Punta del Este-The pride of Uruguay

The Punta del Este is an upscale beach resort area in the wonderful South American nation of Uruguay. The place is also more commonly referred to as the St. Tropez of Uruguay. The reason behind this name is owing to the fact of the miles and miles of beautiful and white sandy clean beaches the area possesses. The resort is famous the world over and boasts of a vibrant nightlife and the area sees the best and richest people of the world visiting the place to relax. So, on your next trip do not be surprised if you bump into a celebrity like Tiger Woods.

Punta del Este is situated in the southern tip of the nation. The number of full-time residents of the area stands at only 7,300. However, owing to its tourism significance, it is very common site to see the outsiders outnumber the locals. It is estimated the summer tourism season sees a whopping 150,000 visitors to the place and it is fair to say that this beach resort is without a shadow of a doubt the pride of Uruguay as it generates the all-important foreign exchange reserves required to nourish the nation’s economy.

The resort area is easily the most expensive when it comes to a holiday in Uruguay. However, when compared to other popular US and European resorts, Punta del Este is quite competitive and the highest number of tourists in actually come from these developed regions. The one aspect in which the resort scores over its rivals is owing to the relaxed atmosphere of the place. Add to that the abundant beauty of the beaches and the clean surroundings which you rarely find in the other popular resorts of the world.

The area is world-famous for its scenic coasts and beautiful beaches. There are two types of beaches here, one which is on the ocean side whereas the other one is on the bay side. It is not just these beaches which have gone to make the resort a hot spot, it’s everything about the region be it the lively atmosphere to the wonderful sceneries to the delicious food stuff.

The resort also boasts of a vibrant nigh culture. Hence, I can only guarantee you will be tired at the end of your holiday here. You will spend your days running around the beaches and getting wet in the waters or in the water sports activities of the region. Your day will definitely not end at sunset, in fact for most of the visitors the day only begins at sunset, as there are 3 wonderful casinos in the resort to cater to your fun needs. You will find the most beautiful women in the resort area. However, you need to exercise caution as well, as there are drugs sold in the area.

Let’s go through some of the attractions of the area in brief.

Casapueblo:

The structure is all about the marvelous artwork by Uruguay’s very own sculptor and painter, Carlos Páez Vilaró. The Casapueblo is situated at the top of the Punta Ballena. This is easily the most frequently visited sites of the resort area.

Once you are inside this masterpiece you can view the ceramics, paintings and sculptures of Vilaró. The peak summer season also sees sunset classical music concerts here.

It is believed the construction of the structure commenced in 1958 and it took a massive 36 years for the project to be completed.

Punta del Este Lighthouse:

This is another popular attraction of the resort area. The lighthouse stands at a height of 45 meters and features 150 steps, which can be climbed by visitors. Once you have scaled the heights you can hold your breathes as the view one experiences of the Atlantic is simply amazing.

The lighthouse is run on electricity with a provision for acetylene gas, during an emergency backup situation also in place.

Gorriti Island:

This island is a must visit on your next trip to the resort area. Gorriti Island is all about 21 hectares of beautiful lands along with 2 beautiful beaches with are world famous and need no introduction – The Honda beach and Garden Port.

Besides, the island also doubles up as a natural port and it is a common site to view ships anchored near the shores of the island. The island is also a very popular place for the various water sporting activities.

La Barra:

La Barra is situated on the eastern side of the resort and is world famous for its beautiful white sandy beaches. The area also boasts of tasty foodstuff and not to forget the delicious ice-creams. The area also boasts of a lively nightlife and it is a common trend to see youngsters drive in here specially to be part of the night culture of La Barra.

The area is also famous for its fishing activities and nautical sports.

Jose Ignacio:

This is a small town and is very near to the main Punta del Este resort area. This town, situated at a 30 minutes drive from the resort, offers some breathtaking sceneries and the place is also the summer home to many rich and famous personalities, who wish to spend some time off from their native business places.

Gorlero Avenue:

The Gorlero Avenue is the premier street of Punta del Este and is all about restaurants, shops, casinos, cinemas and commercial galleries. This place is a good option if you wish to try the local cuisines.

Artigas square:

The Artigas square is situated over the Gorlero Avenue. The Artigas is all about promoting the popular handicrafts of the region. This is the right place if you are looking to purchase good quality stuff of glass, metal, stone and leather.

The other major beaches of the region include Montoya beach, Manantiales beach and Bikini Beach.

Let’s go through some of the questions which may be on your mind.

How do I reach Punta del Este?

You first need to enter the nation of Uruguay and getting into the nation is not a tedious task either. The Capitán de Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo International Airport is the second largest airport of the nation and it is well connected with the US and other major cities of the world. The airport hosts a series of daily flights to all major cities of the world. Once you have set foot on Uruguayan territory, it is not a difficult task to reach the Punta del Este as there are a variety of options at your disposal. It is recommended you hire the services of a private cab to drop you to your destination.

You can also reach Punta del Este via ferry boat from Argentina. There is a ferry service from the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires to the Uruguayan capital city of Montevideo.  Montevideo is situated some 140 kms from the resort area and the distance can be covered via bus or private car.

Where do I stay during my Punta del Este holiday?

The entire Punta del Este is quite developed and offers the best accommodation facilities to its visitors. There are a variety of budgets options to choose from as well. The more popular landmarks of the area are Conrad Resort & Casino, Jean Clevers Parque Hotel, Baie des Anges Apart Hotel & SPA, Hotel and Spa Golden Beach, Hotel Bonne Etoile, Posada Aldilá-Punta Ballena, Hotel Amsterdam, Hotel Camelot, Hotel Jamaica and La Barra-Posada de los Pájaros.

When is the best time of the year to visit Punta del Este?

The best time of the year to visit Punta del Este is during the summer months of mid-December through the early parts of March. These months also coincide with the peak tourist season of the region and please do not be surprised if you bump into a famous celebrity as the period also sees the rich and famous visiting the resort area.

It is recommended you book your tickets well in advance as booking at the last minute; you may be in for disappointment as you may fail to get tickets or you may get the tickets at higher prices.

Besides, the summer season, it is recommended you stay away from the place during other times of the year as the off season sees all shops and restaurants shut down and the only time you can expect them to remain open is during the weekends.

In conclusion, Punta del Este is the ideal holiday destination for one and all. The place is up scale and you can only expect the best out of it, be it the quality of services or the high profile visitors in the vicinity. The place is also easily accessible from other parts of Uruguay. The place is also famous around the world that airlines offer special packages to the place and as such these promotion activities only help the nation earn the much required foreign exchange reserves.

Secondly, the beaches of the area are clean and the resort area is probably one of the cleanest and best maintained in the whole world. The area is also safe as there have been no incidents of crime like robbery and murders reported in the recent past. Hence, you need not worry about the safety aspect as the authorities have already taken care of the same.

So, what are you waiting for, just go ahead and plan that all important vacation to the spectacular Punta del Este in the wonderful Uruguay.