Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
Sports: Kitesurfing, Windsurfing, Surfing, Surf foiling
Best time to go: January, November–December
Mar del Plata is a large coastal city in Buenos Aires Province, about 400 kilometres south of Buenos Aires, and the centre of surfing in Argentina. Its beaches are divided by rocky headlands, groynes and the harbour breakwater, and Playa Grande, just north of the harbour, is one of the main areas for surf, with other breaks such as Biología and Waikiki to the south.
Swells from the south and south-east, often after cold fronts, give the best surf, most often in autumn and winter, and north-west winds are offshore on many beaches. In spring and summer an afternoon north-easterly sea breeze often blows, and fronts bring stronger south-easterly and southerly winds, which kitesurfers and windsurfers use on the open beaches outside the bathing areas. The bottom is sand with rocks around the groynes and headlands. The beaches are extremely busy in the summer holidays, and kiting near bathers is restricted, so check local rules. The water is cool, about 18 to 21 °C in summer and 10 to 12 °C in winter, so a wetsuit is needed most of the year.
Month by month at Mar del Plata
- January: 17 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 21°C, air 26°C (nights 17°C), 30 sunny days, 7 rainy days
- February: 13 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 1.4 m, water 22°C, air 25°C (nights 17°C), 25 sunny days, 10 rainy days
- March: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 21°C, air 23°C (nights 16°C), 27 sunny days, 11 rainy days
- April: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 19°C, air 19°C (nights 12°C), 25 sunny days, 9 rainy days
- May: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 15°C, air 15°C (nights 9°C), 21 sunny days, 7 rainy days
- June: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 13°C, air 13°C (nights 6°C), 22 sunny days, 7 rainy days
- July: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 11°C, air 12°C (nights 6°C), 21 sunny days, 7 rainy days
- August: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 10°C, air 13°C (nights 7°C), 21 sunny days, 9 rainy days
- September: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 11°C, air 16°C (nights 7°C), 23 sunny days, 5 rainy days
- October: 13 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 14°C, air 19°C (nights 10°C), 27 sunny days, 8 rainy days
- November: 14 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 16°C, air 21°C (nights 13°C), 28 sunny days, 10 rainy days
- December: 15 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 18°C, air 24°C (nights 15°C), 29 sunny days, 10 rainy days
When is the best time to go kitesurfing & windsurfing at Mar del Plata?
January, November–December, when it is windy most often.
When is the best time to go surfing & surf foiling at Mar del Plata?
February, April–May, August, when the waves are biggest.
How warm is the water at Mar del Plata?
10°C to 22°C over the year: a 3/2 full suit in the warmest month, a 5/4 with hood, boots and gloves in the coolest.
How windy is Mar del Plata?
About 125 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in January.
Figures from 5 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).
More: All spots in Argentina · Kitesurfing in Argentina · Windsurfing in Argentina · Surfing in Argentina · Surf foiling in Argentina
Compare with: La Pedrera vs Mar del Plata