Necochea

Necochea sits where the Quequén Grande river meets the Atlantic, and its beach is one of the widest on the Argentine coast, running for kilometres of firm pale sand that at low tide seems to stretch out of proportion to the town behind it. That town is shaded by the Parque Miguel Lillo, a coastal forest of some six hundred hectares planted from the 1930s with pines, eucalyptus and acacias, threaded with paths, lakes, picnic areas and a small museum, and it counts among the largest planted coastal parks in South America. The river mouth and port attract fishing, both from the piers and offshore, and the cliffs and dunes east toward Quequén offer quieter walking.

What you actually see

• The wide beach - kilometres of firm sand, exceptionally broad at low tide.
• Parque Miguel Lillo - the vast planted coastal forest behind the town.
• The river mouth and port - fishing piers and the working harbour at Quequén.
• The dunes and cliffs - quieter coast east of the river.

When to go

December to March for the beach season, with January busiest; the wide beach absorbs crowds better than most. Spring and autumn suit walking in the park. Winter is cold and windy with limited services.

Honest expectations

The Atlantic here is cold and the wind frequent, so beach days can be bracing rather than balmy. The town is functional and unglamorous. Outside summer many businesses close and the seafront empties.

Nearby

Mar del Plata lies northeast; Bahía Blanca and Monte Hermoso are far southwest.