Things to Do in Punta del Este
Punta del Este sits at the southern tip of Maldonado Department, about 130 km east of Montevideo. The peninsula has two very different coasts, and most of what you will do here follows from that: a calm bay side on the west and the open Atlantic on the east.
Playa Mansa: calm water
Playa Mansa faces Isla Gorriti on the sheltered western side. The water is calm, which makes it the beach for paddling with children, easy swimming and stand-up paddling. It is also the side to pick for sunset.
Playa Brava: surf and rip currents
Playa Brava faces the open Atlantic. Surfers and bodyboarders use it, and it is a fine beach for walking and watching waves. It has surf and rip currents (corrientes de resaca), so swim only in the zone marked by lifeguards. Some stretches have no lifeguard service at all, and a drowning occurred at one of them in February 2025. Maldonado uses green, yellow and red flags, and a black flag has been raised in storms.
Lifeguard season
Lifeguards work a season, not all year. In 2025-26 the Maldonado brigade began on 14 November, covering weekends only until December, then daily until 5 April. Dates for the next season are set by the Intendencia de Maldonado, so check with them before you plan a beach swim outside peak months. The busiest weeks are the first two of January, inside a peak that runs roughly December to February.
Boats to Isla de Lobos
Isla de Lobos lies about 8 km southeast of the peninsula and holds a colony of sea lions and fur seals, with an old lighthouse on the island. It is a protected area under a 2024 decree, and visitors may not land. The trip is boat-only: you watch from the water. Never touch or feed the animals, and keep your distance. Some operators offer a guided dive or swim with sea lions, so book only with a licensed operator.
Isla Gorriti
Isla Gorriti is about 2.5 km off Playa Mansa. Boats leave from the port and the crossing takes about 15 minutes. Sailings run through the day in high season, and the schedule shifts with the month, so check at the port. The island has beaches, walks and old cannons.
Bodega Garzón
The winery sits on Camino Arco del Sol in Garzón, about an hour’s drive inland. Lunch menus are UYU 3,900 for the Garzón menu and UYU 5,000 per person for the Fire menu, with seatings from 12:30. Book 24 hours ahead on the Bodega Garzón restaurant page .
Before you go
Many beach clubs, restaurants and some museums run reduced hours or close in the cooler months, so confirm opening times for any venue you plan around. For safety updates, the US State Department lists Uruguay at Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) for crime; check travel.state.gov before you travel.
Read more: Sightseeing in Punta del Este and Day trips . Compare boat trips on GetYourGuide .