Uruguay’s Most Beautiful Beach Towns
From glitzy to hippie.
by Tommy Walker | April 21, 2017
There is no better place to relax than on a good-vibe sizzling beach. It’s way too hot to do anything apart from sleep, go for a dip and sleep again. Well, in South America, when we’ve compared them all, there is arguably no better flurry of beaches than what exists along the coast of Uruguay.
Apart from the expensive resorts in some areas, the coast of Uruguay remains almost undisturbed, mostly untouched by the hazards of commercialization. Here, we take a look at some of the most beautiful beach towns — and they all deserve a place in your South American itinerary.
Punta Del Este
A view of the sea from the famous Casapueblo Resort in Punta del Este.
Hombre emergiendo a la vida (Man Emerging into Life) by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal. This sculpture, made in 1982, is a famous Punta del Este landmark.
Full of gleaming buildings, signs of wealth and a resort vibe, Punta Del Este is known as the St. Tropez of South America. If you’ve got the money to spend, you’ll want to be here when you’re in Uruguay.
The stretch of beach goes for miles, but it’s down town that gets the most attraction. With modern buildings as your backdrop, Punta del Este certainly has that Dubai-Miami-Gold Coast feel to it; with Playa Mansa the best spot to work on the tan and sunbathe. Visit Hombre emergiendo a la vida (also popularly known as La Mano or The Hand) during the day, and at night head over to La Barra for any night clubbing.
Cabo Polonio
The lighthouse at Cabo Polonio.
Cabo Polonio’s colorful hippie village.
Cabo Polonio is a real favorite especially for the more adventurous of souls. A small settlement with less than 100 permanent residents, here, you’ll be sandwiched between two beaches — both great for surfing.
The accommodations are mostly shacks, made up of metal sheets and wood. There’s no Wi-Fi or running water, and there’s barely any electricity. It’s like going back in time. Sizzle on the beach during the day, and at night watch the electric blue streaks in the ocean as the moon lights up the surroundings.
Punta Del Diablo
The village and the beach at Punta del Diablo.
A typical home at Punta del Diablo.
Punta Del Diablo translates to Devil’s Point which is a bit contradicting as there really isn’t anything to be scared of here. If you like to surf, the waves here at Playa Pescadores are great throughout the year.
While this area’s a little more lit up than Cabo Polonio, you still get that dreadlocked, hippie vibe during low season. Over the peak season (January to February), the population rises a mere couple of thousand to over twenty, when the backpackers come to town!
