The Pampas & the Atlantic Coast - Argentina - page 279

Necochea 64 2¼

Pinamar 69 2½

Puerto Madryn 588 17

Tandil 81 3

Villa Gesell 55 2

TRAIN
The train station ( 475-6076; www.sofse.gob.ar ; Av Luro 4700 at Italia; 6am-midnight) is
adjacent to the bus terminal, 2km from the beach. Trains with primera (AR$170) and
Pullman (AR$200) class service run between Mar del Plata and Buenos Aires' Constitu-
ción station (six hours) three times weekly in each direction. The fancier Marplatense
service (AR$210, 5¾ hours) runs only once weekly, leaving Buenos Aires early Friday
evening and returning from Mar del Plata late Sunday afternoon. A lower-priced daily
service (AR$102) had been suspended indefinitely at the time of research. Reserve tick-
ets well ahead in summer.

Getting Around
The airport ( 478-0744) is 10km north of the city. Take bus 542, marked 'aeropuerto'
(AR$3.25, 30 minutes) from the corner of Blvd Marítimo and Belgrano. Taxis cost
around AR$60.
Despite Mar del Plata's sprawl, frequent buses reach just about every place in town.
However, most buses (including the airport bus) require tarjetas de aproximación (mag-
netic cards) that must be bought ahead of time at kioskos (newsstands) and charged up.
Popular bus 221 is an exception: it takes coins.
Colectivos MDP ( www.colectivosmdp.com.ar ) provides useful maps of all local bus
routes on its website. The tourist office can also help with transport details.
Car rentals are available downtown at Alamo (

495-2935; Córdoba 2270) .

WORTH A TRIP
MIRAMAR

If you've got kids consider a side trip to Miramar, a family-friendly destination with
a long, wide beach and gentle waves (surfable in spots). Compared to Mar del
Plata, 45km to the north, Miramar is fairly low-key - but like any other Argentine
resort it does get crowded in summer.