Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A few kilometers north of San Clemente del Tuyú are several protected areas, includ-
ing
Reserva Natural Municipal Punta Rasa
(whose beach is popular with kiteboarders)
and
Parque Nacional Campos del Tuyú
(home of the rare pampas deer).
AR$189/126; 10am-8pm Jan & Feb, 10am-6pm Mar-Dec, weekends only Apr-Nov)
, South
America's largest marine park. Another attraction is the popular recreation center
Ter-
mas Marinas
(
www.termasmarinas.com.ar
; adult/child under 11 AR$115/83;
10am-8pm Jan &
Feb, 10am-6pm Mar-Dec)
, featuring mineral-rich thermal baths.
From San Clemente's
bus terminal
(cnr Avs Naval & Talas del Tuyú)
, about 25 blocks
from the town center, frequent buses run to Buenos Aires (AR$185 to AR$205, 4½
hours) and Pinamar (AR$46, 2½ hours).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Pinamar
02254 / POP 25,000
Located about 120km northeast of Mar del Plata, Pinamar's warm waters make a very
popular destination for middle-class
porteños
. It's a busy place in summer. For a bit
more tranquillity, head to the southern and more residential neighborhoods of Ostende
and Valeria. Even further south is woodsy Cariló, Argentina's most exclusive resort and
home to expensive houses, fashionable restaurants and sandy side roads.
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
once the refuge for the country's upper echelons, but is now somewhat less exclusive and
more laid-back.
Activities
The main activity in Pinamar is simply relaxing and socializing on the beach, which
stretches all the way from north of the town down to Cariló. But the area also offers a
wealth of outdoor activities, from windsurfing and waterskiing to horseback riding and
fishing. You can also ride bicycles in the wooded areas near the golf course, or through
the leafy streets of nearby Cariló.
For bike rentals, try
Leo
( 48-8855; Av Bunge 1111; per hr/day AR$30/80; 9am-9pm)
,
on the main street near the tourist office. If you want to learn how to kiteboard, go to
Sport Beach, the last
balneario
(bathing area) located about 5km north of Av Bunge.
There are many more options for activities - ask at the tourist office.
