Punta del Este

Punta del Este
City
Aerial view
La Mano
Enjoy Hotel and Casino
Central Square
Church of Our Lady of Candelaria
Residential area of the peninsula
Playa Mansa
Punta del Este is located in Southern Uruguay
Punta del Este
Punta del Este
Location in Uruguay
Punta del Este is located in Uruguay
Punta del Este
Punta del Este
Punta del Este (Uruguay)
Coordinates: 34°58′0″S 54°57′0″W / 34.96667°S 54.95000°W / -34.96667; -54.95000
Country Uruguay
Department Maldonado
Founded1860
Government
 • Mayor (Alcalde)Javier Carballal (NP)
Area
 • Total
20.35 km2 (7.86 sq mi)
Population
 (2011 Census)
 • Total
12,423
Demonym(s)puntaesteño (m)
puntaesteña (f)
Time zoneUTC−3
Postal code
20100
Dial code+598 42 (+6 digits)
ClimateCfb

Punta del Este (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpunta ðel ˈeste]) is a seaside city and peninsula on the Atlantic Coast in the Maldonado Department of southeastern Uruguay. Starting as a small town, Punta del Este grew to become a resort for the Latin and North American jet set and tourists. The city has been called "The Monaco of the South", "The Pearl of the Atlantic", "The Hamptons of South America", "The Miami Beach of South America", or "The St. Tropez of South America".[1][2][3][4]

Many famous people have visited, resided or acquired vacation properties in Punta del Este and its surroundings.[5][6]

Punta del Este hosted the Whitbread Around the World yacht races from 1985 to 1994 and participated with its own yacht 'Uruguay Natural'. Punta del Este also hosted the 1967 American Summit attended by U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, and the start of the Uruguay Round of international trade negotiations in 1986 that led to the creation of the World Trade Organization in 1994. The city hosted the 2014 Formula E Championship and the Gran Premio de Punta del Este receiving national, South American and international competitions.[7]

In addition to international film festivals, gastronomy and first-class hotels, the region has protected natural reserves such as Isla de Lobos, Gorriti Island, La Barra, or the Arboretum Lussich. Popular landmarks in the area include the La Mano giant sculpture, the Santorini-styled complex Casapueblo, the Rafael Viñoly designed Puente Garzón bridge, and the Museum of the Sea.

Although the city has a year-round population of about 12,400 in winter, the number greatly expands during the summer season.[8]

  1. ^ "Punta del Este, a luxury destination in South America". Archived from the original on 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  2. ^ Cruzado, Andrea López. "Punta del Este: Where South America's Elite Kick Off the Summer". www.mansionglobal.com.
  3. ^ "Punta del Este: is Uruguay's uber-rich 'gated city' a glimpse of our urban future?". the Guardian. January 20, 2016.
  4. ^ "Punta del Este: South America's Monaco | DW | 06.03.2018". Deutsche Welle.
  5. ^ "Famosos en la Punta – la nueva Montecarlo" (in Spanish). 21 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Punta-del-este".
  7. ^ "Formula e unveils Punta del Este circuit in Uruguay". Autosport.com. 20 June 2014. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference pop was invoked but never defined (see the help page).