.

Some beaches can be really busy in summer, especially in January.

[ Playa Grande,  MAR DEL PLATA, Buenos Aires – Argentina ]

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• Entertainment, Culture and Shopping

From children to retired people. There are not excuses for not having fun when in Mar del Plata. Theatres, museums, excursions, surf and tango lessons, trekking, fishing, biking, golf courses, paragliding over the coast, casino, live music, open air spectacles, markets… you better think what you want to do and then do it!

On the other hand, don’t miss the opportunity to buy regional products (wool and leather products are highly recommended), traditional pastries and handicrafts.

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G E N E R A L     I N F O R M A T I O N   

Where is it placed?

Facing the Atlantic Ocean, Mar del Plata is located 400km south of Buenos Aires city.

[ Click for full size ]

Ref: 1- Center / Downtown   2- Port   3- Guemes Street (mostly shopping)   4- Bus and train Terminal / San Juan Street   5- Playa Grande / Alem Street   6- Constitucion Avenue   7- Juan B. Justo Street (good to buy products of leather and wool)   8- Punta Mogotes Beaches   9- To the Southern Beaches / To Miramar   10- To Sierra and Laguna de Los Padres   11- Camet Airport / To Buenos Aires (Autovia 2)   12- Camet Park / To Santa Clara .

How to go? / How to get there?

By Car or Bus: 4/5hrs. The highway (Autovia 2) is safe and direct. Price bus tickets (return): around AR$500/€42By Train: over 6hrs. By Plane: 50 minutes. The airport (Camet Airport) is located 10km north to the center. The public bus nr 542 will take you to the center or take a taxi right there.

How much time do I need? A long weekend is perfect to go around the city. On the other hand, staying for 7/15 days is also good (not that recommendable in winter), so you can take short or daily escapes to the nearby villages along the coast such as Miramar, Mar de Cobo, Pinamar, Carilo, Mar del Las Pampas, Tandil… depending on what you look for.

Best Time to Go From the beginning October to the end of April, being January the busiest month.

Average Yearly Temperature: 25°C in summer and 13°C in winter

Population: around 700.000 residents

Visitors: over 8 million per year, mostly in summer (January and February) and long weekends

What’s On: click here (official website)

Tours: click here (official website)

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T I P S  and  R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S

 – Mar del Plata is plenty of activities, attractions and celebrations. Go to the information center to be updated as soon as you arrive! -or check it out on line here  

– As the city is quite sprawling, it’s a good idea to hire a car.

– Working hours are from Monday to Saturday, from 9:00 to 21hs, sometimes with a ‘siesta break’ from 13:30 to 16:00 hrs. Most shops are open on Sunday

– It’s a nice option to go to the Port at the afternoon to see the characteristic fishing yellow-boats arriving. The Port is a colourful area located to the south of the city.

– If you go to the southern beaches, have a break at Mirador Waikiki (restaurant): the food is average, but the place and views are really “really” good.

– Topless is not permitted in Argentina. For nude beaches go to the Southern Beaches (near Serena Beach)

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Do you still want to know more?, check out this video below:

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CONCLUSION

Whether we are looking for a cultural travel or simply to take a rest at the beach, Mar del Plata has everything for us. We hope this guide help get you started!

 

Special thanks to Luis Ferrarino and Yamila Vallejos. They have shared with us some of their fabulous photos for this blog post. Check out their profiles here: YamiVa Photostream – Luis Ferrarino Blog

Thanks in advance for leaving us a comment to let us know what you think. We also encourage you to connect to our community through our Facebook Page by clicking here. That will help us to keep growing and share more information :)

As always… Bon Voyage!!
That’s all so far… Enjoy Life. Love a lot!

• TTP

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. Related Posts:

ARGENTINA : Practical Basic Essentials – Travel Guide

PHOTO TIPS… How to Take Photos from an Airplane.

TRAVEL TIPS… Saving money when travelling.

 

 

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