South America’s Uruguay may be a small country, but it’s coastal Punta del Este is no small budget beach town.
It’s mid December and Punta del Este is heaving with tourists – mainly Brazilians and Argentinians dressed in bohemian dresses, accessorised with brimmed hats and margaritas in hand. It’s summer in Punta del Este, and the New Year festivities welcome the town’s busiest months.
Punta del Este, although known in South America for its beach clubs, parties and dreamy coastal mansions, is not exactly word-of-mouth in Europe. If you’ve heard of Uruguay, perhaps it has been in the context of Montevideo, the capital – Punta is straight to the east of it.
Perhaps due to its unknown allure, or perhaps simply because it is difficult to find a place quite like Punta, the beach town often populates with celebrities. Shakira, Ana Taylor-Joy, Ester Expósito, Keanu Reeves or Ricky Martin are amongst the famous spotted around its towns, with many other South American names even owning property in the area.
Punta’s Sunsets
One of the key activities to do in Punta del Este is to savour its colourful sunsets, and the town has equipped accordingly to provide some of the most spectacular beach clubs for it. Always with a very laid back (but elegant, always elegant) vibe to them, they often consist of wooden pergolas dotted with hammocks and serving rolling clericot, the champagne-based drink everyone orders.
Parador La Choza de Mar José Ignacio
If there is one place worth trekking to, it’s La Choza de Mar, a beach club located in the prestigious locality of José Ignacio. Only a short drive from Punta del Este city centre, it is the people that frequent it that make it such as special spot – it is the kind of place where you’re just as likely to come across models, than you are to find some savvy tourist which has found their way over.
With an underlying hippie feel to it, La Choza de Mar’s set up is simple; a small beachside hut surrounded by large hammocks, low-rise tables and an impeccable sound system. You’ll often come across little boutique-like stores opening u2p on the shores, or beach-side merchants selling hand-made shell bracelets or Lacey beach dresses.
Other noteworthy ‘paradores’ include La Huella, Olaf Parador or 33 Bar Local.
Vineyards
As the fourth-Largest wine-producing country in South America, Uruguay has a lot to offer when it comes to wine. It therefore comes as no surprise that the options for enotourism in the area are plenty; from more exclusive vineyards to more low-key wine productions. One of its most known vineyards, Bodega Garçón, consists of a modern building perched amidst the Uruguayan landscape, and offers unique culinary experiences fit for the most avid sommeliers.
Punta del Este may not be a household name in Europe, but for those in the know, it’s a beach town that packs a punch. With its celebrity sightings, stunning sunsets, and fantastic vineyards, Punta del Este is a hidden gem that is waiting to be discovered. So, grab your hammock, order a clericot, and prepare to be dazzled by one of South America’s best-kept secrets.