Punta del Este is a coastal town in Uruguay and is often mentioned by Argentines and Uruguayans alike as a place to go in the summer to get away from the city life of Buenos Aires or Montevideo. This town is located where the Rio de la Plata (the river that both of these cities are on) empties into the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, it has beaches that line the river and the ocean where you can relax and catch some rays while in South America.
It is an interesting town because it truly is solely a summer vacation town for people in the region. During other seasons, the town has very few full-time residents. However, after Christmas, every high-rise condominium fills with families and friends, looking to take advantage of these world class beaches.
We got to spend a week in this area and through our exploration, below is an example itinerary. Obviously, if you want to spend more days relaxing at the beach, extend the itinerary or remove some of days of exploring the area. In addition, it is possible to appreciate and see the area without renting a car. However, if you are looking to go to some beach towns further from the crowds of Punta del Este, we would recommend renting a car for a few days. Unfortunately, this is not something we had the opportunity to do but it is included in the itinerary to help you determine if you want to see these areas.
How is this town organized?
There are three sections to Punta del Este:
- Playa Mansa: This is the beach and coast towards the west of the town. It is on the river (although the water here mixes with the ocean) and is typically a calm beach area.
- Playa Brava: This is the beach and coast towards the east of the town. It is on the Atlantic Ocean and while the water here may be rougher and have more waves, you will still find many people refreshing themselves in the water.
- The Peninsula: This is where the concentration of restaurants, bars, and shopping of the town is located and is between Playa Mansa and Playa Brava.
Day 1: Arrival, Where to Stay, Town Activities, Where to Eat
How to Get to Punta del Este
Punta del Este is about three hours east of Montevideo. There are a few ways to get to this town based on where you are arriving from.
- Arriving from Buenos Aires: You will take the ferry + bus combination through Buquebus or Colonia Express.
- Arriving from Colonia del Sacramento or Montevideo: You will take a bus. If you are not in Montevideo, you will have to take a bus to Montevideo and transfer to a second one to get to Punta del Este
- Arriving from anywhere else: You will fly into Montevideo and take a bus through a bus company directly from the airport. You can purchase this ticket online only when you land in Montevideo so you do not have to worry about delays. (There is wifi at the airport)
Where to Stay
Now that we know how we are getting to Punta del Este, we need to determine where to stay. The town itself is relatively small, with a large concentration of restaurants located on the peninsula between the river and the ocean. You will want to stay along one of these coasts but close to the peninsula. A 20-minute walk is easy in this town so try to map your accommodation options to determine how far they are from the concentration of restaurants in the peninsula. There are a number of hotels, hostels, and short-term rentals available. Another thing to look for with your accommodation is beach service. It is very common that condos and hotels provide beach chairs and umbrellas for use on the beach.
Things to do Around Town
It will take you some time to get to Punta del Este, no matter where you are coming from. You deserve to have a relaxing day 1! You can spend the day walking around the town, where you will find a number of shops that range from boutique to luxury. There are a few highlights in the town that you can see on this day or spread them out throughout your stay.
Punta de la Salina
This is the tip of the peninsula and the point where the river officially dumps into the ocean. We had never seen a river expel into an ocean and, although it wasn’t amazing, now we can say we’ve seen it! The walk along the water to this point from either side of the peninsula is very nice as well.
Puerto de Punta del Este
On the peninsula is the official port and dock for the town. It is a working port for fishermen and you can buy some incredibly fresh seafood here. You can also see some seals waiting near these fish vendors for treats and scraps. The old red fishing boats docked in the water make for some beautiful photos. You can also walk through the docks and see the boats and yachts of the area.
Los Dedos de Punta del Este (Sunset destination)
I recommend going to the Dedos de Punta del Este around sunset. This is when you will see the fewest number of people here because the cruise ship visitors will have returned to their ship. This large concrete sculpture is painted in the same color as the surrounding sand, making it look like fingers emerging from the sand. It is one of the most famous landmarks in the area and often one of the first photos that comes up when you search this destination.
Muelle de Mailhos (Sunset destination)
This is a small concrete dock that protrudes out into the river. Because of the direction it is facing, it is one of the best locations in Punta del Este to see the sunset. Find a seat on the dock or on the shore and watch the sun fall below the horizon. After the sun sets, find a restaurant in the area for a nice seafood dinner.
Where and What to Eat in Punta del Este
The majority of restaurants are located on the peninsula. You will find an assortment of variety, including pizza spots, cafes, and fancy restaurants. Because you are on a coast, the seafood in this town is very good and you can often find fish and shellfish at many restaurants in the area.
Besides seafood, the traditional food in this area includes milanesa (breaded and pounded chicken or steak), chivito, (a sandwich with steak, ham, egg, lettuce, tomato, and mayonaise – you can learn more about it here), and parrilla (barbeque meat). The cafes also have a number of pastries and cakes that are delicious. Do not skip out on some treats with dulce de leche or delicious gelato.
Day 2: A Relaxing Beach Day
This day is pretty self-explanatory: take the day to relax and enjoy the incredible beaches that Uruguay has to offer. These are some large world-class beaches and you cannot go wrong with the side that you choose to visit.
If your accommodations do not come with beach service, try to rent beach chairs and an umbrella in town. The sun is really strong in this part of the world, so at the minimum, do not forget your sunscreen! You can always buy some at any pharmacy (green cross out front) in town.
CasaPueblo
Two hours before sunset, you will want to make your way to Casapueblo. Casapueblo is an architectural beauty designed by artist, Carlos Páez Vilaró. You may be able to time it up by using the local bus transportation (see my post here about transportation in Punta del Este). Otherwise, you can hire a cab to take you there. You should also ask them to return after sunset to pick you up. It will be hard to get an Uber to pick you up from there.
If you do not want to pay for the entry into Casapueblo, you can hike down some rocks to the east of the structure, where you will be able to see the beautiful building. We decided to enter the home and experience the sunset from one of the patios of the structure. Casapueblo will get crowded, so getting there early will ensure you a spot to watch the sunset. If you are lucky, you can try to get a seat at the café patio. Otherwise, there are other spots where you can stand to watch. You can always get a drink from the bar and enjoy it anywhere in the building. During the sunset, a poem written and recorded by the artist is played. It is a dedication to the sun and its departure during the sunset.
The entry fee includes a small video about the artist who built this amazing structure (subtitled in English) and a small museum of his artwork. He built the whimsical structure of the building himself to accommodate the growing number of guests who wanted to visit him, this destination, and later his home.
If you want to see take photos of the structure with fewer crowds, wait a few minutes after the sunset ceremony. People will try to leave the terrace as quickly as possible and you will have all the views you want for the next 30 minutes before the building closes.
Part of Casapueblo is a beautiful hotel that you can stay at. It has large sprawling grounds and a restaurant where you can privately reserve a table to watch the sunset as a hotel guest.
Day 3: Jose Ignacio
Note: If you choose to visit Punta del Diablo, we recommend visiting Jose Ignacio either on your way there or on your way back since it is in the same direction. You can read more about Punta del Diablo below under “Other Things to Do in Punta del Este”.
Today, you will head to a nearby beach town that is much smaller than Punta del Este. You can get there by bus (learn about how to navigate the buses in Punta del Este here). This is also a nice town to stay in if you are visiting the area, but we would recommend having a car if you opt to stay here.
Your bus will leave from the main bus station in Punta del Este and will take about an hour to get to Jose Ignacio. On your route there, you will go over Puente de la Barra (a bridge shaped in a few waves). Eventually, you will arrive at Jose Ignacio. There are a few towns between Punta del Este that have beautiful beaches as well. You can always stop at these towns (La Barra and Manantiales) as well to explore them and see their beaches.
Jose Ignacio has two beaches, similarly to Punta del Este. Playa Brava is the beach with rougher waves but it is a large, expansive beach. Playa Mansa is a calmer beach. It is much smaller and more secluded than Playa Brava. The town itself has a few restaurants and cafes to try.
After your day at the beach and exploring the town, take the bus back to Punta del Este.
Day 4+: Departure
This is a condensed itinerary to visit this area and get the most out of it. You can, of course, spend as many days as you want at the beach and there are other beaches in the area that you can explore and visit. You can read more about some of the other activities to do in the area below.
After you’ve had the chance to relax and rejuvenate yourself at the beach, it is unfortunately time to leave. If you are leaving by bus, you will return to the main bus station to wait for your bus.
Other Things To Do in Punta del Este
The itinerary above is how we suggest spending a long weekend in this beautiful destination. However, if you have more time, there are a few other activities and locations that you can add onto your itinerary to help round out your trip to your satisfaction:
Punta del Diablo (2 days)
In order to go to Punta del Diablo, we recommend staying overnight to get the most out of the destination. It is three hours away from Punta del Este and, while it is accessible by bus, it may be easier to go there with a car.
This was the beach that was most recommended to us when we told people we were coming to the area. Unfortunately, we did not have the time to spend an additional night at a different location but we want to pass along the recommendation of every local we met.
Because Punta del Diablo is further from Montevideo, it will be much quieter than Punta del Este. On the way, you can stop at Cabo Polonia, a town that is extremely sustainable and has no electricity. Enjoy taking in the nature that surrounds you, and because these towns are much smaller and further from large cities, you will have great views of the stars without light pollution.
Renting a Car
If you want to rent a car, you can do it directly in Punta del Este or in Montevideo or Colonia del Sacramento when you arrive there. There are a number of international companies in the town as well as some smaller local options to rent from.
Swimming with Sea Lions (1 day)
If you are more interested in some adventure and wildlife spotting, you can take a tour through the waters here and snorkel with sea lions in the area. Some companies simply approach the animals and allow you to interact with them from the boat and some will help you get into the water with them.
Isla Gorriti (1 Day)
Just off of the shores of Punta del Este is a small island, Isla Gorriti. There are ferries that can take you to the island directly from the town, which has some small beaches and will allow you to have a great view of Punta del Este from a different perspective.