Aguas Abiertas San Pedro — Club Náutico

The waters of the Paraná River open into a vast network of channels and delta islands as they sweep past San Pedro. Aguas Abiertas San Pedro — Club Náutico is an open-water river race held in this bustling riverine corner of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Everything centers on Club Náutico San Pedro. Swimmers line up to challenge the massive current of the Paraná across two demanding courses of 3,000 and 8,000 meters. Logistics reflect the point-to-point nature of racing down a major South American waterway. Swimmers are shuttled by bus upstream from the club facilities directly to their designated starting beaches along the river, leaving the town behind before plunging in to ride the downstream flow back home.

San Pedro between the Arrecifes and the Paraná

San Pedro is a natural lookout over the Arrecifes and Paraná rivers, halfway between Buenos Aires and Rosario. By highway the city is 164 km from the capital and 141 km from Rosario. Along the shore there is a string of balnearios and campsites, with departure points for fishing trips to the Lechiguanas islands and others. Its main avenues, squares, pedestrian center and costanera circuit can be visited in a few minutes. Locals are proud of their ensaimada, a Majorcan pastry brought by the community that arrived in San Pedro at the start of the twentieth century.

The Paraná and the delta of the Arrecifes River

San Pedro sits perched on the right bank of the Paraná River, positioned right where the mouth of the Arrecifes River empties into the broader stream. This tributary winds its way across the plains before reaching the marshy labyrinths of the upper delta. At this junction, the waterway begins splitting into branching distributaries, feeding into the expansive channel of the Paraná de las Palmas further down the basin. The surrounding water landscape is remarkably varied for an open-water venue. Beyond the open main navigation channel, the geography opens up into the San Pedro lagoon.

The barrancas and riverfront life of San Pedro

The town has developed a coastal promenade along the cliffs, with panoramic viewpoints designed for walking or driving while gazing out over the water. The waterfront is widely regarded as an ideal spot for casting a line, and local operators run frequent fishing excursions deep into the side channels and delta islands of the Paraná. Lining the lower riverwalk, casual restaurants serve meals in a relaxed open-air setting directly facing the river. Sitting on the terraces over the Paraná with a view of the water after a long swim downstream offers the quintessential taste of riverfront hospitality in San Pedro.