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Punta Del Este
 Punta del
Este is the much loved and sought after vacation town
nestled on a beautiful peninsula located in the extreme
southeast corner of Uruguay. Only one hour by car from
Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, people come from all
over South America and Europe to enjoy Punta del Este’s
natural beauty and its vibrant nightlife.
Punta del
Este extends like a hand towards the ocean with the
Atlantic
Ocean to its west and Rio de la Plata to the
east. Rio de la Plata is the widest river in the world
and separates Argentina from Uruguay. It is 120 miles
wide at the point where it joins the Atlantic in Punta
del Este. The peninsula offers wide, beautiful, white
sand beaches on both sides, but the waters on the river
side, “ La Mansa”, are calm. On the Atlantic side, “La
Brava”, there is an exciting surf. People traditionally
enjoy the waves in the morning and the river side in the
later afternoon because of its beautiful sunsets. The
peninsula has areas of forest through which has been
created a beautiful residential community with the wide
beaches undulating on either side.
Punta del
Este is technically a part of the province of Maldonado
and began its history as a fishing village. It was not
until the 1940 that it developed itself as an exclusive
vacation resort of international fame. Today it boasts
over 100 hotels ranging from quaint, colonial hotels
with latin flavor and charm, to the large Conrad Hilton,
offering an array of exciting shows and a large casino.
Its beautiful harbor, on the Mansa side, attracts yachts
from all over the world.
 Punta del
Este is a first world village offering modern
conveniences and shopping opportunities. There are over
80 restaurants with delicious seafood and famous
Uruguayo beef. Punta del Este also has its own
airport.
Many
fascinating day trips are easily accessible from Punta
del Este to visit Uruguay’s quiet beaches and beautiful
mountains. You can hike, fish, windsurf, take boat
trips to fish or visit large colonies of sea lions, play
golf, and horseback ride all in Punta del Este or within
easy reach either by car or by boat.
The climate
of the peninsula is similar to Georgia but the seasons
are reversed. Its high season runs from December to
March, but the excellent weather actually extends from
Mid-November to the beginning of May. The climate is
air maritime. The air smells of salt spray and pines.
Aside from its natural beauty and tranquility, people
are drawn to Punta del Este for its vibrant nightlife.
There are many clubs and discos to choose from which
stay open until the morning. The music is a mixture of
Latin and America and much of it is live. One of the
beaches in Punta del Este, called las Cumbras, offers
live music as well. Uruguay is very proud of Punta del
Este and considers it its jewel. |