lizg14

Can anyone give me a brief synopsis of their experience at Punta del Este? Is it worth the trip from Buenos Aires? Any info would be great. Thanks!

santiagov

From December to march , being best months Dec/Feb/March,Punta del Este is a beautifull seaside small city. January gets crowded and looses its enchant.

There are many small to medium sized hotels to choose depending on budget and preferences.Service in Uruguay is usually very good. Seafood is Ok , but not superb, food in generall is satisfactory.Wines bad.Usually fruits, vegetables are tasty. Their hooney is superb , and have many choices.
Their specialty are hot dogs ( Try La Pacifica).!!

If wanting a relaxed spot with litlle tourism, close to Punta del Este ( 15 miles aprox. José Ignacio is my choice).

Renting a car is very expensive.And you will need one.

If in Punta w / car travel 120 miles to
El Chuy ( border ), visiting La Pedrera / Punta del Diablo,Cabo Polonio and Castillos up to El Chuy. Can be done in 2 days.All the villages in the coats are beautifull w/ litlle or none infrastructure, natural .

milla

it all depends on when you want to go. The favourite places apart from Punta del Este are Punta Ballena where the famous Casapueblo is, Jose Ignacio and La Paloma or even La Pedrera. These ones are only lively in January and February. In December prices are affordable but they soar in January and February.
Food is much more expensive than in Buenos Aires. Renting a car is a good way to visit all the different beaches from Colonia to Chuy. Transportation in general is expensive.

I have just come back from Solanas Forest Resort quite near Punta del Este, nice area too.

Buquebus takes you to Colonia and from there there are buses to Montevideo or Punta del Este. or you can take the ferry to Montevideo and from there to Punta del Este or any other place on the coast.

Colonia is a nice cozy place for a short stay, o more than 3 hours but arriving at 12 pm and staying overnight is a good option if you decide to rent a car and move freely.

You will love the Uruguayan people and their friendliness.

regards,

Graziella5b

Hi, I think the key is in santiagov answer it all depends of WHEN you will go.
December to March inclusive is fine.

It is a beach resort it is understood that you enjoy the sea.

Colonia and Carmelo are totally different but both in Uruguay, closer to BUe have a lot to offer and can be visited anytime of the year.

JohnK

I spent four days in Punta del Este in January. I wouldn't recommend it as it is very expensive and not worth the time and money. The beaches are only so-so. If you're going to be in Buenos Aires I would definitely recommend a day trip to Colonia. A trip to Mendoza is certainly worth a few days.

Graziella5b

Hi I love beaches the matter in fact I live in Florida in front of the ocean. To say that Punta del Este's beaches are so, so...is an understatement in my opinion. Being a pennynsula Punta del Este has several beaches, each day depending of how the wind blows one bunch of beaches are fantastic. Only thing you have to go to the right beach depending of the weather. I as millions of other visitors think that the beaches of Punta del Este are very good.

Melanie43

Graziella, Just read your words on Punta del Este and am glad you were so positive as my husband really wants to visit there. We only have time for 2 nights..Can we do a day trip to Montvideo also or is it too much to do? we are going to be ther the very end of February.

saltshaker

You could do a coast drive, which is beautiful, and which I've done (in the opposite direction) to Montevideo. One day might be pushing it, as all you'll do is spend the day driving. If you drove directly, it'd only take you about two hours, but if you enjoy your way winding along the coast, and maybe stopping here and there, it could easily take you the six hours it took us! That's one direction... but then you could stay in Montevideo one day if you wanted (not that, in my opinion, there's a lot to do and see in Montevideo, though there are some good restaurants and historic sites to tour).

My favorite spot to stay in Punta del Este is Casapueblo. It's one of the more amazing hotels (just to look at and wander around in, it looks sort of like Gaudi meets Moorish castle) that I've ever been in. It's a little off the beaten track, but if you have a car that won't be an issue, and taxis are available to the center of town anyway.

PELO

We have been twice to Punta del Este and just loved it, as well as Montevideo, Tigre, Buenos Aires. In Punta, the scenery, beach, food, wine, poeple are wonderfull. The shopping is rather expensive and so are the hotels after december. I have been there at the beginning of december 05 and in march 06. It was ideal except that the water was to cold to swim. We went to all the places mentionned here and in the other messages by bus or buquebus or on foot. No problem. The bus system is very well organized and cheep except for the buquebus (more expensive). We stayed at the Best Western that is very well situated (near the Conrad)but would like a change. Could someone recommend another place to stay in the same area : brava or mansa beach. Casapueblo is beautifull but far away in a secluded place.
Thank you. PELO

centeno

How is Punta Del Este Mar 21 on? Too cold? empty? fun?
How far is it from BA? In one week can you do BA, Brioloche and Punta Del este?

saltshaker

Not unless all you want to do is travel! Getting to Punta del Este from BsAs, unless you fly, is essentially a day's travel - four hours to montevideo, wait for the bus, then 2+ hours to Punta - with getting to the buquebus early enough to handle everything, you're looking at 7 hours of travel time easily. Bariloche to BsAs, not sure how much time it takes (though relatively quick if you fly), but if you're not flying you're probably looking at another full day of travel. Even with flying, given the general pattern of local flights, you could easily find yourself sitting and waiting for a plane that was supposed to leave for several hours extra.

Graziella5b

Hi Melanie, if you are coming in Feb
( I am in Montevideo right now) I would spend both days in Punta. Fly directly and enjoy Punta, relax there, go to the beach, and have fun.