Punta del Este

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the famous sculpture "Mano de Punta del Este" by Mario Irarrázabal shot at sunrise

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Overview

For most visitors to ‘Punta’, this seems to be the plan: tan it, wax it, buff it at the gym, then plonk it on the beach. Once they’re done there, they go out and shake it at one of the town’s famous clubs.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Casapueblo

Punta del Este

Gleaming white in the sun and cascading nine stories down a cliffside, Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró’s exuberantly whimsical villa and art gallery…

La Mano en la Arena

Punta del Este

Punta’s most famous landmark is this monster-sized sculpted hand protruding from the sands of Playa Brava. Constructed in iron and cement by Chilean…

Isla Gorriti

Punta del Este

Boats leave every half hour or so (daily from December through Carnaval, weekends rest of year) from Punta del Este’s yacht harbor for the 15-minute trip…

Isla de Lobos

Punta del Este

About 10km offshore, this small island is home to the world’s second-largest southern sea-lion colony (200,000 at last count), along with colonies of…

Yacht Harbor

Punta del Este

In summertime, Punta del Este's busy yacht harbor overflows with beautiful people, who come to see and be seen at the surrounding restaurants and clubs…

Playa Brava

Punta del Este

This beach on the eastern (Atlantic Ocean) side of Punta del Este's long peninsula has rougher water, as reflected in the name Playa Brava (Fierce Beach).