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For information about neighborhoods and vicinity:
General information Founded as a fishermen village in 1907, Punta del Este has become an internationally renowned summer resort, a favorite getaway for Argentineans, Brazilians, Paraguayans, and, increasingly, Europeans and North Americans. Beautiful white-sand beaches, world-class hotels and restaurants, inexhaustible nightlife, and a variety of outdoor activities give Punta del Este (nicknamed Punta) a solid reputation as the playground of the “rich and famous.” Spend the day in the water, in the afternoon savor the delicious local cuisine in one of the many budget or highbrow restaurants, in the evening join the nightlife revelry. Entertainment is non-stop, going up and down the coast from Punta to José Ignacio. Follow the crowd or find privacy in one of the endless beaches. Punta invites healthy activity during the high season and relaxed pleasure when the crowd goes home. With the high season over, the city becomes tranquil. Since the summer months extend nearly half the year, there is ample opportunity for communion with the surrounding natural beauty. This relaxed lifestyle has inspired many to settle in Punta. Businessmen, artists, architects, authors and hospitality workers keep the community going off-season. Punta del Este city sits on a peninsula that juts out where the Rio de la Plata joins the Atlantic Ocean. The west side of the resort town is referred to as the Playa Mansa. The beaches on this side are protected from the rough tides and winds of the ocean. Towards March, orcas and humpback whales find their way into the Rio de la Plata bay, just off the beach, to feed on the rich aquatic life. They can be spotted best from Punta Ballena. On the eastern side of Punta, known as Playa Brava, the Atlantic Ocean pounds the beaches that extend north all the way to Brazil, a four hour drive. On the Atlantic side, up the coast, lie three towns, now part of the aggregate Punta community. La Barra, Manantiales, and José Ignacio have become smaller summer resorts, in their own right. The miles-long beaches that join the towns offer solitude and privacy. Punta has grown out from the peninsula and now merges with the nearby city Maldonado. The buildup during the last part of the 20th century offers an eclectic mix of modern and traditional architecture prevails. The homes are built to last, made of concrete, cement, and stucco, many with old exposed wood beams and enclosed patios. In the last few years, talented young architects have moved to Punta to join the building boom.
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Punta peninsula neck
Punta view from Playa Brava
Punta Peninsula and Puerto
Punta Centro
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