An aerial view of Pinamar, one of the most popular destinations along the Tango Coast. (Julia Sapienza)

In January, when work slows and temperatures soar, the annual exodus of Buenos Aires families to the surrounding coastlines in Argentina and Uruguay kicks into high gear. And of the many seaside towns that make up Argentina’s portion of the Tango Coast, Pinamar is one of the more popular destinations. Pinamar has over 12,000 accommodations scattered among hotels, apartments and condominiums, while many private residences are available for rent during the peak summer months of January and February. Reservations are up over last year, according to Pinamar Director of Tourism Rosa Boero, thanks to competitive pricing: four-star hotels can be found for under $200/night while a good steak dinner for two with a bottle of malbec costs about $30. Looking ahead to next summer, low prices won’t be the only attraction in Pinamar. According to Borneo, Pinamar will embark on an ambitious coastal conservation program in April that will involve tearing down all existing City-owned public beach facilities and replacing them with environmentally-friendly structures. The Coastal Revnovation Plan is a first in a country where sustainability has lagged but is beginning to creep into public consciousness. One local envionrmental group, ProCostas, believes the Pinamar project can be a model for other towns along the Tango Coast. (Full PDF Report, Spanish)