Punta del Este
Discover Punta del Este
Punta del Este is a beach resort town in Uruguay complete with casinos, beaches, yachts and lots of tourists from all over the world. Many of these tourists come from the other side of the Rio de la Plata from Argentina to get some nice fun in the sun on a beach away from the brown waters of the Rio de la Plata. Punta del Este is located in Maldonado Department, adjacent to the departmental capital of Maldonado, on the Atlantic Coast in the south of the country. The city had a population of 9,300 people in 2011. Popular tourist spots include La Barra, Punta Ballena, Casa Pueblo, Pan de Azúcar or the island where you can swim with sea lions.
What to Experience in Punta del Este
Famous Beaches
Taste of Punta del Este...
As a popular resort, Punta del Este's food can be expensive—if taking a day trip from Montevideo, consider bringing your own lunch. Punta del Este has a seafood-based cuisine. It has a huge variety of food with dishes like tortugón, paella, chivito, hot dog, sushi, and fish among others. Seafood is delicious. Chivitos (steak sandwiches) and asado (steak) are the locals' favourite dishes. Aside from that, pretty much any type of food can be found: sushi, Indian, Italian, French cuisine, etc. Local and imported wines (especially Argentinian and European vineyards). There's a famous drink in all Uruguay called "medio y medio" (half and half) which is a mix of sweet sparkling wine, and dry white wine. Punta del Este is famous for its clubbing scene. Most parties start very late, between midnight and 3AM and end around dawn. You cannot name a specific club because it's probably going to change its name or its location the next year. Don't worry, they do good marketing, so you will find out very easily. Every year the night life changes, so you never know which is going to be place that will hit the summer in Punta del Este. Most of the clubs are away from the peninsula of Punta del Este, mainly in La Barra. But the fashion places changes, it depends on the year. You can expect high prices for club entries in late December and early January, and specially in the weekends.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsAnother option is flying to Montevideo airport (MVD) where the fares are usually lower and there are far more connections available. From MVD Airport, Punta del Este is only an hour and a half away by bus. Regular buses come back and forth from Montevideo (US$ 40 roundtrip), making Punta del Este a convenient day trip (two hours by bus, see timetables). If you accidentally get off the bus at Maldonado Terminal which is a few kilometers north of Punta del Este you can easily catch a local bus (marked "Punta del Este" in top front) at the stop just behind the bus terminal for about US$ 1 cash. Punta del Este can also be reached by bus from the Canelones and Rocha seaside resorts, as well as from Colonia del Sacramento, Minas, Durazno and Salto. International buses are also available from Porto Alegre and Florianópolis (US$ 180-200 roundtrip). Punta del Este is served by some cruise lines in the summer. Mostly on itineraries departing from Buenos Aires or Santos....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The bulk of Punta del Este is on a peninsula jutting into the ocean. The perimeter of this peninsula can easily be traversed by foot. To get to La Barra o José Ignacio you had better have a means of transport like a car (renting a car is always going to be the best way to visit all the places). Buses are not very frequent and public transport like taxis usually has to be called over the phone (very expensive compared to standards of the rest of Uruguay). Hitchhiking is common for young people since night clubs are far from each other and people may be staying in places far from the clubs. If you have a car, be kind; pick up someone (especially in the morning, after the clubs have closed). Remember that Punta del Este is very safe, but normal precautions should always be taken. You can rent a moped (scooter) for US$10/hour or US$45/day at several places.
Where to Stay
Book ahead between Christmas and carnival, when most every bed is taken. Staying in the peninsula of Punta del Este is probably the best option if you don't have a car, as buses are few, and cabs are expensive. Keep in mind that beds here are among the most costly on the continent.
Money & Budget
As a popular resort, Punta del Este's food can be expensive—if taking a day trip from Montevideo, consider bringing your own lunch. Punta del Este has a seafood-based cuisine. It has a huge variety of food with dishes like tortugón, paella, chivito, hot dog, sushi, and fish among others. Seafood is delicious. Chivitos (steak sandwiches) and asado (steak) are the locals' favourite dishes. Aside from that, pretty much any type of food can be found: sushi, Indian, Italian, French cuisine, etc. Local and imported wines (especially Argentinian and European vineyards). There's a famous drink in all Uruguay called "medio y medio" (half and half) which is a mix of sweet sparkling wine, and dry white wine. Punta del Este is famous for its clubbing scene.
Safety Information
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Punta del Este
Edificios de Punta del Este, Uruguay
a sandy beach with a group of large rocks sticking out of the sand
City of Punta del Este Uruguay. Beach
gray stone on brown wooden table near body of water during daytime
the sun is setting over a city by the ocean
A beautiful house, in a beautiful place, of a great artist.
Amazing golden hour in Punta del Este, Uruguay
Sunset in city of Punta del Este, Uruguay
a statue of a person with a beach in the background
La Glorieta Emblema de Punta del Este
Edificios de Punta del Este, Uruguay
a sandy beach with a group of large rocks sticking out of the sand
City of Punta del Este Uruguay. Beach