Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur
Ten minutes from the steel-and-glass towers of Puerto Madero, a 350-hectare nature reserve stretches along the Río de la Plata — and almost nobody outside Buenos Aires knows it exists. The Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur is the city's best-kept secret and home to some of the most spectacular sunsets in South America.
Urban Wilderness on the River's Edge
The reserve was created accidentally: landfill dumped into the river in the 1970s was never built upon, and nature reclaimed it. Today it shelters over 300 species of birds — herons, roseate spoonbills, monk parakeets, and even the occasional capybara — all within sight of the Buenos Aires skyline. Birdwatchers rate it among the best urban birding spots on the continent.
Miles of flat, easy walking and cycling paths wind through grasslands, lagoons, and gallery forest. The western shoreline faces back toward the city, and the eastern shore opens onto the vast brown expanse of the Río de la Plata, which is so wide here that the opposite bank (Uruguay) is invisible on the horizon.
Catching the Perfect Sunset
The reserve's western shoreline delivers some of the best Río de la Plata sunsets in Buenos Aires, with the water stretching to the horizon and the city skyline silhouetted behind you — a composition that looks almost too good to be real. Time your visit to arrive an hour before dusk, find a spot on the grassy bank, and watch the sky turn amber and violet over the water.
The reserve closes at sunset, so plan your exit accordingly. Entry is completely free. Rent a bicycle from one of the stands near the Puerto Madero entrance for the most efficient way to cover the full length of the reserve and still make it back before the gates close.
More of Buenos Aires
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Buenos Aires →
