Aguas Abiertas San Pedro — Club de Pescadores y Náutico

Aguas Abiertas San Pedro — Club de Pescadores y Náutico is an open water swimming race held in the Paraná River at San Pedro, in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The course takes competitors directly downstream with the moving water toward the finish at the Club de Pescadores de San Pedro.

Downstream on the Paraná to Club de Pescadores

Organized by Club de Pescadores y Náutico San Pedro, the event takes place in November and offers distances of 3,000 and 7,000 meters. The river current helps propel swimmers along the route, turning the long distance into a fast, rhythmic journey between riverbanks. While seasonal swells can prompt the Prefectura Naval Argentina to evaluate river levels for safety, swimmers benefit from the sheltered haven of the club's marina at the end of the descent. The club dock forms a protected basin where competitors can complete practice laps and warm up before heading out into the open river. It also provides a natural amphitheater where spectators gather along the piers to greet arriving swimmers as they exit the current.

Past editions have witnessed exciting finishes under sunny spring skies, including a tight sprint between international swimmers Fernando Ciaramella and Fernando Clement. Swimmers seeking an even longer river challenge can pair this event with the Maratón Acuática San Pedro — 20K, held at the same club the following day.

The Paraná River and the Arrecifes Delta waters

San Pedro sits on the right bank of the Paraná River right at the mouth of the Arrecifes River, a major tributary that empties into the main stem here. As the waters converge, they enter the sprawling ecosystem of the Paraná Delta. From this junction, river currents continue downstream into distributary channels like the Paraná de las Palmas. The surrounding geography opens into an intricate network of waterways, centered on the San Pedro lagoon, the river passage of Vuelta de Obligado, and a maze of low delta islands. Swimmers staying an extra week can take part in the Vuelta de Obligado — San Pedro, held 14 kilometers away.

Vuelta de Obligado and the naval heritage of San Pedro

San Pedro was founded as a port settlement on the right bank of the Paraná River near the confluence with the Arrecifes River. About fourteen kilometers away is the passage of Vuelta de Obligado, a site that is preserved today as a riverside historical museum. The town's relationship with river navigation continues along its modern shoreline.

The cliff viewpoints and costanera of San Pedro

High cliffs rise directly over the water in San Pedro, topped by walking paths and panoramic viewpoints that look out across the broad expanse of the Paraná River. These elevated miradores offer an ideal vantage point before the race to survey the river's bends and check the surface conditions. Below the bluffs, the town's paved waterfront promenade, known as the costanera, lines the water with generous green spaces and a laid-back river atmosphere. The riverbanks along the promenade are a favorite local destination for shore fishing, while boating excursions depart regularly from the shore to explore the outer islands and cast for river fish. Right along the riverfront, waterfront restaurants such as Costeé del Río and Cantina Náutica let swimmers unwind after the race with local fish dishes and wide views across the Paraná.

The lower costanera, the boat anchorage and the delta islands

The coastal walk of San Pedro is about one kilometre long and runs in two corridors, one high and one low, with viewpoints facing the Paraná. On the lower corridor of the San Pedro coastal walk, the Avenida España concentrates most of the tourist services, such as nautical clubs, hotels, restaurants and parking spaces. From the Avenida España there are accesses to public walks along the river in San Pedro, with tables and grills under a large grove of trees. A tourist guide to San Pedro describes the Club de Pescadores y Náutica as the focus of attention for anyone setting out on the rivers and streams around the town. San Pedro has a wide anchorage for motorboats, which the guide takes as a sign that boating is the favourite sport of the town, including trips to the islands of the Paraná delta. Along San Pedro there are river beaches, campsites and departure points for fishing excursions to the Lechiguanas islands, where anglers look for sizeable tarariras. San Pedro lies halfway between Buenos Aires and Rosario, 164 km from the capital and 141 km from Rosario by motorway.