Directions Punta del Este
Getting to Punta del Este and surroundings
Planning your summer vacations in Punta del Este? First thing you need to do is to plan how you will get there and how you will get around.
If you are coming from Argentina, the beaches of Punta del Este are easily reachable from Buenos Aires by car, ferry, plane or bus. There are flights to Montevideo’s Carrasco International Airport and to Laguna del Sauce’s Airport, in Punta del Este. Car rental and taxis are available in both destinations. Comfortable buses run often between Montevideo and Punta del Este’s main station, close to the tip of the peninsula. Several also stop in Carrasco International Airport.
From Brazilian Sudeste, buses run to northeast Uruguay, from where you can easily reach Punta del Este as well. Flights to Montevideo can be a more efficient option from other Brazilian regions.
The best way to get around the beaches of Punta del Este and also visit sights in surrounding areas is to rent a car in Punta del Este, Montevideo or at the airports. Taxis are also readily available and safe to be used, though it can be expensive to travel long distances. A micro-bus connects Maldonado –the Department’s capital- with Punta del Este and La Barra, ask in the city’s bus terminal for the exact schedule and expect some short delays.
Around Punta del Este
Summer holidays in the beaches of Uruguay, especially in Punta del Este and its surrounding areas, are a must because they include a great array of places to visit and different beaches to discover every day.
Punta Ballena
When on your trip to Punta del Este, if coming from Montevideo, you will pass the Laguna del Sauce airport on your left and 3km later, and some 18km before arriving in downtown Punta del Este, you will see Punta Ballena on your right.
A geographical accident, Punta Ballena –whale point- is a peninsula from which you can see the surrounding Sierra de la Ballena –whale hill- as well as a good place from where, at certain times of the year, you can go whale watching.
The area is great for tourism in Uruguay. Towards the west, a small natural harbor is used for aquatic sports. The calm Solanas and Portezuelo beaches, on that same side, are a great place to see the sunset. The arboretum Lussich, towards the north, offers a nice connection with nature. On the eastern side, caves, rocks and more beaches offer a lot of adventures for children, and a nice view of the city of Punta del Este and the Gorriti Island.
In Punta Ballena, Casapueblo is the much visited house of the Uruguayan abstract artist and architect Carlos Paez Vilaró, a white stucco-castle or citadel structure that includes a museum, an art gallery and the hotel Casapueblo. The archictecture resembles that of Greek Mediterranean coast houses in Santorini, though Paez Vilaró says he was inspired in the way ovenbirds construct their nests.
Barra de Maldonado
Often referred to simply as “La Barra”, this is the name employed for the land on both sides of the Maldonado Creek. The area was first organized for tourism purposes, and nowadays the traditional fishing of black drum alternates with the hyped nightlife and the trendiest beaches in the Punta del Este region.
Tourism in Punta del Este is not complete until you pass by the Barra bridge, which has two undulations resembling the humps of the camels. The original bridge was built in the 60s and a second one was added in the summer of 2003 to avoid traffic. It is frequent to see family cars with children in the back seat speeding through the lumps of the bridges to the amusement of the younger ones.
The trendiest beaches in La Barra are Montoya, Bikini and Manantiales. There are many stores restaurants and bars in a hippie-chic beach setting. When it gets colder, later in the afternoon, people rush to Medialunas Calentitas to eat some freshly baked bizcochos of all kinds.
After sunset, a shower and an asado –bbq- for dinner, young people gather in the bars for “previas”, chatting and having some drinks before hitting the La Barra nightclubs, where they will dance until late the next morning. Check for parties in Punta del Este 2011.
José Ignacio
After passing all the beaches in La Barra, you can keep driving east to José Ignacio, one of the nicest beaches in Uruguay. 40 kilometers from the beaches of Punta del Este, and 182km from Montevideo, this small fishermen town is today one of the preferred destination for Latin American celebrities who have their oceanic farmhouses in the surrounding areas, making use of the lonely beaches stretching towards the east.
Jose Ignacio itself is a small peninsula of only 2km long and 800 meters wide. It was named after a man who lived in the region when the Spaniards conquered it. Jose Ignacio is located between two big lagoons: Laguna José Ignacio and Laguna Garzón. Its seductive calmness and quietness is only interrupted by the sound of the wind.
The lighthouse is the town’s main attraction and distinctive symbol. Also a lot of restaurants have settled in Jose Ignacio, offering traditionally seafood, but also dishes of all kind that cater the most discerning palates. José Ignacio makes a nice half-day trip for those on vacations in Punta del Este.
Gorriti Island
A day trip to the Gorriti Island, in front of Punta del Este’s harbor, is a great chance to escape the buzz of tourism in Punta del Este and relax in an exotic beach in an island, surrounded by nature.
If you are not visiting Punta del Este on your own yacht, your best bet is to go to the city’s harbor, where several tourism boats take visitors to and from the island’s cannon harbor every half an hour. It is best to go early as bad weather, strong winds and strong tides will all be reasons for return trips to often finish before sunset.
Once in the island, enjoy a walk around the trails, visiting the sandy beaches on the coast to get a nice view of Punta del Este from the ocean. Take a look at the ruins of the 18th century fortress created to protect Río de la Plata from the Portuguese invasion. Cannons can also be found all around the island.
When your adventurous spirit is satisfied, take your time to relax in the beach on the side opposite to Punta del Este, by garden harbor. Tides can be high but a lifeguard is there at all time while the island remains open. There is only one bar, “Parador Caras” selling refreshments and light meals, so you may want to organize your own picnic. Especially in hot days, do not forget your bug spray.
Isla de Lobos
A natural reserve, Isla de Lobos –Sea Lions Island- is located some 12 kilometers southeast from the beaches of Punta del Este. It houses the greatest colony of seals in the western hemisphere.
Two kinds of species cohabit the island: the regular seal – Arctocephalus australis- and the sea lion – Otaria flavescens-. The total number of seals was estimated in 180.000 by the beginning of the century.
The island has the only automated lighthouse in Uruguay, running on solar energy and high technology, with a siren to be used in cases of fog.
To visit the Isla de Lobos from Punta del Este, the same tourism boats taking visitors to the Gorriti Island organize tours to the Isla de Lobos daily. Please note that, because it is a natural reserve and animals should not be disturbed, you cannot step on the Isla de Lobos, but you will go around it on the boat.
A visit to Isla de Lobos is a great way to include nature and fauna to your holidays in Punta del Este. For further travel news of other tourist destinations, check our Travel Blog.
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