The Buenos Aires municipality of Tres Arroyos is launching a winter agenda with whale watching and mycotourism, while Mayor Pablo Garate calls for maintaining the Cold Zone regime to alleviate heating costs for thousands of households.
The southern winter has ceased to be a problem and has become an opportunity in Tres Arroyos. As the calendar marks the July holidays, the Buenos Aires municipality is rolling out a series of tourist proposals aimed at breaking seasonality and attracting visitors to its coastal towns. At the same time, Mayor Pablo Garate warns that low temperatures also jeopardise family economies and defends the continuation of the Cold Zone regime, a key benefit for thousands of households in the region.
Whale Watching and Mycotourism: The Winter Bet of Tres Arroyos Coast
The Director of Tourism of Tres Arroyos, Carolina Goicoechea, explained that the winter season requires innovation. "In summer we compete with other beach resorts on the Buenos Aires coast; in winter, we must position ourselves against mountain and thermal destinations," she noted. The strategy involves valuing the unique attributes of the Tres Arroyos coastline, which take on a different identity during the cold months.
One of the most striking new features is whale watching, an activity that began to consolidate last year and takes advantage of climatic phenomena that alter the geography of the beaches. "The southeast winds create new opportunities for nature tourism," added Goicoechea. This is complemented by mycotourism or mushroom tourism in Claromecó, driven by a local technique. The initiative has already held four meetings with good participation and uses the climatic conditions of the low season to offer an educational experience related to the environment.
To provide predictability for visitors, the municipality weekly disseminates a service agenda on social media, indicating which accommodations, restaurants, and shops remain open in Claromecó, Reta, and Orense. "We want to demonstrate that the coast maintains an active offer throughout the year," the official stated. She also highlighted that the growth of these proposals depends on joint work between the government and the community: "The municipality can support and encourage, but it is the locals who ultimately transform an idea into a tourist product."
Winter Fair and Empanada Festival: The Confirmed Agenda for July
In anticipation of the winter holidays, the municipality is preparing an agenda of activities alongside clubs, educational institutions, and the Sports Directorate. Among the already confirmed proposals are the Winter Art and Design Fair, which will take place on July 18 and 19 in Claromecó, and the third edition of the Empanada Festival, scheduled for July 26 in Reta. Guided tours, heritage activities, and sports events will also be added to offer recreational alternatives throughout the season.
The push for winter tourism is not coincidental. According to municipal data, seasonality is one of the main challenges for the sector, and these initiatives aim to sustain economic movement during the months of lower influx. For local entrepreneurs, the low season represents an opportunity to gain visibility and build loyalty among an audience seeking different experiences, away from the summer bustle.
Mayor Garate Warns: Eliminating the Cold Zone Would Hit Thousands of Households
While tourism seeks to take advantage of the cold, Mayor Pablo Garate reminds us that low temperatures also have a harsh side. In a complex economic context, the mayor warned about the consequences that the potential elimination of the Cold Zone regime would have, a differential tariff scheme that benefits households in southern Buenos Aires.
"The Cold Zone is not a privilege. It is a differential tariff regime that acknowledges the climatic conditions of our region and helps thousands of families cope with the cost of heating their homes," Garate expressed. The mayor recalled that in cities like Tres Arroyos, frosts often extend even into spring, which increases gas consumption and makes heating a basic necessity.
Eliminating this benefit, he warned, would mean adding an additional burden on households that are already making significant efforts to cope with rising living costs and services. The defense of the Cold Zone is part of a broader debate on energy subsidies in Argentina, where southern provinces demand differentiated treatment due to their extreme climatic conditions.
For residents of Tres Arroyos, the news has a direct impact: while the municipality strives to attract tourists, local families face the challenge of keeping their homes heated without skyrocketing costs. Thus, the defense of the tariff regime becomes a daily claim that transcends municipal management and enters the regional political agenda.
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