South AmericaUruguay

Punta del Este, the most sexy. Its 5 secrets.

Punta del Este, Uruguay

Punta del Este and its secrets- a quick guide for first timers

Nestled along Uruguay’s pristine coastline, Punta del Este is a popular destination for South Americans, including celebrities. No wonder, as it offers an irresistible blend of sun, sand, and sophistication.

This glamorous seaside resort town is renowned for its stunning beaches, making it a top beach vacation destination. From luxurious resorts to charming seaside retreats, Punta del Este offers a wide range of accommodations for those seeking a coastal getaway.

In one of my posts from Chile, I mentioned the famous hand sculpture. You can find this iconic hand sculpture, La Mano, in Punta del Este as well, although the design is different from the one in Atacama.

This guide to Punta del Este offers insights into the best attractions, accommodations, and activities to make the most of your visit to this enchanting coastal gem.

Punta del Este, Uruguay


Favourite travel resources:

  • Booking.com for searching best prices on accommodation.
  • Discover Cars is a great website as they search both local and international car hire services, so you can choose the best deal for yourself. Make sure though, that the company has a good reputation and reviews.
  • Get Your Guide is my place to go for searching and booking tours and excursions, especially when I travel solo.
  • World Nomads travel insurance. I like them because they have quite extensive coverage of different activities.
  • Jack’s Flight Club is a service that can save you hundreds of dollars on flights, it works especially well in Europe.
  • Trivago where you can search and save on hotels.
  • Go City is a perfect site for booking bucket list experiences and attractions all in one to avoid paying for multiple tickets. Easy and saves money.
  • Trip Advisor– amazing for good quality recommendations.
  • Skyscanner is a perfect website for searching flight routes and comparing prices.

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Punta del Este, Uruguay

Where to stay in Punta del Este

  • Hotel Fasano– this rather sophisticated and luxurious gives beautiful view and in summer, private beach access at the river. It is located a bit farther from the beach, but it’s great for peace and quiet.
  • La Capilla– this is a beautiful hotel with amazing reviews based on thousands of stays just a few minutes from the beach. And the best thing is that it is a very affordable option.
  • Estancia CH– beautiful forest cabins, but not far from the beach (with a pool and nature around you).

How to get to Punta del Este

There are many ways to reach Punta del Este.  For international travelers, flying into Carrasco International Airport in Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital, is the primary option ( I recommend using Scyscanner to search for best prices and connections). From there, you can choose to take a connecting flight directly to Punta del Este Airport or opt for a scenic two-hour drive along the coast. Additionally, regular bus services operate between Montevideo and Punta del Este, offering a convenient and affordable alternative for those who prefer ground transportation.

Search for transport options in Uruguay here.

If you are coming from neighboring countries like Argentina, ferry services are available from Buenos Aires to Montevideo, followed by a short journey to Punta del Este.

The best way, however, to move around Uruguay is by car. There are a few trendy and beautiful beaches and restaurants near Punta del Este, so renting a car is a great option.

View deals on Tripadvisor


After more than one year traveling around South America, I have no doubt that Punta del Este is the perfect spot to relax, a place blessed by nature. I will share with you its 5 secrets!!!!

Easygoing

I arrived to Uruguay just after going to the carnival in Río…thus, after 10 days in the Cidade Maravilhosa, you can imagine that any other place in the world to be visited right after, had a very hard work to attract my attention immediately, but Uruguay did it instantaneously!

Punta del Este, Uruguay

In some countries, in has been tough for me to get a local sim card to put in my cell phone and help me with directions (I am the kind of person who can easily get disoriented and get lost, unless having a handy and helpful GPS on the phone), at the Montevideo airport you have an office, in which they sell you local sim cards!!! So, no issues at all with directions to get to Punta del Este!

Once in Punta del Este, you can head to the Liga de Fomento office which is one of the most traditional and prestigious institutions to promote tourism and culture in Punta del Este, or you can download the app “Qué hacemos hoy” (What we do today), not to miss a single event going on in Punta del Este or, if you prefer to relax whole day at the beach (like I did a few times!) you can check what is the weather going to be like in any of the beaches of Punta del Este in this useful app where you can find life images 24 hrs of the most popular beaches in Punta del Este. Everything is soooo easy to enjoy!!!


See also:

Slow down in Colonia de Sacramento

Visiting Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.

9 reasons why you can’t avoid falling in love with Buenos Aires


Punta del Este, Uruguay

See also: 10 top places in South America that should be on your bucket list

Interesting

There is so much going on in Punta del Este… It´s true that I went there in summer, the perfect time to enjoy Punta 100%, the highest season is from December 15th to February. So, how about your tango dancing…not very confident? No worries, you can enjoy some free classes everyday at the beach or if you prefer to just listen to tango, take your beach chair with you and go to the Azotea de Haedo, where you can listen to amazing tango concerts for free!

Punta del Este, Uruguay

Do you need more adrenaline? Why not see a rugby match between Los Pumas (Argentina) and Los Teros (Uruguay). Oh, I know, you are rather into cars, well then… you have a classic car show that you will love. But maybe, you miss some museum visit or, like it happened to me, today it is pouring down rain, so the sea is not an option.  Thus, the perfect choice could be to visit el Parque de Esculturas or the Museo Ralli. These are some of the options but you have as many different as you can imagine and each of them so nicely and detailed prepared!

Punta del Este, Uruguay

Punta del Este, Uruguay

Punta del Este, Uruguay

See also: Buenos Aires- Paris of South America

Where do you like it most?

I, personally, at sunset with nice views to the sea. Isn’t it the perfect moment and place to enjoy a nice glass of wine? I agree with people who say that the wine tastes different when you share it with a company and I should add that it tastes much better in any of the restaurants you have at the port of Punta del Este. Facing the sea at sunset, no matter if it is a bottle of the best Spanish or French wine or a glass of the excellent Tannat from the Bouza vineyard from Uruguay, it will taste different at el Puerto at sunset…I promise! But you should also try, apart from the excellent Uruguayan meat, the popular “chivito” (typical Uruguayan meat sandwich that was invented in Punta del Este) or the tasty river fish brótola (codling) which it is cooked in so many different ways, one tastier  than the other!

So, what about a glass of wine with a view like this?

Punta del Este, Uruguay

Punta del Este, Uruguay

Adventureous and relaxing

I enjoy kite surfing, but maybe you prefer waterskiing, surfing, bodysurf, kayaking, water parachuting, horse riding, polo lessons, diving, sailing: all these options and some other are available for you in Punta del Este. I must confess that I was a little bit lazy in my days in Punta so I mostly enjoyed playing racquets at the beach or playing to the popular Tejo (a beach game played mostly in Argentina and Uruguay), sun bathing or playing with the waves in the sea.

I loved the beaches in Uruguay, from Playa Brava to La Pedrera, each of them with its particularity but beautiful, big, clean, with lovely sand, with “chiringuitos” (as a Spaniard would say) or paradores to eat something or get changed and nice waters with no jelly fish. If you prefer to take a bath in a River, a bit away from Punta, in Riachuelo or in Colonia del Sacramento, you could always go for a bath in the widest river in the world, Río de la Plata. If you prefer lake bathing, you can go to lagoon Garzón, lagoon José Ignacio or so many others, also handy from Punta.


Punta del Este, Uruguay

Charming and elegant

The most exciting thing about Punta is its people. I have had the feeling that nothing could go wrong, nothing bad could happen to me or any possible problem could be easily solved. Uruguayans are so nice, even when they are working (which not always happens!), that they made me feel always like at home. They are clear, warm, open and friendly when they talk, organized and efficient at work and they look after details all the time.

I promise I have no Uruguayan blood in my veins nor Uruguayan relatives but there are things that make them different.  I remember one girl in José Ignacio leaving the beach, but before she left she picked up not only her group of friends´rubbish but also the rubbish left behind in the area in which they have been. Punta and its environment are looked after not only by public institutions but also by people. Buildings are nicely designed, each restaurant has its own character, squares are clean and neat, the same as green areas.

Punta del Este, Uruguay

Paraphrasing the famous Mario Benedetti I say “what good insomnia if I stay awake in Punta del Este”.

Punta del Este is a place to relax, sunbathe, take many long walks with the view of the sunset and slow down.  I spent there ten days of pure bliss.

Punta del Este, Uruguay

What city or country you have been charmed most? We would love to hear from you.

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Punta del Este, Uruguay

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Please note that this post included affiliate links, when you decide to purchase anything through these links I get a small commission at NO extra cost to you, it helps me to keep running this blog! I only promote products and services I use or would use myself. All images are the property of Postcards from the World and cannot be used without permission. 





  1. Excelente post sobre Punta del Este, Anna!! Me encantan las fotos, son preciosas, ¡ojalá tenga la oportunidad de poder ir algún día!. En todo caso, tus posts me animan a viajar. Mi próximo destino es Madrid, en la próxima primavera!!

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