Uruguay Resort Punta Del Este Travel Pictures
marina, seafood, whale watching, giant hand in the sand
One of the claims to fame of the Uruguay resort Punta Del Este is La Mano -- the giant hand in the sand. But there's more! This Uruguay resort, where the Rio De La Plata meets the Atlantic Ocean, is also a good whale watching location. I came by highway from Montevideo, with stops at Piriapolis and the fabulous Casapueblo. There are direct flights from Buenos Aires Argentina, to Punta Del Este. The summer months (December, January) are high season and many hotels are fully booked by visitors, who swell the local population of 20,000. Punta has good seafood and barbecue restaurants, hotels, condos, and marinas, and is also good celebrity watching spot: Brazilian racing champion, Emerson Fittipaldi, has (had?) a home west of Punta.
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Street scene in Punta  This mid-week day, rain kept threatening but managed to hold off, though skies stayed cloudy, and few people were on the beaches that surround the downtown area shown here. There are almost as many motorbikes as cars. De-commissioned red phone booths from the UK add ambiance to the streetscape. Furniture store windows showcase high style Scandinavian and Euro designs. |
Punta Del Este garden  Most of the upscale homes in Punta, I was informed, are owned by well-known businessmen. As well, Punta draws artists from all over the world. At the time of my visit, a very large estate was being built, but no one knew the identity of the owner. The property was already surrounded by berms, cinder block and other fencing, then faced with stone; Overall, the fencing was about two feet thick and six feet high. Whoever it is certainly wants privacy! |
Punta Del Este Home  One of the typical upscale homes in Punta Del Este. Truth or rumour? One such home (NOT this one in the picture) is rumoured to have been owned by Evita Peron, and where George Bush Sr. once stayed. |
Home and Gardens, Punta Style  Yet another of the lovely homes and gardens in and around Punta Del Este. |
La Mano ~ The Hand in the Sand  La Mano -- the concrete fingers/ hand in the sand -- is the work of Mario Irrarazabal, a Chilean artist. La Mano is at Playa Brava. Punta is a port of call for many South American cruise ships, and La Mano is a must-take photo! |
Whale watching stand Playa Brava  A whale watching stand where the Atlantic and Rio De La Plata meet at Playa Brava, on the east side of the Punta Del Este peninsula. It's almost as if a line were drawn on the waters - very easy to see the co-mingling. This day, the waves were mostly calm, though Playa Brava is known for wild waves at times. The best beaches and people watching sites, reputedly, are some 10 km (6 miles) further east along the coast at La Barra and Bikini Beach, and are accessible by local bus. |
Barbecue grill at Napoleon restaurant, Punta Del Este  Traditional baarbecue grill at the popular eatery in Punta. this is where we s topped for lunch, just steps from the marina. |
Lunch is Served at Napoleon  On my plate, Grilled salmon with a lemon butter cream sauce, baked squash, and diced mixed vegetables. Paprika dusts the edges of the plate. Rolls were served with a spiced mayonnaise instead of butter. My companion had what I wrote down as Brodela, a grilled whitefish, and the same vegetables. A glass of white wine finished the meal. |
Sea Lions (Sea Wolf) Punta Del Este marina fish market  The sea lions at the marina had a larger friend, whom my guide called Lobo de Mar -- sea wolf -- although I am not certain this is a separate type of sea lion. In any event, these fellows hang about the waters in the little marina lagoon to catch fish scraps tossed to them by the cleaners. |
Fish Market Punta Del Este Marina  The catch of the day is cleaned and cut into market ready size in the shade of a canopy on the marina's edge. Very clean, and not at all fishy smelling, which is anathema to my nose. |
Shellfish at the Punta Fish Market  More than just fish, a variety of shellfish were being cleaned and sorted for market. |
Views from Punta Marina West to back to Montevideo  A gathering storm appeared over the Rio Del La Plata, shown here as you are looking back (west) towards Montevideo. As a few drops began falling, we headed back to the van to make the return trip to Montevideo. (I came to Uruguay by ferry from Buenos Aires, but having seen enough of the Rio de la Plata, I decided to fly back on the return trip.)
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