Mar Chiquita

The Mar Chiquita Nature Reserve combines a diverse coastal landscape with unusual stories: its habitats range from the seashore and beaches to coastal dunes, grassland, lagoons and Pampas wetlands. There are also opportunities to watch birds, walk along the shore or explore Argentina’s space history. In 1996, UNESCO recognised the Reserva Mundial de Biosfera Parque Atlántico Mar Chiquito as a biosphere reserve.

Experience the coast, lagoon and birdlife

Public access to the Mar Chiquita Nature Reserve is at kilometre 483 via Provincial Route No. 11, through Balneario Parque Mar Chiquita. From there, visitors can walk to the Boca de la Albúfera. Birdwatching and bird photography are also available to visitors through the balneario. If you enjoy looking closely, you can combine your stay with watching and photographing birds; no set excursion programme is needed.

Another way to get to know the landscape is the Sendero de la Albufera. It begins with an interactive talk in the Sala de Interpretación de la Naturaleza and then follows the lagoon shore to its mouth at the sea. The route combines an introduction to nature with a walk that focuses on the transition from lagoon to sea. Balneario Parque Mar Chiquita also has a Centro de Atención al Visitante. A tourist route there is called Circuito turístico Reserva Creativa.

Guided walks through the dunes and along the lagoon shore

Free guided excursions to the Mar Chiquita Nature Reserve start in Mar Chiquita. An excursion begins with an informative talk about environmental protection and continues through the dunes and along the lagoon shore. This is a different way to visit from the Sendero de la Albufera: on the guided excursion, the talk and the walk through the landscape are part of the outing; on the Sendero, the interactive introduction in the Sala de Interpretación de la Naturaleza comes at the start of the route along the shore. You can decide whether you would prefer to join a guided excursion or explore the themed Sendero.

Fishing is also possible at Balneario Parque Mar Chiquita. In nearby designated areas accessible via the balneario, environmentally friendly water sports such as kayaking are permitted. These activities add further ways to enjoy the water to the nature-watching opportunities. The information about these areas refers to the immediate vicinity of the destination; it does not describe every section of the coast or lagoon.

An unusual chapter in Argentina’s space history

In the 1960s and early 1970s, Mar Chiquita was one of the centres of Argentina’s space history. A CELPA base carried out rocket tests, launches and recoveries there. This gives the town a historical dimension alongside its landscapes, distinct from its nature experiences. Mar Chiquita also offers good conditions for astronomical observations because of its low light pollution. Those interested in the sky will therefore find another distinct reason to observe here.

When choosing a holiday rental in Mar Chiquita, you can start by thinking about the experiences that interest you most: birdwatching, walks through the dunes and along the lagoon shore, water sports or the history of the CELPA base. These different themes are part of the destination’s character, without limiting a stay to a single activity.

Discover more destinations: Mar De Cobo, Santa Clara Del Mar and Quintas El Casal.

Go to the main travel overview: Mar Chiquita.