# Mar Chiquita - Albufera — Mar Chiquita, Argentina

The Mar Chiquita lagoon, 35 km north of Mar del Plata, is the coastal lagoon where half the Atlantic coast learns: flat water, very shallow and with sandbanks. You set up on the sand at the spit that goes from the town to the breakwater, on the bay side, and you ride in the bay in front of the promenade, which the schools simply call the lagoon.

The ideal wind is the northeast, which comes in side-on along the spit and leaves the water flat. The southeast also works, crossing the spit towards the bay, and the south, the most frequent in the area but gusty because it passes through the town. The best times are spring and summer, from October to March, with 12 to 25 kt.

The mouth that connects the lagoon with the sea is a forbidden zone: with the tide going out the current pulls outwards, there are rocks and fishermen on the breakwater. Opposite is the marsh, inside the Campo Mar Chiquita military reserve, where you cannot land, and the entire lagoon is a biosphere reserve with many birds. In summer the bay is shared with bathers, kayaks and jet skis.

Several schools give lessons in the lagoon, generally from midday depending on the wind, and the Asociación de Kite de Mar y Laguna brings together the kiters of Mar del Plata and Mar Chiquita. At the spit is the Barlovento restaurant and you park on the sand.

Photos: "LagunaMarChiquita-0025 02" by Ezarate (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons; "LagunaMarChiquita-BsAs" by Ezarate (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons; "LagunaMarChiquita-BsAs-feb2024 2" by Ezarate (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons; "LagunaMarChiquita-0035" by Ezarate (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

- **Sports:** Kitesurf, Wingfoil, Windsurf
- **Difficulty:** Beginner
- **Location:** Mar Chiquita, Argentina (-37.74335, -57.41635)
- **Favourable wind directions (where the wind blows from):** NE (45°), SE (135°)
- **Wind range (knots):** 12–28
- **Best months:** October, November, December, January, February, March

## Wind by month (% of days per strength)

| Month | <7 kn | 7–13 kn | 13–20 kn | 20–35 kn | >35 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5 | 60 | 30 | 5 | 0 |
| February | 5 | 61 | 29 | 5 | 0 |
| March | 9 | 64 | 23 | 4 | 0 |
| April | 14 | 53 | 29 | 3 | 1 |
| May | 17 | 56 | 21 | 6 | 0 |
| June | 17 | 68 | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| July | 10 | 67 | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| August | 14 | 56 | 25 | 5 | 0 |
| September | 9 | 54 | 31 | 6 | 0 |
| October | 1 | 51 | 45 | 3 | 0 |
| November | 6 | 53 | 38 | 3 | 0 |
| December | 5 | 59 | 34 | 2 | 0 |

## Local winds

- **Noreste** — NE (45°), 12–25 kn. The ideal wind for the lagoon: it comes in side-on along the spit and leaves the bay flat and shallow, perfect for learning. It is what the schools look for in spring and summer.. Ride towards the promenade and away from the mouth: the northeast pushes towards the back of the bay, not towards the sea.
- **Sudeste** — SE (135°), 12–28 kn. Comes in from the sea, crosses the spit and blows towards the bay: the water remains flat and the town promenade is downwind, about 400 m away.. At the launch it blows from the land: set up with a margin and do not go near the mouth or the marsh opposite, where you cannot land.
- **Sur** — S (180°), 14–30 kn. The most frequent wind in the area, but it reaches the bay after passing through the houses and trees of the town: it comes in gusty and with holes.. Gusty near the promenade. It pushes towards the marsh and the northern channel: do not let yourself be carried upstream.

## Zones

- **Launch** — Launch zone
- **Parking** — Parking
- **Laguna de Mar Chiquita** — Navigation zone
- **Mouth and breakwater** — Restricted zone
- **Mud bank** — Restricted zone
- **Marsh and military reserve (no landing)** — Restricted zone

## Points of interest

- **Launch at the spit**: Sand at the spit on the bay side, between the town and the breakwater.
- **Barlovento**: Restaurant at the spit, next to the breakwater (OpenStreetMap).
- **Parking on the sand**: Parking is on the sand of the spit, behind the restaurant (approximate position).
- **Lagoon mouth**: Channel towards the sea: with the tide going out the current pulls outwards. Forbidden zone.
- **Mud bank**: Very shallow mud bank in the middle of the bay: be careful with fins and foil.
- **Campo Mar Chiquita military reserve**: Marsh and barrier in front of the bay: landing is not allowed.
- **Camping Municipal Mar Chiquita**: Municipal campsite of the town (OpenStreetMap).
- **Hotel Mirador**: Hotel in the town, about 600 m from the launch (OpenStreetMap).

## Hazards

- Strong current at the mouth with the tide going out: it takes you out to sea
- Mud banks and very shallow depth: be careful with fins and foil
- Bathers, kayaks and jet skis in the bay in summer
- Marsh and military reserve opposite: do not land
- Rocks at the exit to the sea and fishermen on the breakwater
- Biosphere reserve with birds: do not approach the flocks

## Obstacles

- Stone breakwater at the end of the spit
- Cars and people on the sand of the spit
- Remains of a pier next to the launch

## Facilities

- Parking
- Restaurant
- School

[See it on Ventus Surf (3D map, zones and live forecast)](https://ventus.surf/spots/mar-chiquita-albufera-Dip8aJtk6fwXjSQIE4lq?lang=en)