A secluded retreat on Argentina’s wild Atlantic coast, where the Patagonian steppe meets the sea.
La Mar is a remote property on Chubut’s Atlantic coast, far from Patagonia’s better-known mountain lodges and trekking routes. The landscape is one of low scrub, rocky headlines and seaweed-strewn beaches, with plentiful marine wildlife and seabirds. Fishing, sheep farming and seaweed harvesting have shaped life in this part of Argentina for generations.
The three-bedroom main house is simple and full of character. Two kilometres away, a smaller day-use house sits beside the water, with views across the Atlantic – just the place to settle in with a good book and a glass of wine.
What we love about La Mar
- Its position on Chubut’s Peninsula Valdés, Argentina’s answer to the Galápagos Islands – a place of rocky coves, pale beaches and arid steppe that is rich in seabirds and marine life.
- The charming three-bedroom main house, with exposed brick walls, timber beams, antique furniture and local artworks.
- The separate house by the sea, which has a simple kitchen, sitting/dining area with a fireplace, big windows and a telescope for looking out across the ocean; there’s also a bedroom should you wish to stay the night.
- Guests can choose to self-cater or have a cook come in each day to prepare meals.
- Local guides can be brought in to explore the region’s landscapes and marine life.
The coastline of Peninsula Valdés is one of Patagonia’s richest – and least visited – wildlife destinations.
Along the northern reaches of the Gulf of San Jorge, rocky islands, tidal flats and sheltered inlets support colonies of cormorants, penguins and sea lions, and the surrounding steppe is home to guanacos, rheas and Patagonian maras.
Take coffee down to the smaller house, walk along the beach before lunch, or settle somewhere sheltered from the wind with a book. In the evening, return to the main house to cook or have dinner prepared for you. The pleasure here is having an entire stretch of coastline to explore without a fixed itinerary.
Should you wish to explore further afield, a local guide can be arranged to take you birdwatching around sheltered bays, on boat trips along the coast to look for marine mammals, or inland for hiking and riding across the windblown steppe.
Mandla is located in the quiet beach town of El Transito, on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua. Located just an hour’s drive from Managua, Nicaragua’s capital, Mandla is extremely accessible.
There are direct flights from Managua to Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, and Panama, meaning that a stay at Mandla can be easily combined with another Central American country.
When to Travel
The warmer months from November to March are generally the best time to visit La Mar, with longer days and more comfortable temperatures for exploring the coast. December to February brings the mildest conditions, although Patagonia’s famously unpredictable winds remain part of the experience.
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