Punta del Este tourist information
Punta del Este travel information
During high season, glamorous Punta del Este (or Punta, as most call it after a couple of days) is filled with rich South Americans, mainly Argentinians, looking for sun and fun. It’s a narrow spit of land jutting into the Atlantic, surrounded by beaches. Around its edge is the oceanfront promenade, the Rambla General Artigas, which is lined with cafes, bars and seafood restaurants. You can spend the day at the beach enjoying one of many water sports (yachting, swimming, surfing, deep-sea fishing and waterskiing). Then relax in the afternoon with a traditional British high tea (tea and scones) at one of the tea rooms in town. The wonderfully surreal Casa Pueblo is a good place for a break from the sun: The Moorish-style fortress, once the home of painter Carlos Paez Vilaro, is now an art gallery and hotel. Punta also has great golf courses, tennis courts and a vibrant night life (discos and casinos).
One geographic thing we particularly enjoy in Punta is being able to watch the sun both rise and set over water. The beaches are good, with each having a certain ambience of its own - one stretch of sand may be for families, another for sporty types, one for teenagers and another for supermodels. They change from season to season, so you’ll just have to find where you’re comfortable. Playa Mansa, protected by the peninsula, is calmer than the Playa Brava beaches that face the Atlantic. The Mansa beaches are favored by families and water-sports enthusiasts. Playa Brava’s waves draw surfers, and the activity carries on into the night, with numerous pubs and nightlife options.
Day trips can be taken to Isla Gorriti, a beautiful island just off the coast, which has uncrowded white beaches and the ruins of an 18th-century fort. Another boat trip will take you to Isla de Lobos, an island jammed with sea lions. If you would rather travel by car, drive a short way to the pleasant resort town of Piriapolis, anchored by the grande dame of Uruguayan resorts, the Argentino Hotel. Or drive along the East side of the peninsula past the spectacular mansions to Jose Ignatio, an increasingly popular small resort just outside of town with perhaps the prettiest beaches and best waves in Uruguay.
The season runs from December to March (summertime in the Southern Hemisphere). During peak season, the beaches can be crowded, the traffic horrendous and the prices steep. The best time to visit is early December until mid February. 70 mi/110 km east of Montevideo.