With sprawling beaches, iconic monuments and a distinctive mix of colonial and modern architecture, Punta del Este shines as the jewel of Uruguay's southern coast. Set on a narrow peninsula where the Río de la Plata meets the Atlantic, the resort divides its shoreline between the sheltered mansa side and the open, wave-swept brava, where Mario Irarrazabal's sculpture of a hand emerging from the sand has become the city's signature image. Often likened to Miami or Cannes and celebrated as the "Pearl of the Atlantic," this glamorous city captivates visitors with its coastal charm, its marina and high-rise skyline giving way within minutes to dunes, pine woods and quiet coves.
