Aguas Abiertas Pinamar

Punching through the Atlantic surf along the eastern edge of Buenos Aires province requires learning how to read the rhythm of the swell before taking a single stroke. Aguas Abiertas Pinamar brings open water racers to the ocean waters of Pinamar, a coastal resort in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Atlantic surf and coastal currents of Pinamar

The sea off Pinamar presents an invigorating open marine environment. The water is typically cold and animated by powerful crashing waves, while shifting currents moving from a nearby river mouth can occasionally tint the coastal water with sediment. While entering such a surging surf line can be daunting for newcomers, it rewards swimmers who take time to study the sets and time their passage between breaking crests. During the height of summer, steady breezes blow across the shoreline at an average speed of 14.7 km/h. These winds kick up a light, rhythmic surface chop across the open sea, sculpting the ocean surface without overpowering swimmers as they press past the shorebreak. Navigating these conditions demands alertness and steady sighting against the rolling blue horizon.

The dune barrier and maritime pine forests of Pinamar

Before swimmers ever stepped onto this stretch of the Atlantic coast, the landscape consisted of an untamed barrier of shifting sand dunes holding back the inland plains. These original coastal dunes had little natural vegetation to anchor them against the Atlantic winds. That began to change in the 1920s, when an ambitious afforestation project began about eight kilometres down the coast in Cariló. To stabilize the moving sands and halt coastal erosion, pioneers planted imported tree species, including Mediterranean pines and Australian eucalyptus. Over the following decades, these groves took root and spread across the sand hills, transforming the barren coastline into a dense maritime forest. Pinamar was officially inaugurated as a seaside resort on February 14, 1943.

Reading the surf: the courses of Aguas Abiertas Pinamar

Organized by OWA — Open Water Argentina, the race takes place in the southern summer month of January. Rather than serving as an ordinary stage in a championship series, the event is classified as a dedicated special event outside the regular tournament circuit. Swimmers gather on the wide coastal strand where the natural elements of sand, open sea, and midsummer sun set the stage for an authentic ocean test. To ensure every participant feels confident tackling the waves, the event features a specialized clinic on reading the sea and entering the surf efficiently. During this clinic, coaches explain how to analyze wave intervals, spot incoming sets, and slip through the shorebreak with minimal resistance.

This preparation dispels any nervousness about the strong surf, turning the ocean entry into an exciting, well-practiced technique. The event offers two distinct course options tailored to different experience levels. The 1.8-kilometre distance is designed as an accessible introduction, making it ideal for those swimming in the open sea for the first time. For experienced endurance athletes, the 3.5-kilometre route provides a true point-to-point challenge that guides swimmers straight out through the surf and beyond the second breaking wave zone into deep, rolling water.

The 3.5 km line from Kota Beach to Cocodrilo Beach

The 3.5 km course at Pinamar starts at Kota Beach and finishes at Cocodrilo Beach. The current runs in the swimmers' favour, and estimated times for the 3.5 km range from 40 minutes to 2 hours. The course plan includes a change of start to Calypso Beach for days when the drift runs south. The 3.5 km course is capped at 200 swimmers and has a time limit of 2 hours 20 minutes. Alongside the two swims, the programme includes a Wave Relay, a 4 × 50 m team event open to the teams with the most entrants.

The sustainable beachfront and Cariló's wild shores

In recent years, the town has embraced progressive conservation measures to safeguard its coastal ecology. Pinamar stood out as one of the very first cities in Argentina to ban single-use plastic bags, straws, and cups to protect the marine ecosystem. The city also implemented a comprehensive overhaul of its beach resorts, replacing sprawling beachfront structures with smaller, sustainable facilities that recovered approximately 5,000 square meters of pristine sand for the public and nature. The neighboring shores of Cariló are located about eight kilometres down the coast. There, only four commercial beach clubs are permitted to operate along the expansive sands in order to preserve an untouched, wild Atlantic appearance. For swimmers finishing their journey on Pinamar's sands, it leaves an open shoreline where the power of the ocean and the tranquility of coastal dunes remain completely in balance.