Laguna Los Padres, Recreation and Leisure Vacation

Laguna Los Padres is a center of tourist interest with a variety of amusement and recreation services, both for the Mar del Plata people and for the visitors.

The name of the city of Mar del Plata is, undoubtedly, associated with the sea. Nevertheless, the origin of this urban center and the first times of history and development were linked to the lagoon and its region.

The shores of Laguna Los Padres were settled by natives who were the original inhabitants. Later, already in the colonial times, European Jesuits came and settled down in this territory, which they called "Lagoon of the Cabrillas ". The Europeans began to cultivate cereals and vegetables and develop farms.

Time later, in a place closer to the seaside, was established a " saladero" for the production of salt. Around this establishment a town was founded which was the origin of the current city of Mar del Plata.

In Laguna Los Padres it is possible to appreciate beautiful scenery and to join diverse recreation and leisure activities. It has been declared a natural provincial reserve due to the variety of fauna and flora prevailing in its surroundings.

At present, the principal economic activity of the zone is horticulture for cattle feeding and milk production. In addition to the beautiful sceneries that can be appreciated in the protected area of the reserve of the lagoon, there are spaces in which recreation and sports activities are allowed. Laguna Los Padres can be easily reached coming from Mar del Plata.

See how to get to Laguna Los Padres

Integral Natural Reserve Laguna Los Padres

In the year 1957 the territories close to Laguna Los Padres were declared Natural Reserve.

The reserve is divided into an "intangible zone" populated by colonies of birds where de access to the public is denied; a "conservation zone" surrounding the intangible area where the only activity allowed is observation of nature and the access is by foot only; and the "zone of intensive use" for aquatic activities, outdoor sports, camping and recreation.

The Integral Natural Reserve is at 14 Km from the city of Mar del Plata. It covers an area of 687 hectares, including the water and the surrounding lands. The vegetation, it is the result of the combination of the natural vegetation and the agricultural cultivation. The water vegetation is characterized by the presence of reeds as well as abundant aquatic vegetation.

The mounts around are cultivated for recreation area purposes and are covered by forests, surrounding the area that borders with the lagoon. The principal tree species are: eucalyptus, pines, cypresses, acacias, willows, poplars, privets, elm trees, araucarias and casuarinas, among others. The fauna of the zone is abundant and varied. There are more than hundred twenty species of birds related to the aquatic ambience of the lagoon. Many of these species nest among the reeds of the lagoon. In the mounts of eucalyptus the gigantic communal nests of the parrots and different kinds of pigeons can be observed.

Sierra Los Padres is a hill belonging to the System of Tandilia (the most ancient land-elevation-folding of the world), which turned into a picturesque place transformed into an important residential zone.

Climbing up to the top of the hill and with an average height of 150 m. above sea level, one arrives at the panoramic point with a beautiful sight of the country houses that surround the hill, the lagoon and the "Garden Road" – route No. 226

Important archaeological excavations have been carried out in the areas of Sierra Los Padres finding ancient historical testimonies like rock paintings. Another fundamental discovery is the Cave Tixi, in which diverse items were found and are being studied, and which reveal extremely important anthropology data unknown until now, relating to the forefathers of man in this Buenos Aires zone.

Framed by a forest reserve that includes an entire area of 687 hectares, Laguna Los Padres is one of the principal recreation and sports centers of the region.

It is provided with wide park sectors, ideal for picnics and outdoor recreation activities such as fishing, boat rent and camping.

There is also a commercial center with crafts work, telephone services, real estate agencies, automatic cashier, a house of Welsh cakes and European patisserie, among other services.

Jesuitic Settlement Nuestra Señora del Pilar

In 1746 on the banks of the lagoon called then Laguna Cabrillas, a Jesuitical mission was established, with the purpose of creating a settlement for the nomad tribes of the zone. This is considered the first population settlement of the region which had an ephemeral life, disappearing in 1751, when the Jesuits were expelled.

Now the chapel has been reconstructed. Although it has not entirely survived, it allows the visitor to approach a part of history through guided visits and the thematic literary coffee shop - Opened every day from 10 to 17 hs.

Regional History and Folklore Museum

Bordering on the lagoon can be found the Municipal Museum José Hernández of regional history, located in the building of the most ancient estancia of the region. The first building was constructed in the decade of 1780, being the current one of a later date.

Daggers, gaucho knives, carriages and furniture of the time construct a wide image on the life of the gaucho and of the traditional families of the Argentine field.

Jose Hernandez, author of the gaucho poem Martin Fierro lived there between the age of nine and nineteen.

Approximately 200 meters from the museum there is a horse-riding area. The "jineteadas" are organized generally during the summer. There is a sculpture of a gaucho mounting a horse.

Not far from there is the Club of aircrafts modeling next to the School of Agricultural Education.

How to Get There?

The AvenidaPedro Luro leaves the city and turns into the National Route 226. The km 0 is the rotunda of the Monolith, which is located in the intersection of this Avenue and the Av. Champagnat.

Departing from the center for the Av. Luro it is suggested to visit, at a height of 3600 m, the Squares of Dardo Rocha and Eva Peron to see the Fountain of the Nereidas and the Flea market .

Continuing, on the right hand there is the North Railway Station ( an English style sottage of picturesque features) where the first locomotive that arrived to the village of Mar del Plata around 1886 is exhibited.

Reaching the roundabout of access to the Hipodromo, on Km No. 7 the central regional fruit market can be seen, and on Km No. 9,8 the Estancia Ytuzaingo opposite to the road stop Santa Paula.

On Km No. 12, another roundabout indicates to the left side the principal access to the Integral Reserve Laguna Los Padres. Successively on Km No. 13,5 and (at Museo Jose Hernandez) and Km No.14 can be found another two accesses to the area of the reserve.

In the roundabout on Km No. 16 of Route 226, to the left side there is access to the Padre Luis Varetto way which allows to enter the Sierra Loa Padres hill. Along this 4.000 meters way one can commercial centers, excellent proposals for recreation and leisure activities and gastronomic temptations (first quality meat, fish and vegetables produced in the zone), and small street boots selling fresh vegetables just cut from the gardens in the surroundings.

By bus: The same bus line has two different destinations.

Line 717 which a sign "Sierra Los Padres". It does not enter the " Integral Reserve of Laguna Los Padres ", so the traveler must descend from the bus on the main route and reach the lagoon area by foot.

The bus ride is of about 40 minutes. It reaches the top of the hill where there is a beautiful sightseeing of Cave of the Paסuelos.

Line 717 that it indicates "Colinas Verdes" (Green Hills) runs on Route 226 up to the mentioned destination, at kilometer No. 24,5. Approximate time ride from the center: 60 minutes.

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