Punta del Este is a beach resort 130 kilometers away from Montevideo, which is the capital of Uruguay and the city where I live in. Punta del Este is often called the St. Tropez of Uruguay for its miles of beautiful, pristine beaches, its upscale and exclusive resort tradition, famed nightlife, and the wealth of its summer visitors. Expensive by local standards, Punta del Este is attractively priced compared to European and US resorts. In the off-season, Punta del Este is more relaxed and resembles any resting seaside resort. Many of the restaurants and shops close, but the beautiful beaches are still there.
Playa Brava on the Atlantic and Playa Mansa on the Río de la Plata are the two main beaches, but all the beaches are terrifically crowded during the summer season, which begins in December and ends in March. Locals use other beaches, notably 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 is the "Dedos", fingers, in the sand at Playa Brava.
La Barra is a 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.
Beach activities, plus golf, tennis, horseback riding, biking, bird-watching, and numerous watersports, such as parasailing, windsurfing, water-skiing and snorkeling are available on both Playa Mansa and Playa Brava.
Punta has also world-class shopping, with Uruguayan shops and European boutiques lining Calle Gorlero, the principal street bisecting this resort town. Punta Shopping Mall, Avenida Roosevelt at Paradas 6 and 7, has 100 stores on three levels and a 12-screen cinema. A weekend crafts market takes place from 5 PM to midnight at Plaza Artigas.
Casinos, bars, nightclubs and discos start late and continue through the night. The Conrad Resort and -censured- holds Las Vegas-style reviews and other music, dance, and magic shows. The enormous 24-hour -censured- has 450 slots and 63 tables for baccarat, roulette, blackjack, poker, dice, and fortune wheel.
If what you want it is to get in touch with the wildlife, you can go to the Parque Municipal Zoológico Medina, which is fun for both adults and children with its interactive exhibits. Also the Zoológico Pan de Azúcar has a large selection of native species set in natural settings. Take a boat ride to Isla de Lobos to see one of the world's largest sea-lion colonies.
In order to see some of the historical monuments, you can tour the neo-Classic Catedral San Fernando, dating from 1895 or visit the Cuartel de Dragones, a military headquarters constructed between 1771 and 1797. The Marco de los Reyes in the Plaza Torre del Vigía, it's also a remarkable place to visit. This white and rose marble marker was created in Lisbon in 1753 and erected to mark the division between Spanish and Portuguese holdings in South America according to the 1750 Treaty of Madrid.
Punta del Este has more to offer travellers than just its beaches (although these certainly are the biggest drawcard). With so many great things to do, it’s time to plan your visit. Come in the summer if you want to mix with the glamorous crowds and enjoy the party atmosphere, or visit it in the low season for a laid-back vacation on Uruguay’s coast.