Laguna del Sauce Airport (PDP): Flights and Getting to Playa Mansa

The short version

Punta del Este's airport is officially the Capitán de Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo International Airport, but almost everyone calls it Laguna del Sauce, after the lagoon beside it. Its code is PDP. It sits next to the Ruta Interbalnearia at km 113, about 20 km northwest of Punta del Este, in the department of Maldonado. The terminal, designed by the Uruguayan architect Carlos Ott, opened in 1997.

It is a seasonal airport. From December to February it handles flights from Buenos Aires and several Brazilian cities. The rest of the year the schedule shrinks to a few routes. From the airport, the middle of Playa Mansa is usually 20 to 25 minutes by car, since the road reaches town from the west and the Mansa side comes first.

Routes: what flies and when

Airlines change seasonal routes every year, so treat this as a guide to what to look for, and confirm with the airline before you plan around a flight.

Through the year, the airport is listed with Aerolíneas Argentinas flights from Buenos Aires (Aeroparque) and Azul flights from São Paulo (Guarulhos). Frequencies are lower outside summer.

Summer 2026 to 2027, as announced by the airlines or reported in the aviation press:

• GOL: Buenos Aires (Aeroparque) and São Paulo (Guarulhos), three flights a week from 17 December 2026 to 28 February 2027, and Porto Alegre, twice a week from 21 December 2026.
• Azul: extra summer flights, including Campinas and Porto Alegre, and a new route from Belo Horizonte (Confins), twice a week on Mondays and Fridays from 14 December 2026 to 14 February 2027. The Belo Horizonte flights are sold through Azul's tour operator, Azul Viagens, so seats may be easiest to find as part of a package.
• Aerolíneas Argentinas: extra summer frequencies from Buenos Aires. In the 2025 to 2026 summer it also flew seasonally from Córdoba, São Paulo and Porto Alegre; check whether these return for your dates.
• Paranair: seasonal flights from Asunción in recent summers.

Brazilian visitors from cities without a direct flight usually connect through São Paulo, or fly to Montevideo and continue by road.

A practical point for families: summer flights fill early, especially around Christmas, New Year and the second half of January, when many Argentine and Brazilian families arrive for their holidays. If your dates are fixed, book the flight before anything else, then build the rest of the trip around it. Seasonal routes are sometimes announced late, so if nothing appears for your dates, check again a few weeks later, and keep the Montevideo option in reserve.

Getting to Playa Mansa

Taxi or remise. Taxis and remises (pre-booked cars with a driver) serve the airport, especially in summer. It is the simplest option with luggage. Agree the fare before you set off, or ask your accommodation for a recommended service. For late arrivals, book in advance.

Ride-hailing apps. Apps such as Uber operate in the Punta del Este area. Availability at the airport varies, and in January surge pricing can make an app ride more expensive than a taxi. Check the app before you land rather than counting on it.

Bus. Long-distance coaches between Montevideo and Punta del Este pass the airport on the Interbalnearia, and COT lists Laguna del Sauce as a stop. Services are not timed to flights and are infrequent compared with the airport traffic, so the bus suits light travellers with time to spare. Check the timetable before you rely on it.

Car hire. Rental companies serve the airport. A car is worth having if you plan to visit Punta Ballena, José Ignacio or the coast beyond, and less necessary if you will spend most days on the beach. Book ahead in summer, when cars sell out, and in the low season, when it is wise to confirm the pickup in advance.

Transfers. Private and shared transfers can be booked in advance and will meet your flight. This is the calmest option for a family arriving in the evening.

Off-season: what to expect

From March to November the airport is quiet. Expect fewer flights, shorter opening hours at shops and cafés, and fewer taxis waiting outside. Plan the onward journey before you fly: book a transfer or a car, or confirm a taxi with your accommodation.

If no flight suits your dates, Montevideo's Carrasco airport has far more connections year-round and is about two hours away by road. See our Montevideo to Punta del Este guide for buses and transfers from Carrasco.

Arriving and departing

• Immigration and customs. International arrivals clear immigration and customs at Laguna del Sauce. Carry the same document you used to leave home: Argentines can use a valid DNI or passport; other nationalities should check Uruguay's requirements with the Uruguayan consulate.
• Peak days. Around Christmas, New Year and the end of January, queues at check-in and security grow. Arrive with time to spare on departure, particularly on Sundays.
• Money. Have a card and some Uruguayan pesos or US dollars for the taxi. Our guide to money in Uruguay explains payments and tipping.

Laguna del Sauce or Montevideo?

Laguna del Sauce wins when there is a direct flight on your dates: you are on the beach within half an hour of landing. Montevideo wins on choice, price and off-season reliability, at the cost of about two more hours on the road. For travellers from Buenos Aires, the ferry is also a serious alternative; see Buenos Aires to Punta del Este.

When timing flights, keep the arrival and departure times of your stay in mind. At our ocean-view apartment on Playa Mansa, check-in is from 16:00 and check-out is by 10:00, so a mid-afternoon arrival and a late-morning or afternoon departure fit best. For the wider choice of base, see where to stay in Punta del Este.