Information About Punta del Este
Punta del Este is a city with a wide array of attractions which has become an outstanding international tourist destination.
One of its main advantages is that it is not only an area with beautiful landscapes, but it also has the infrastructure and necessary services to provide the most demanding tourists with everything they may desire, at the level of the best resorts in the world.
Natural Beauty
Punta del Este spreads over 70 kilometers of ocean beaches with fine white sands, dunes, calm waters and rougher surf.
In summer, every few kilometers there are beach restaurants with an excellent level of cuisine, music, gym, massage parlors and activities for kids, and where it is not infrequent to meet members of the jet set, mainly Argentine and regional. It is also possible to find beaches that are less popular, and to enjoy them without a soul in sight.
The geographic and commercial center of the city is called the Peninsula, and is also known to habitués as the Punta, taking its name from the shape of the land which juts out into the ocean.
This point divides the area of "Playa Mansa", called like this for its calm waters, from "Playa Brava", which is the stretch of beach towards the east which has rougher waves. In the Mansa area are the beaches of Las Grutas, Punta Ballena, Solanas and Chihuahua, among others.
On the Brava side are El Emir, La Olla, Los Dedos; further towards the East are Manantiales, La Barra and José Ignacio, the more fashionable areas with a higher commercial value. La Barra and José Ignacio are former fishing villages, which charmed the most select public of Punta del Este with their picturesque landscapes, unpaved streets and whitewashed houses on the sea. There are few lots left on the seaside these days, and large residences with modern architecture and design have been built.
In the Peninsula is the Port of Punta del Este, where all types of vessels arrive and which has become a mandatory attraction for visitors. Every year large cruise chips stop over, and their passengers can enjoy a day's shopping, eating out and entertainment. The Punta del Este Yacht Club is in this area, gathering sailing enthusiasts all year round.
Two islands, Isla de Lobos and Isla Gorriti, can be seen from the Peninsula.
The first has a natural reserve of sea lions, and it is possible to visit it on boats and launches that leave from the Port. Gorriti has a large forest of pine trees and two beach restaurants, with international cuisine that emphasizes fish and seafood.
The people
Traditionally the public that visited this area was from the region, mainly Argentines, Brazilians and Chileans, who made invaluable contributions to the development and promotion of this resort.
These days there are increasing numbers of North American and European tourists, attracted by the magic of this place which blends like few others the possibility of finding virgin beaches and land alongside a modern city with an outstanding level of infrastructure and services, accommodation, recreation, security, prices and quality of life.
The local population, mainly of European ancestry, helps to make visitors from the first World extremely comfortable, as everything is familiar from a social, cultural and even from an architectural point of view; customs are similar and people like to be helpful and cordial to foreigners.
Many people speak English, which enables tourists from all over the world to relate and move around town.
The offer
Punta del Este has around 155 restaurants and 100 hotels. As in many other parts of the world, the food and wine and hotel industries have evolved towards international standards of excellence in hospitality. Many hotels have all the necessary facilities and services for unforgettable summer holidays, and the more modern ones are equipped to do so all year round. Authors' cuisine has become very important, and renowned chefs have set up their establishments in the city. Additionally, Uruguay is a producer of first-class export beef, so it is possible to enjoy excellent barbecued meats in the traditional restaurants called "Parrilladas".
In Punta del Este, as in most of Uruguay, it is possible to pay in most shops and restaurants in Uruguayan pesos or US dollars. There are many exchange bureaus, and ATMs all over town with excellent service, where most transactions can be made round the clock. There are also branches of the main international banks and credit cards.
Punta del Este is also a city that is wide open to the Arts. Many local and regional artists have set up their studios here, charmed by the off-season quiet that allows them to work in peace, and the bustle of the high season, when it is easy to make oneself known.
Among others are the museums Casapueblo, the most impressive work by renowned Uruguayan artist Carlos Paez Vilaró, perched on the side of Punta Ballena, and Museo Ralli, in the exclusive residential area of Beverly Hills, which exhibits an outstanding collection of paintings and sculptures by contemporary Latin American artists, and a series of sculptures by Salvador Dali, which are unique in Uruguay.
For those who enjoy sports and outdoor activities, this city offers many options. During the summer there are several golf championships in different courses, regattas in several categories, marathons, 4 by 4 rallies, the vintage cars 1000 miles race, tennis championships and more.
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