Day Trips and Family Travel from Punta del Este

Planning day trips from Playa Mansa

Punta del Este sits in the middle of a coast with very different places within an hour or so by car: an old-fashioned seaside town to the west, a colonial departmental capital next door, wooded hills, and rolling inland country with vineyards and olive groves to the east. Staying on the Mansa side puts you on the western edge of town, close to the road towards Punta Ballena and Piriápolis and a short drive from Maldonado.

A few planning points:

• A car makes day trips much easier. Buses link Punta del Este with Maldonado, Piriápolis and the coast towns, but inland places such as Pueblo Garzón are hard to reach without a car or a tour.
• Check opening hours and reservations. Many restaurants, wineries and attractions keep seasonal hours, and some need booking in summer.
• Plan around the sun. In January and February, do the driving and sightseeing in the morning or late afternoon and keep the middle of the day for shade, lunch or the beach.

Piriápolis

Piriápolis is about 40 kilometres west of Punta del Este, usually under an hour by car along the coast. It was developed in the early twentieth century by the entrepreneur Francisco Piria, and its grand hotel and long rambla still give it the feel of a classic seaside resort, calmer and more modest than Punta del Este.

Things to do:

• Walk the rambla, which runs along the bay with the beach on one side and old hotels and cafés on the other.
• Go up Cerro San Antonio, the hill at the eastern end of town, by chairlift or by road, for wide views over the bay. The Ministry of Tourism also lists it as a whale-watching point from July to October.
• Visit the port, small and working, with fishing boats and a few places to eat.

Piriápolis works well for a half day, or a full day combined with stops at Punta Ballena on the way back.

Maldonado city

Maldonado is the departmental capital, a few kilometres inland from the Mansa side, and the part of the area where people live and work all year. It feels like a Uruguayan town rather than a resort, and that is the reason to go.

Around the central square, Plaza San Fernando, you will find the cathedral and a grid of streets with shops, cafés and bakeries. The Cuartel de Dragones, a restored colonial-era military building, is one of the town's historic landmarks. Maldonado is also practical: banks, hardware stores and markets are open year-round, which is useful in winter when parts of Punta del Este close.

Allow a couple of hours, and combine it with an errand or lunch.

Punta Ballena and the Arboretum Lussich

Punta Ballena, the headland west of Punta del Este, is home to Casapueblo, the white sculpted building by artist Carlos Páez Vilaró, and some of the best sunset views on the coast. Our Punta Ballena guide covers the visit in detail.

On the hills behind it is the Arboretum Lussich, a forest park of about 190 hectares planted from 1897 by Antonio Lussich on what were mostly dunes and rock, and in the hands of the department of Maldonado since 1979. Trails wind under native and exotic trees, with views towards the sea. It is shady on a hot day and sheltered on a windy one, which makes it a good family outing in any season. Check current opening hours and guided visit times with the Intendencia before going.

Pueblo Garzón, wineries and the Laguna Garzón bridge

East of Punta del Este, the coast road passes La Barra and José Ignacio (see our José Ignacio day trip guide) before heading into quieter country.

Pueblo Garzón is a small inland village about 30 minutes from the José Ignacio lighthouse, according to the local winery. Its population fell sharply after the railway declined, and it has since become known for its quiet square, a hotel and restaurant opened by Argentine chef Francis Mallmann, and the vineyards and olive groves around it. Visiting is mostly about lunch, a walk around the square and the landscape.

Bodega Garzón, on Ruta 9 near the village, is the best-known winery in the area, with tours, tastings and a restaurant. Book ahead, especially in summer, and plan who will drive back. Other wineries and olive oil producers in the department offer visits; check which are open on your dates.

The Laguna Garzón bridge crosses the lagoon between the departments of Maldonado and Rocha on Ruta 10. Designed by the Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly, it is circular, a ring of road over the water designed to slow traffic and give drivers and pedestrians a view of the lagoon. It opened at the end of 2015 and gave the coast road its first fixed crossing between the two departments. The ring has pedestrian walkways, so you can stop and walk part of it.

A full day can combine José Ignacio, the bridge, Pueblo Garzón and a winery lunch, but it is a lot of driving. Two shorter trips are more relaxed.

Travelling with children

Punta del Este is a good family destination, especially on the Mansa side:

• Calm water. Playa Mansa faces the bay of Maldonado and is much calmer than the open Atlantic beaches of the Brava. It is still the sea: watch children at all times, swim where lifeguards are present in season and follow the flag system. Our Playa Mansa guide explains the beach in detail.
• Shade and sun. The summer sun is strong. Bring a beach umbrella or a tent, hats and sunscreen, and plan beach time for the morning and late afternoon.
• Outings that work for children: the sea lions at the port, the chairlift on Cerro San Antonio, trails in the Arboretum Lussich, Casapueblo at sunset and an ice cream on the rambla.
• Rainy days: Punta Shopping has shops, food and indoor entertainment, and a home day with games and a slow lunch is no failure.

Accommodation matters with children. Our ocean-view apartment on Playa Mansa, one block from the sand, has a kids' room with two single beds and a crib, a full kitchen and a building pool, which makes the quiet hours of the day easier. For choosing a base, see where to stay in Punta del Este, and for timing your trip, our guide to the best time to visit.