Punta del Este is known as the St. Tropez of Uruguay. For decades it was an exclusive resort for wealthy South Americans, and it is still expensive, but not as much as famed European and US resort areas. The city and resort appeal has attracted multiple governments to hold summit meetings there. A new casino, more luxurious restaurants and hotels, never ending sports acitivities, plenty of natural attractions, shops, nightclubs and a temperate climate beckon to international travelers. Refer to this interactive map of Punta del Este. The local pines scent the air and add to the sense of relaxation. Check today's weather.
An hour and a half by car from Montevideo, Punta del Este offers twenty miles of pristine beaches. You'll need a car to visit them all or discover your favorite. Mansa, or gentle beach, is on the bay side, while the one facing the Atlantic is Brava. Photo. These are terrifically crowded during the summer season, which begins in December and ends in March. Locals use other beaches, notably to La Barra del Maldonado, a beautiful inlet that flows from the back bay area of Maldonado out to the Atlantic Ocean. One of the city landmarks are the Dedos, fingers, in the sand at Playa Brava.
La Barra is also the center of youth oriented activities, from daytime sports on the fine sandy beach to all night discos. To get to this small village, you cross an unusual bridge shaped like an easy roller coaster. With all the water surrounding Punta del Este, sailing is popular and large marinas attract an international flotilla. Punta del Este offers a relaxed life style. It is geared to vactioners who get a late morning start. Hotel dining rooms and services may be open before noon, but the rest of the city may not be. Dinner's are late, at 10 PM or later, and discos go until dawn, allowing revelers to see both the sun rise and set over water. The Cipriani Lido at the Cipriani Punta del Este Resort in La Barra is one of the hottest spots in town.
Below you may consult a complete list of accommodation in Punta del Este.
