Pinamar faces protests over Enduro del Invierno beach circuit

The upcoming Enduro del Invierno motorcycle and quad bike competition in Pinamar, Argentina, has sparked significant local controversy. Scheduled for August 29 and 30, the event will feature a 3.2-kilometer circuit constructed directly on the public beach between the El Pájaro and Rada Beach resorts.

Local residents and environmental organizations, including Fundación Ecológica Pinamar, have organized mass protests against the event. Demonstrators argue that the use of heavy machinery to alter dunes and prepare the track threatens the fragile coastal ecosystem and increases erosion risks. Protesters have used slogans such as “Daño ambiental: la playa pública no es circuito” (Environmental damage: the public beach is not a circuit) to demand the protection of natural spaces.

In response, the Pinamar Municipality has defended the competition, stating it has been approved with environmental studies in place. Organizers have pledged an immediate remediation operation to restore the beach within 72 hours of the race's conclusion. Meanwhile, the traditional version of the event in Mar del Plata was reportedly canceled due to high costs associated with the Tourism Promotion Fund.