Main Attractions

(*)Chill out on the famous beaches, including La playa de los Dedos, with a giant hand emerging from the sand, Bikini Beach, famous for the models and celebrities that go there.


(*)Relax all day, but go out at night to one of Punta?s many clubs. Parties start late, well after midnight, and go till dawn.


(*)Rent a boat at the Marina and enjoy a day at sea.


(*)On a good wind day Punta del Este has some good surfing spots to check out if you can get rid of your hangover and rouse yourself off your beach blanket.


(*)There is an island nearby with a nature preserve. Take a boat ride or rent a boat to get across. Isla de Lobos has a fun sea lion colony.

When to go

SUMMERTIME. Though the weather in Punta del Diablo is nice basically October through March, January and February are the time to go. Prices will be higher, even at hostels, but this is the season when Punta del Diablo comes out to shine and the real fun can be had.

How to get there

(bus) (boat) Inexpensive buses travel back and forth regularly from Montevideo to Punta del Este, only 1.5 hours away. Many travelers come from Buenos Aires, in which case a short flight can be taken, or for a cheaper option take the ferry to Montevideo and catch a bus from there. If you have some time and are on a serious budget, the cheapest way to go would be to catch a ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia, then the Buquebus bus to Montevideo, and then switch buses in Montevideo to Punta del Este.

Visa information

Visitors from the US, Israel, Australia, and most European countries do not require a visa to enter Uruguay. A 90 day tourist visa will be stamped in your passport upon entering the country.

Tipping

Servers at restaurants generally receive tips of 5-10%. For taxis simply round up the bill to the nearest peso. Hotel porters receive about US$1 per bag.