Piriapolis ~ Travel Pictures of Uruguay
San Antonio Hill, Playa Hermosa, Punta Negra
Piriapolis, between Playa Hermosa and Punta Negra on the Rio de La Plata, is one of the most popular resort areas in Uruguay. Coming by highway from Montevideo, Route IB (a toll road in sections) takes you past Atlantida, Costa Azul, Guazuvira and Solis. East of Solis, I made a short stop at the Argentino Hotel and Casino at Piriapolis, and again at the top of San Antonio Hill. A short distance further east, I stopped at Casapueblo. From Piriapolis, it's 40 km (25 miles) to Punta Del Este. Piriapolis, reputedly a very safe community, where many homes do not have fences around them, and where residents do not even lock their doors, is also home to an old Victorian hotel, the Hotel Colon. If you're in the area, stop by; if you have time, consider staying a day or two.
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Rio De La Plata views from San Antonio Hill  San Antonio Hill (Cerro San Antonio), also known as Englishman's Hill (Cerro del Inglés), rises some 130 meters (436 feet) above river level. From the expansive lookout area at the top, stop and take in the 360 degree view, and browse at the gift shops. In this picture, El Toro Hill (popular for adventure sports like climbing) is just out of view. |
Hotel Argentino at Piriapolis  The substantial Hotel Argentino commands the riverfront at Piriapolis. Nearby, long established communities like Las Flores, Hermosa, Solis and Playa Verde are favoured holiday spots for Uruguayans. There are many holiday homes and condos in the area, as well as permanent residences. |
Beach views and boardwalk  San Antonio Hlll backdrops the beach along the river in front of the Hotel Argentino. With rain threatening, a brisk wind was blowing off the water, fanning the small waves along the river's edge. Piriaplois is no longer a sleepy town, but a thriving tourist resort, especially popular with visiting Argentinians. |
Almost at Punta Del Este Past Piriapolis, close to Punta Ballena and Maldonado, I could see the condos of Punta del Este rising above the sand and water. All along this 'coast' of Uruguay, I had the impression of the seclusion and privacy of a South Pacific island, yet with all the mod cons of a modern metropolis. Quite seductive. It's easy to see why this country and this area is so popular with retirees, not only Uruguayan, but also North American. |
Route 8 and Route 9 ~ Taking The High Road Going back to Montevideo from Punta Del Este, we took the highways (Routes 8 and 9) that wind along the mountain tops. By this time, it was mid afternoon and the skies had cleared. Uruguayans can likely tell if this picture with the divided section of the excellent highway is Route 8 or Route 9. (Leave me a comment below, thanks!) |
More Views from the Highway  Not bad for a photo taken through the side window of a moving vehicle! You can just see the edge of the highway framing the bottom. The Rio de la Plata on the Uruguay side from Montevideo to Punta is a series of scalloped bays, most of them lined with sandy beaches. |
Looking North over Farmland Again, on this toll road back to Montevideo, a photo through the window on the north side of the van shows expansive fields, here dotted with cattle.
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Near Montevideo on the way back from Punta and Piriapolis  As we approached Montevideo, the south side of the highway ran past miles and miles of sand dunes and beaches, all within steps of the road. What struck me is that many of them were deserted, at least until you got into the city proper. There, the beaches were filled with people out enjoying the sunny Friday afternoon. |
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