PENINSULA >> GORLERO
	Gorlero Avenue divides the peninsula in two: Bahía de Maldonado, with its Mansa beach on the bay side and The Atlantic Ocean with its Brava beach. Here you can find shops displaying the main international brands as well as a great variety of bars and restaurants. This area is the area where crowds are drawn.

 

 

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PENINSULA >> THE PORT OF PUNTA DEL ESTE
	In summer the most luxurious ships sail these waters. From this spot, there are daily tours to the islands: Gorriti, a natural reserve, Isla de los Lobos (Sea Wolves Island), which contains a large population of seals and sea lions, and different fishing excursions. Surrounding the port find the most outstanding restaurants, which also offer lots of fresh fish, and the bars which concentrate nightlife.

PENINSULA >> ARTISANS FAIR
	A "must" for all visitors to Punta del Este. It takes place just in the middle of Plaza Artigas (Artigas Park) in the heart of the peninsula. This street market includes 20 stalls, selling everything from simple souvenirs and wool garments to leather wear and craft. Find also semi precious stones and valuable gold and silver jewellery. This fair gets really crowded at night, so it might get difficult to walk about.

 

 

 

 

THE SORROUNDINGS
	As well as the peninsula, you can appreciate different types of landscapes: forests, beaches, ponds, country houses (estancias) and rivers. As Punta del Este is a spit of land surrounded by the sea, it is ideal for those who are keen on fresh air as the strip offers more air oxygenation and a larger proportion of ozone than any other ordinary coastal area.

THE SORRUNDINGS >> BEACHES
	Punta del Este means beaches. The coastline extends for miles, boasting the most unbelievable variety of beaches, from the calm waters of Maldonado and Portezuelo, where singular sunsets can be viewed, to the open sea with its high waves of the Atlantic coast, where sunrise is revealed after intense nightlife.

 

 

 

THE SORROUNDINGS>> NIGHT LIFE
	In summer time Punta del Este is the South American Mecca of nightlife. There are several options: bars located at the port, a stroll along Gorlero, seaside discos that make the night last until sunrise or even more…

 

 

 

 

THE SORROUNDINGS >> RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBOURHOODS
	The different residential neighbourhoods, which were built during the development of Punta del Este, have grown to such an extent that today it is difficult to establish where this area starts or finishes. It is a real pleasure to walk or ride across these neighbourhoods, where you can appreciate beautiful mansions surrounded by gardens packed with pines.

 

 

 

 

THE SORROUNDINGS >> EL JAGUEL
	Parque Municipal El Jagüel is free and disposes of several games for children, made with logs simulating animals, swings and slides to small cars and trains. This is one of the most enjoyable places for kids. Ideally for a pic-nic as the place includes barbacue areas with tables and benches for the family to spend the day. There is a small Kart and motorbike rink; the main attraction is horse-riding, organized by the locals.

 

 

 

 

THE SORROUNDINGS >> FORESTAL RESERVE LUSSICH
	This impressive reserve is the fruit of the tireless efforts of pioneer Antonio Lussich, with its more than 350 exotic species and some 70 native ones. It is also considered the seventh in importance in its type in the world and the second in South America. The Arboretum consists of 2000 hectares and by driving up to the lookout on the hill, you can enjoy the forest, Solana Beach and the Piriapolis hills. At present, Antonio´s Lussich house is a museum.

 

 

 

 

THE SORROUNDINGS>> LA BARRA
	All along the year La Barra is a haunted place. But in January La Barra is known for its pubs, restaurants, discos and similar places. Located just a few meters away from Punta del Este and with buses that come and go every thirty minutes, La Barra has become one of the favourite sites for teenagers.

 

 

 

 

MALDONADO
	The city of Maldonado is the head of the department. It was founded in 1757. Since then, gradually, the city has been growing in a sustained way. Maldonado city is where you can appreciate the largest concentration of buildings from colonial times and the first times of the republic. The building boom in Punta del Este did not affect much the peaceful constitution of the centre, which makes it an unavoidable place to get to know the colonial past of the department.

MALDONADO >> MALDONADO'S CATHEDRAL
	Maldonado´s Catedral is a neoclassical building, inaugurated in 1895. It has a main nave, two bell towers and a central dome. The high altar was made by the sculptor Antonio Veiga who received an award for this work at the Continental exposition in Buenos Aires in 1882. Currently, the Cathedral has been declared national heritage and has been restored completely.

 

 

 

 

MALDONADO >> MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART IN MALDONADO
	This valuable museum occupies the old residence of Enrique Burnett, one of the pioneers from Punta del Este. It was the plastic artist Jorge Páez Vilaró who turned this place into a museum, maintaining its architecture intact to house his important collection of pre-Columbian art. Several concerts take place in the garden during the summer and the entrance is free of charge. A series of presentations, among which is the United Airlines Award to Young Art, also take place.

 

 

 

 

MALDONADO >> HISTORICAL REGIONAL MUSEUM
	This house was built in 1782 and was used by the Spaniards first as a jail and later as a Town Council. Today, perfectly restored, it houses the Regional Museum. It has three halls for presentations and one for conferences: in the first hall we can find colonial shelves, garments, etc. In the second hall there are native archaeological remains, bolas, arrows. In the third hall, there are weapons from colonial and revolutionary times, among others.

 

 

 

 

PUNTA BALLENA
	Even though in these latitudes the sighting of whales is considered to be autochthonous, its name may come from the one given to the mountain range shaped like the cetacean's body. At the southern end, there are three caves, one of them being of important size. Over its highest line, there is a Panoramic Route, so you can always enjoy a marvelous view of Bahía de Maldonado de la Península and Bahía de Portezuelo del Cerro Pan de Azúcar.

PUNTA BALLENA >> CASA PUEBLO
	Plastic artist Carlos Páez Vilaró built this beautiful house-studio, full of inventiveness and boldness in its architecture. Its style reminds us of Mediterranean buildings. Each and every corner of Casapueblo is full of Punta del Este´s history. Its tributes to the Sun are famous every Friday in summer and people gather to see the sunset over Portezuelo Bay. Each summer there are presentations, launches, parties and concerts.

 

 

 

 

PUNTA BALLENA >> SIGHTING OF WHALES
	During August, a few meters away from the coast, you can see a great number of austral whales that reach Punta del Este´s coasts to mate without caring about the curious looks of visitors that come from all over the world to enjoy this scene.

 

 

 

 

JOSE IGNACIO
	José Ignacio is a tip made up of stone that enters the sea around a kilometer, leaving natural bays along both sides. These bays formed, like Punta de la Este but at a minor extent, a gentle and a rough beach (Mansa y Brava). A few years ago, several show business people chose this place to build their summer homes which has given the place a new lease of life, but José Ignacio is famous mainly for its excellent restaurants specialized in seafood. It is the ideal place to rest near the sea.

PIRIAPOLIS
	The city of Piriápolis was founded by Francisco Piria in 1890. He built the port, a wonderful hotel (nowadays, the Argentino Hotel), an esplanade and afforested the whole area with pines. Piriápolis´fame preceded Punta del Este´s for many years. It is a quiet city, surrounded by green areas and hills, and it has a beach with small beach clubs to both margins of the area of the port.

SAN CARLOS
	It was founded by Pedro de Ceballos at the spot called "Maldonado chico" in 1763 with Portuguese families that had remained scattered after the occupation of the Santa Teresa Fortress. The city was established as a strategic defense spot of the Spanish Empire. The name of the city is a tribute to the King of Spain by then, Carlos III. The city preserves his colonial image intact, practically without buildings over three floors and its squares that remain as before.

CERRO PAN DE AZUCAR
	It is 339 metres high and it is the third highest in the country. It can be climbed by the south mountainside. The way is signposted with red arrows painted on the rocks. It is not a dangerous ascent, any fit person can do it but you have to be careful. On its top, there is a cross made of cement that can be seen from Punta del Este. It was inaugurated in 1933 and it is 35 metres high.