Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
Puerto Mar del Plata
PORT
Mar del Plata is one of Argentina's most important fishing locations and seafood-pro-
cessing centers, and its port area, 8km south of the city center, is worth a visit. At the en-
trance to the port, just off Av de los Trabajadores (formerly Av Martínez de Hoz), you'll
see a large cluster of seafood restaurants surrounding a parking lot. This is the
Centro
Comercial del Puerto
, a good place to grab a bite to eat; just pick a place that looks
busy.
You can also take your bus directly to the port's scenic and slightly touristy wharf,
called the
Banquina de Pescadores
, which lies beyond the restaurant cluster - this
saves you a 10-minute walk through an ugly industrial area. This picturesque wharf is
home to dozens of orange fishing boats and the fisherfolk who follow their routine here.
You might see a sea lion's head poking out of the water; these animals have established a
large colony - all male - nearby on the
escollera sur
(southern jetty).
To get to this jetty, tromp south of the wharf about a block or so (there is no real path)
and go past the port's security entrance, then turn left onto the road. This is another ugly
industrial area, but eventually becomes the more pleasant jetty that leads 2km out to sea.
On the way you'll pass a graveyard of
ruined ships
, half-sunken and rusting in the sun,
and are likely see the colony of male sea lions lazing on a beach or behind a section of
chain-link fence. And at the tip of the windy
escollera sur
you'll find a restaurant, which
offers nourishment, along with panoramic views of the city.
Local bus 511 goes all the way to the wharf from downtown; you'll need a magnetic
card to board. Bus 221 only reaches the seafood restaurants at the port's entrance. A taxi
from downtown costs around AR$50.
Museo Municipal de Arte
Juan Carlos Castagnino
MUSEUM
(Av Colón 1189; admission AR$10, Wed free; 1-7pm Mon & Wed-Fri, 3-8pm Sat & Sun)
Built in
1909 as the summer residence of a prominent Argentine family, the turreted Villa Ortiz
Basualdo now houses this fine-arts museum; its interior exhibits paintings, photographs
and sculptures by Argentine artists.
Archivo Museo Histórico
Municipal Roberto T Barili
MUSEUM
OFFLINE MAP
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