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Uruguayan seaside resort city
Photo: Summ, CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
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.
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The White House
Casa-Pueblo is a beautiful resort-museum near Punta del Este. It was created by Uruguayan artist Paez-Vilaró in a kind of Mediterranean surrealistic architecture, making the whole place to look like a giant sculpture. He was the father of one of the survivors of the infamous plane crash on the Andes. Some visitors complain about the steep entrance fees, even for just visiting the restaurant.
Marine museum, Sea Museum : A collection of embalmed southern hemisphere seabirds, found dead on the shore after storms. Petrels, albatrosses, gulls, terns, cormorants, oystercatchers, shearwaters, black skimmers, snowy sheathbills, skuas, sandpipers.
A large collection of contemporary Latin American art
A museum based on the private art and archaeology collection of the Uruguayan artist Vilaro (architect of Casapueblo).
The largest sea lion colony in the southern hemisphere. Tours can be booked and leave at the port.
A fun and educational summer camp for children staying in Punta del Este. Kids have the option of horseback riding, organized sports, educational classes, kayaking, arts and crafts, or several other options. Instruction in English and Spanish.
Candelaria Church, or Saint Mary of Candelaria Parish Church, is the most important catholic temple in Punta del Este. The building is located in the Lighthouse square, in which facade impacts the sky blue color and in its interior it is an image of Candelaria Virgin who was brought from Spain.
L'Auberge Hotel & Te House: charming luxury hotel and tea house. Famous for its water tower and its Belgian waffles, served with different sauces. Also, excellent restaurant for lunch or dinner. Only by reservation.
Normal prices. Unforgettable dinner. Awesome.
Expensive (but well it is Punta del Este) hostel. Has internet facilities and a basic breakfast. The price is US$15 (US$22 during high season) a night or around the equivalent of US$25 when paying in Uruguayan pesos. Has tiny, cramped rooms but an amazing dining room, with big windows directly to the pavement.
Rooms come with private bath, fan, A/C, cable TV, and wifi. Two blocks from the Brava beach with the giant hand.
Situated in the "Parada 27" on Mansa beach, this elegant boutique hotel is minutes away from Punta del Este's Downtown, where all the most important restaurants and clubs of the city are located. Sea view, awesome sunsets and friendly people.
Surrounded by thriving gardens, historical museums, and art galleries, it's also a few minutes from the famous Punta del Este and these attractions: Arboretum Lussich, Casapueblo, and Lake Club. It offers rooms with breathtaking scenes, all equipped with 26/29-inch LCD television, Wi-Fi Internet access, and an air-conditioner.
More than six decades old, the famous water tower of L'Auberge rises, majestic, amidst the tall pines, and is a silent witness of the evolution of the hotel, the tea room and all the Parque del Golf neighborhood. The Most Excellent Hotel for South America 2010, according to Condé Nast Johansens.
A five-star luxury hotel and a famous casino in Punta del Este
By bus
Regular buses come back and forth from Montevideo (US$ 40 roundtrip), making Punta del Este a convenient day trip (two hours by bus, see timetables).
By cruise ship
Punta del Este is served by some cruise lines in the summer. Mostly on itineraries departing from Buenos Aires or Santos.
By car
Punta del Este is a two-hour drive from Montevideo and a slightly longer drive from the Brazilian border.
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.
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Punta del Este · Regional · PDP
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