Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is a large coastal city in Buenos Aires Province, located roughly 370 kilometers south of the capital and stretching over 30 kilometers of Atlantic shoreline. The city comprises numerous residential neighborhoods, several fishing ports, a commercial center and an extensive network of public beaches distributed along the entire waterfront.

Portuguese explorer José Coelho de Meyrelles founded a fishing settlement called La Peregrina in 1856 and set up the first meat processing facility in the area. By the late 19th century the place had become a fashionable summer destination for wealthy families from Buenos Aires, who built large villas along the shore.

Argentine families flock to the beaches in large groups, with each stretch of sand drawing a different crowd, from noisy gatherings to quieter pockets. The waterfront comes alive with a strong street culture of cafés, ice cream parlors and outdoor markets that stay open late into the evening.

The high season runs from November through April, when beaches are fullest and most shops and restaurants keep longer hours. Direct connections by plane, train or long-distance bus from Buenos Aires and other major cities operate year-round, though frequency increases noticeably during summer months.

A local architectural movement from the early 1900s favored small stone-faced summer houses, and many of these low-rise buildings still stand in older neighborhoods today. The fishing markets along the harbor sell freshly caught seafood directly to visitors, who can watch boats unload their catch every morning.