Surfing Safari: Argentina

THE SURF SPOT: Mar del Plata
Wide swaths of sandy beach are punctuated by man-made, stacked jetties, Mar Del Plata’s marina, and giant slabs of slick, rocky bluffs. Echoed underwater, the changing landscape makes both sand- and rock-bottomed breaks like Playa Grande, Bahia Faro, and Cabo Corrientes. There’s even a Playa Waikiki, named courtesy of its likeness to the original in Hawaii.

Interestingly, swells here are generated purely by winds off the Atlantic coast. The handful or so of local surf spots are highly exposed (versus being located in narrow bays or coves), meaning wind direction and size can greatly change the waves—say, from mushy whitewash to hollow barrels. Headquartered in the sand, Kikiwai Surf Club offers lessons and surf academies. Along with a smattering of local board-building companies like Xtorsion and Birdband, the club has helped grow the surf scene, which now hosts several contests including a longboard classic.

Reserve the Presidential Suite at Hotel Costa Galana (hotelcostagalana.com). From the 15th-floor corner suite, check the swell from the private balcony and enjoy breakfast overlooking Playa Grande. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors allow ocean breezes to waft through the kitchen, living space, and bedroom. Loosen up with a private yoga Nidra class or relax in the spa hammam.