For many years, Punta del Este was a haven for whalers, and it could not even be called a fishing village. The settlement appeared here relatively recently – in 1907, and it was declared a city 50 years later, so all the buildings here are mostly modern and side by side with a few monuments of colonial architecture.
In the village of Punta Ballena, 12 km from the resort, one of the most beautiful buildings in Uruguay is located – Casapueblo (village house). This unusually shaped house is reminiscent of the works of the famous architect Antoni Gaudí with its curved lines. This house was built in 1960 by the famous Uruguayan artist Carlos Pez Vilar, who worked on this project for more than 30 years, which is noteworthy – without sketches and drawings. Today, this building houses a museum named after him, as well as a restaurant and one of the most elite hotels in the resort.
The monument “Hand” (La Mano) has become a real symbol of the resort of Punta del Este. It is located right on the beach and represents gigantic human fingers buried in the sand. Sculptor Mario Irarrasabal created this figure in just a week, and, according to his original idea, it is dedicated to people who died in the high waves of the ocean. According to another, less dramatic version, the hand symbolizes the inseparable connection between man and nature. A very similar sculpture by the same author can be seen in the Atacama Desert in Chile.
The warning monument “Hand” is located exactly in the very place where there are the highest and most dangerous waves on the entire coast.
There is an old lighthouse on Lobos Island not far from the resort. Its height is 45 m, and you can climb it only on foot, overcoming 150 steps.
Museums
According to wholevehicles, the Rally Museum in Punta del Este is dedicated to the contemporary art of South America. It was founded by the Italian philanthropist Harry Recanati, who collected a unique collection of paintings, sculptures and other works of art by Latin American artists. The museum is especially proud of several works by the Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali. The museum is located in a mansion with a small park, and you can visit it completely free of charge – this is the principled position of the founder, who believed that art should be accessible to everyone.
The Maritime Museum is a small exposition dedicated to the sea, its flora and fauna, as well as Caribbean pirates who rampaged off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Here you can see a collection of mollusks and shells and wax figures of especially famous robbers with a brief description of their “exploits”.
The resort has surfing and windsurfing schools, as well as stables where you can take a couple of riding lessons and go horseback riding.
Nature
Lobos Island is located 12 km south of Punta del Este. This is a natural reserve where the largest population of sea lions lives on the continent. Here they are called sea wolves, hence the name Lobos – “wolf” in Spanish. This is a huge rocky piece of land with an area of 41 hectares, and animals are literally everywhere here: they bask in the sun, splash in the water and are not at all afraid of people. In total, 180 thousand individuals live on the island, and it was isolation that made it possible to maintain their population in such numbers.
Not far from the resort, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, there is another natural reserve – Santa Teresa. These are various natural landscapes preserved in their original form: lakes, rivers, forests, sandy beaches, etc. Also on the territory of the park is an 18th-century fortress from colonial times, a reserve for animals, both local and imported from other regions. Entrance is paid, if you wish, you can spend the night in a tent in the park.
Near the resort in the hills of Alto de Ballena are the famous Uruguayan vineyards. They were planted in 1988 by enthusiastic winemakers and soon built a winery here. The winery along with the vineyards can be visited both as part of a tour and independently, but the tour must be booked in advance. On the tour, you will be told how grapes are grown and wine is made, where and how it is stored, and you will also be given a chance to taste several varieties. For tourists, a restaurant is also open here and there are several guest houses in case someone wants to stay overnight.
There are several parks in Punta del Este. The most beloved by locals and tourists are Camino de la Laguna and Parque el Jaguel, they often come there for barbecues, picnics and just for a walk.
Night life
All nightlife and club life in Punta del Este is concentrated in the Barra de Maldonado area. It used to be a small fishing village, but today it is the city’s most popular holiday destination for young people. Nightclubs open no earlier than midnight, bars – around 21:00-22:00, while fairs of local artisans work here during the day.
Every year at the end of January Punta del Este hosts the Wine Festival, which brings together eminent winemakers and sommeliers from all over the world. The event is partly business – contracts for supplies are signed here and deals are concluded, and partly entertaining: tastings, music, dancing and other fun.
