Punta del Este is the most important beach resort in Uruguay, and one of the most exclusive in Latin America.
With luxurious summer residences, high-rise buildings facing the sea, important yachts in its port, hotels, and exclusive restaurants, Punta del Este is one of the most glamorous resorts in America.
If you’re also planning a trip to Montevideo, don’t miss our post.
Although this last part is perhaps not the most interesting, the more than 20 kilometres of coast and mountains that look out to the sea are what make it so interesting. In all of them we find natural places with a lot of tranquillity for those who go in search of this.
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Where is it located?
It is located in the department of Maldonado, in the east of the country, and is where luxury and nature converge.
Punta del Este is located on a peninsula between the Río de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean. It has two very different beaches, Playa Mansa on one side, and Playa Brava on the other. The latter is sought after by surfers and the former by those looking for calmer waters.
What to see and do?
The “Punta del Este fingers”, or “Punta del Este’s hand”, is the typical photo of the place. The Man emerging from the water is the name of the sculpture. It was made by the Chilean artist Mario Irrazabal, who has made other finger sculptures around the world.
The Enjoy (Conrad) hotel and casino has become an iconic building in the city, and dominates the bay of Playa Mansa.
Its main street is Avenida Gorlero, lined with shops, bars, restaurants, and during the summer season, in January and February, it is a must-see for tourists.
A guided bike tour is a good option to explore the resort town.
The port of Punta del Este and the sea lions, which we find near the fishermen’s stalls, are also an attraction worth visiting.
What else to see outside the peninsula?
As we said, Punta del Este is in the east of the country and is only 130 km from Montevideo.
If we make the journey from the capital, before arriving at the peninsula, we will find the beaches of Portezuelo and Solanas, and further on Punta Ballena.
The views from Punta Ballena are unmissable, as is a visit to the Casa Pueblo Museum and Workshop.
Casapueblo was built by the Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró, it was his workshop and home.
It is made up of 13 floors and a total of 72 unique apartments with sea views, which were built over 36 years. Today it functions as a museum, restaurant and accommodation.
Every evening at sunset, the sun ceremony takes place, which consists of watching the sun set while listening to a recording of Páez Vilaró’s voice narrating a poem.
I leave you here the web for information on ticket prices and schedules.
In the Punta Ballena area we can also visit the Lussich Arboretum, which with almost 200 hectares is a forest reserve with a great diversity of species.
Towards the other side of the peninsula, further east, we find the area of La Barra. The bridge that leads to it is a very peculiar bridge. It was inaugurated in 1965, and is an attraction of the city.
La Barra is located in what was once a fishing village, and today it is highly sought after by foreigners for its lively and bohemian atmosphere.
If we continue further east, we will find José Ignacio, a coastal town chosen by tourists looking for good beaches and a little distance from the hustle and bustle of Punta del Este.
If you only have one day to spare and are staying in Montevideo, it is a good idea to take a tour to Punta del Este from Montevideo . And why not also visit Piriápolis?, we leave you our post about Piriápolis for you to take a look at.
Maldonado
If you are looking to save a little, the city of Maldonado, which is literally next to Punta del Este, is a very good option. Gastronomy and hotels in the city are cheaper than on the peninsula.
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NOTE: The information in this article is based on our own experience, being totally objective. This article contains affiliate links.
