Argentina : Profile

Facts

Not many cruising yachts brave the elements to visit Argentina, but those who do are attracted to the challenging wilderness of the Magellan Straits and Tierra del Fuego.
Yachts coming from the north can get a taste of Argentina in Buenos Aires and the resorts in the Rio de la Plata estuary, where most yachting facilities are concentrated. There are several resorts with yacht clubs in the Rio de la Plata estuary, such as San Isidro and Olivos.
There are only a few ports along Argentina's long coastline and there is little to see between the Rio de la Plata and the Straits of Magellan, with the notable exception of Mar del Plata, which has a thriving sailing community and facilities to match.
Only basic facilities are available at Puerto Madryn and Puerto Deseado. Provisioning outside of the Buenos Aires area is adequate and for yachts heading south a convenient place to reprovision is at Río Gallegos, capital of Santa Cruz.

The Argentine climate ranges from subtropical in the north to cold temperate in Tierra del Fuego. The central zone is temperate, while Buenos Aires is hot and humid, the summer months December to February being the hottest. In Rio de la Plata the prevailing winds in summer are easterly, while SW winds are more common in winter. They are often accompanied by pamperos, violent SW squalls that affect most of Argentina's coastal waters.