Argentina naturist beaches

Playa Escondida (La Escondida) is Argentina's first and best-known naturist beach, on the Atlantic coast of the Partido de General Pueyrredón about 25-35 km south of central Mar del Plata, near the Chapadmalal tourist complex. It opened in 2001 after a municipal ordinance promoted by the city's tourism body; local residents objected to the first proposed site, so it was placed on a stretch away from housing. Since about 2002 it has been run as a private beach concession by the Asociación Naturista del Sur. The beach is a roughly 300 m stretch of sand at the foot of the coastal cliffs, screened by dunes and scrub so it is not overlooked by the neighbouring balnearios. Nudity is optional rather than required. Facilities are unusually complete for a naturist beach: a restaurant and beach bar, umbrella and table rental, gazebos on the dune terraces, a massage area, and a pool and spa within the grounds, plus a first-aid post and emergency phone. Lifeguarded hours in season are 8:00 to 20:00. Strict rules apply: no photography or filming (cameras are checked at the entrance), no sexual behaviour, no loud music and no street vendors. Because it is far from the city, its water has tested to EU bathing standards.

Playa Querandí is Argentina's second official naturist beach, on the Atlantic coast of Villa Gesell partido in Buenos Aires Province, about 4 km south of the village of Mar Azul, inside the Reserva Ecológica Faro Querandí, a protected dune area. It was created by agreement between the naturist association APANNA and the Villa Gesell municipality in March 2008 and opened on 14 December 2008, after Playa Escondida near Mar del Plata. The designated stretch is roughly 200 m of shoreline, with the original plan allowing expansion. Because it lies within the reserve, there are no buildings, concessions or toilets: it is deliberately left wild, with only an entrance and boundary markers that the volunteer group Amigos de Playa Querandí rebuild each season after storms. Nudity is optional and family nudism is common; pets, street vendors and photography are banned, groups keep their distance, and inappropriate sexual behaviour means expulsion. Attendance is modest, reported at around 40 people a day, including young backpackers camping nearby.