When tourists think of Punta del Este, the most exclusive seaside resort in South America and the most important in Uruguay, they think of great beaches, blue waters, luxurious residences and huge yachts in the port, as a summer destination par excellence. Located 130 km west of Montevideo, Punta del Este is ideally positioned at the meeting point of the waters of the Río de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean. However, not everything is sun, sand and sea!  Both by its geographical location and the nature that surrounds it, it is possible to discover, in just a few days, a great diversity of landscapes and activities. Mountain ranges, vineyards, olive oil mills, history, tradition, art and gastronomy combine to make Punta del Este a destination that invites visitors to enjoy all year round and where the beach is not always the only protagonist. In this article we tell you the 7 reasons to get to know Punta del Este beyond its beaches to discover other unique facets of this destination.   [caption id="attachment_14907" align="aligncenter" width="675"]7 reasons to get to know Punta del Este beyond its beaches The famous sculpture of "The hand" has become the most famous postcard of Punta del Este. / Photo: Canva Pro[/caption]  

1. Discover the city by bike

Cycling is a way to get to know Punta del Este beyond its beaches. As you go on a bike tour around the city, you can visit emblematic places and stop at strategic points where a guide will tell you the story of each attraction (in Spanish or English). Among the stops are the port, the Rambla de Circunvalación, the Peninsula's pedestrian promenade, Mansa beach with its calm waters and Brava beach with its high waves. You can also discover the history of Punta de Salina, where the anchor of the ship Ajak is located, which participated in the historic battle of the Rio de la Plata in 1939, the only one of the Second World War in South America. In front of it, the border between the Río de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean was established.    During a guided tour, you will also visit the lighthouse built in 1860 to help navigators of the Rio de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean find their way. With its 45 meters high, it is still in perfect condition and is the most historical symbol of the destination. In the region, there are also the first summer residences with architectural styles from the beginning of the last century and the Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. Finally, you will arrive at the Paseo de las Americas on the Playa Brava where you will find the famous sculpture of "The hand" by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal which represents "the man who emerges to life" and which has become the most famous postcard of Punta del Este.   Travel Tips: Enjoy a panoramic view of Playa Mansa and much more with an exciting Helicopter Ride through Punta del Este!   [caption id="attachment_14908" align="aligncenter" width="675"]7 reasons to get to know Punta del Este beyond its beaches The Church of Our Lady of Candelaria is a Roman Catholic parish church in Punta del Este, Uruguay.[/caption]  

2. Visit the Garzón lagoon 

Lagoon Garzón is located on the border between the departments of Maldonado and Rocha, which communicate via a bridge famous for its unusual circular shape and designed by Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly. It is only a few minutes from José Ignacio and since 2014 the lagoon has been declared a protected area due to its great diversity of flora and fauna. This 18 km² stretch of water is the ideal natural setting in Uruguay for ecotourism, highly recommended for tourists who love the outdoors and sports activities. Here, wind noise and dynamic tourism reign supreme. There are hiking, bird watching and flora recognition as well as non-motorized water sports such as stand up paddle, kite surfing, windsurfing and kayaking, among others.    Travel Tips: Discover even more nature spots of Punta del Este with a day tour to Cabo Polonio & Mount Ombúes!   

3. Discover the mountains and a small rural village 

Located on Route 12, only 30 kilometres from Punta del Este and surrounded by mountains, is Pueblo Edén, a small village with only 50 permanent inhabitants. In its surroundings, there are a large number of European immigrants devoted to activities related to olive trees culture and vineyards. It is a classic Uruguayan rural town where it's usual to come across more animals than people and where the only thing that passes actively is the wind. The signs invite visitors to go around without hurrying, enjoying the silence of its beaten earth streets and forgetting the stress of the city. A well-defined scenario sums up the soul of this place: a very neat square with few children, a simple chapel, low buildings, a craft stall and a small chocolate house where you can taste the best hot chocolate accompanied by a delicious slice of homemade cake.    Travel Tips: Discover one of the best wineries in Uruguay in the scenic Route 12 near the Eden Pueblo with Daytours4u   [caption id="attachment_14909" align="aligncenter" width="675"]7 reasons to get to know Punta del Este beyond its beaches The department of Maldonado is known for its landscapes and olive trees culture and vineyards activities.[/caption]

4. Walk along the route of the Vine and the Olive Trees

Only 40 minutes from Punta del Este, on the Panoramic Road 12 and very close to Pueblo Edén, there is a part of the circuit called "el camino de la Vid y los Olivos" (the road of the Vine and the Olive Trees), which allows you to discover and visit different wine cellars and oil mills, to get to know the incredible mountain landscapes of the department of Maldonado and its excellent gastronomy.  Lot 8, for example, is located at the foot of the Cerro Dos Hermanos and offers throughout the year a guided tour of the countryside, allowing visitors to learn about the production of olives and a visit to the oil mill to discover the production process, from the harvest to the bottling of the extra virgin olive oils. The visit continues with a tasting session where the main sensory characteristics are displayed and ends with a platter of cheeses and cold meats while contemplating the dreamy landscape of mountains and a small field of lavender. Many of the region's wineries open their doors to travellers. Wine tourism offers the possibility of taking a trip through the various vineyards situated in undulating hills. In Sacramonte, located in the Sierras de Carapé and immersed in the indigenous Uruguayan mountain range, Tannat (Uruguay's flagship variety), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Marselan are grown. A different experience is offered, including a visit to the vineyards, a horseback ride and the tasting of a grilled lamb or boar prepared in the traditional Uruguayan way. You can also enjoy an incredible sunset from the hillside viewpoint with an exquisite wine to relax. And for those who wish, there is the possibility of staying in modern refuges that have won international awards for their design combining comfort and durability.    [caption id="attachment_14910" align="aligncenter" width="675"]7 reasons to get to know Punta del Este beyond its beaches The road of the Vine and the Olive Trees allows you to discover and visit different wine cellars and oil mills / Photo: Canva Pro[/caption]  

5. Learn about Charrúa traditions in Pueblo Gaucho 

This summer, a unique and novel proposal was inaugurated in Uruguay: Pueblo Gaucho, a theme park that reconstructs Uruguayan history and pays tribute to its roots. It is located in a three-hectare venue, only 15 minutes away from downtown Punta del Este by car and it will remain open all year round. It recreates buildings and customs of rural life in the eastern countryside, from the XVIII century to the early XX century. It has a chapel, a hospital with period instruments, a school, a post office, a police station, a ranch house, a grocery store, a smithy, shearing sheds and even a railway station. In a tour of one and a half hours, mainly to foreign tourists, it is taught how the Uruguayan homeland was built. A novel proposal that combines nature, recreation, history and culture. Ideal to visit with the family.   Travel Tips: Want to not only sunbathe but also have an amazing experience? Daytours4u gives you the 10 recommendations for traveling to Punta del Este!  

6. Take boat trips along the Uruguayan coast 

Another way to discover Punta del Este is through boat trips. Several boats leave from the city harbor with different options. The most requested ones are the excursions to Gorriti Island and Lobos Island. Gorriti Island is a wild refuge full of vegetation 20 minutes away from the port. It is an important historical site that can be visited daily, it has two beaches and you can walk along marked trails to see the ruins considered National Historical Heritage. Another not-to-be-missed trip, both for adults and children, is Isla de Lobos, which, with its 41 hectares, is the most important natural reserve of sea lions in South America, with more than 200,000 specimens.   Travel Tips: Daytours4u gets you to navigate the Atlantic and discover the largest colony of bears and sea lions in the world with a Panoramic Navigation to Isla de Lobos in Punta del Este.   [caption id="attachment_14911" align="aligncenter" width="675"]7 reasons to get to know Punta del Este beyond its beaches Isla de Lobos Reserve is the largest colony of bears and sea lions in the world / Photo: Canva Pro[/caption]  

7. Admire the sunset at Casa Pueblo

One of the best places to watch the sunset in Punta del Este is Casa Pueblo. This is one of the most emblematic constructions in the country, designed by Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró and located on the rocky cliffs of Punta Ballena, 15 km away from Punta del Este.  Apart from admiring the impressive architecture modelled with domes, passages and tunnels that resemble the style of the Greek island of Santorini, there you can walk around its five rooms where paintings, ceramics and sculptures made in different artistic stages are exhibited. But the great unmissable of the place is to contemplate one of the most surprising sunsets. From its main terrace, each sunset represents a mystical ceremony worthy of seeing at least once in a lifetime.   Travel Tips: Enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world in the mythical Casapueblo by boat with Daytours4u.   [caption id="attachment_14912" align="aligncenter" width="675"]7 reasons to get to know Punta del Este beyond its beaches The sunset at the mythical Casapueblo is a mystical ceremony worthy of seeing at least once in a lifetime. / Photo: Canva Pro[/caption]    

 By: Gilda Selis, journalist specialized in travel. Author of the blog Mi Bitácora de Viajes and the book En Movimiento, geografía interna de una chica que viajan de acá y allá.