Punta del Este

Punta del Este is a resort peninsula at the southeastern tip of Uruguay, where the Río de la Plata meets the Atlantic. Ships anchor offshore, and tenders bring passengers to a small pier in the harbour. The town draws wealthy Argentines and Brazilians in summer (December through February), and the main strip fills with upscale restaurants, galleries, and designer shops. In the off-season it is noticeably quieter. The Hand in the Sand sculpture on Brava beach is the most photographed landmark. Casapueblo, a whitewashed hotel and museum built by artist Carlos Páez Vilaró, sits on a clifftop south of town and looks like something between Santorini and a sandcastle. The harbour-side fish market has good, cheap seafood. The currency is the Uruguayan peso, though many shops accept US dollars. Beaches on the Plata side have calmer water; the Atlantic side gets more surf.