Hostel Punta Ballena

Punta del Este


In the hills above Punta Ballena, this secluded retreat is ideal for budget-minded travelers who prefer low-key fireside camaraderie to Punta-style partying. The six- to eight-bed dorms are pretty standard issue (and the triple-decker bunks may give pause to acrophobes), but the on-site bar-restaurant invites cozy conversation by the parrilla, and the beach (Playa Portezuelo) is a short walk downhill.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Punta del Este attractions

1. Casapueblo

1.42 MILES

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

2. Isla Gorriti

5.79 MILES

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…

3. Playa Mansa

6.96 MILES

This calm river beach straddles the western (Río de la Plata) side of Punta del Este's long narrow peninsula.

4. Yacht Harbor

7.04 MILES

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…

5. La Mano en la Arena

7.34 MILES

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…

6. Playa de los Ingleses

7.38 MILES

On the Atlantic Ocean side of the peninsula, this is the southernmost of Punta del Este's many beaches, and a favorite with surfers.

7. Playa Brava

7.43 MILES

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).

8. Playa El Emir

7.43 MILES

This small beach on the eastern (Atlantic Ocean) side of Punta del Este's peninsula gets good waves, making it popular with surfers.