According to studies from 2023, Argentina is the country in the world with the most pets per inhabitant. It is estimated that out of every 10 families, eight have at least one animal in their homes and 81% of these are dogs. With these data, it is not surprising that when going on vacation, many people look for places where their pets, an indisputable part of the family, are well received. And in the Argentine and Uruguayan beach There are beginning to be options to make coexistence between dogs and humans more pleasant.
Permitted spas
In 2017, Forks! Playa Canina became the first pet-friendly spa from the Argentine coast. Located in Mar del Plata, it not only offers all the classic services of a parador, but also adds other special ones for dogs. Namely: canine pool and showers, hygienic area, bag dispenser, hammocks for family and pets, trainers, waterers to protect dogs from the heat, “agility” plaza (to train skills) and games and even small exclusive tents that They offer shade throughout the day. This year they also added spaces to enter with 4×4 vehicles and moved to the Helena parador. Additionally, through an alliance with Eukanuba, they offer the possibility of participating in branded kits, stays in the tents and discounts at Sportclub, a gym chain that offers Agility classes for dogs and their owners.
Of course, to guarantee a good coexistence it is necessary to respect certain rules. Before admission, each dog will be checked by a trainer who will evaluate the animal according to certain tests of sociability and behavior and thus it will determine three levels: expert (can be without a leash), intermediate (can be loose but on a leash) and beginner (always on a leash and accompanied by his family). In addition, it is necessary to present the health record up to date. Dogs that are aggressive or bark excessively will not be accepted, as they could incite others to cause fights and tension in the environment.
Towards Pinamar, meanwhile, the Salvador Gaviota parador This summer, it hosts the Cartoon Network beach, which has 10 dog-friendly tents and an exclusive service for dogs, as well as daily activities to do with the whole family, from actions with Scooby Doo, a ball pit for the kids and a canine maze. During January they also held events with Eukanuba, giving a demonstration of canine skill by the La Jauría school.
How to limit yourself with pets
But beyond the “official” spas, dynamics have been generated on the different beaches that allow pet owners to go with their dog friends without disturbing the rest. In Pinamar, for example, since 2016 a municipal ordinance regulates the permanence of dogs in the sand. This indicates that animals can be on the beaches from 7 to 9 between the months of December and April. During the rest of the year, the schedule has no restrictions. But, at the same time, it gives free rein for the inns that wish to allow dogs in their spaces, and must then clearly indicate which tents are for families with pets, with the obligation to offer water service, waste bags and dishes for food. “The initiative of this standard is to generate animal-friendly spaces, which arise as a result of a change in modality in recent years, of tourists traveling to vacation with their dogs,” said the Secretary of Culture and Education, Alejandra Apolonio, by supporting the ordinance as a councilor.
The game is also open to those who own a 4×4, because animals are allowed in the sectors they can enter. Areas like La Frontera, in northern Pinamarthe southern sector of Cariló and the beach of Costa Esmeralda, outside the limits of their own paradores, are some of the points where it is common to see trucks, tents or gazebos and one or more dogs next to each vehicle.
A little further on, on Route 11, towards Mar de las Pampas and Mar Azul, the regulations also become more lax. Although the beach is not officially suitable, the large expanses and fewer crowds make it much more common to see vacationers with pets. Again, access comes into play here: those beaches where you enter with a 4×4 are where they are best received. In Mar Azul, one of the most recommended is the Querandí Lighthouse, widely and officially pet friendly.
In Punta del Este
On the other side of the Río de la Plata, Uruguay also presents options for a pet-friendly summer. Of course, to cross the border with a pet it is necessary to manage the International Veterinary Certificate (CVI), which is valid for 60 calendar days, counted from the date of its issuance, and which is issued by SENASA. Uruguay also requires the implantation of a microchip and its certificate, as well as an up-to-date vaccination schedule. And that’s not all: internal and external deworming, medical history and a blood draw are required to confirm that the animal does not have Leishmaniasis.
But once all those steps have been overcome, the dog can enjoy the same time as its human in Punta del Este. If you want to be rigorous, the beaches authorized by the Environment Directorate of the Municipality of Maldonado are stops 39 and 40 of La Mansa, 25, 26 and 27 of La Brava, the Buenos Aires spa from 13th street to 20 and on Rambla de los Argentinos between Artigas and Julián Laguna avenues, in Piriápolis. Additionally, in the area of Solís, Bella Vista, Las Flores and surrounding areas you can go with pets to the mouth of the Espinas and Las Flores streams.
But although there are not so many authorized beaches, the truth is that pets can be seen in all types of spas. In general, there are no complaints, as long as the animal is on a collar and leash and is well behaved. Also, as long as it is properly cared for, which means keeping it hydrated, never leaving it locked in the car and preventing it from burning its pads when the sand is very hot. All issues that concern both the dog’s health and good coexistence with peers and humans, fundamental proof so that this type of initiatives continue to expand in the future.
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