On this beautiful 78 degree morning we are leaving the wonderful city of Montevideo and entering Punta Del Este, the Hamptons of South America. It is the perfect day to relax at one of the many sandy beaches located in this tourist filled city.
Punta Del Este is the piece of land separating the Rio de la Plata, which we saw in both Buenos Aires and Montevideo, from the Atlantic Ocean. It is filled with miles of gorgeous beaches, upscale restaurants, luxury resorts, and vibrant nightlife. While there is a small population of 12,000 people, due to the expensive cost of living, the city is constantly filled with individuals from all over the world looking for an extravagant yet relaxing vacation. During the summer there are 400,000 people in the city.
This morning, we left the Aloft Hotel at around 10am allowing many of us to sleep in and wake up refreshed from the past week of activities. We had a quick breakfast at the hotel, checked out, and boarded the bus ready for a two hour ride to Punta del Este. There is never too much sleep on a trip like this, so the bus was silent as people napped or relaxed and listened to music. The ride was filled with beautiful views of trees, mountains, rivers, and fields filled with livestock. An extreme difference from the building filled cities we have been staying in. We even witnessed a man riding a horse down the center of the highway!
We arrived to Punta del Este just after 12. The temperature had climbed multiple degrees and since it was too early to check into our hotel rooms, we all went to the beach where we saw the famous sculpture of a giant hand emerging from the sand. There are multiple names for this piece of art constructed by Mario Irarrázabal including La Mano (The Hand), Monumento el Ahogado (Monument of the Drowning Man), Los Dedos (The Fingers), or Hombre Emergiendo de la Vida (Man Emerging into Life).
After taking a group picture with The Hand, we stopped at the hotel to drop off our luggage. It is called Enjoy Punta del Este Resort and includes a spa, a couple of pools, restaurants, shops, and a casino. Our rooms include two large beds and a balcony overlooking the ocean. We then had the rest of the day free to choose what we would like to do. Many of us grabbed a quick bite to eat then went to the beach to lay in the sun and go in the water. Another popular option was to hangout by the pool and hot tub or go shopping.
As it began to get chillier, people went out to dinner around 9pm. Many of us went to a restaurant near the hotel called Parrillada La Cava. It had a variety of food including different cuts of meat, seafood, and pasta. The majority of our group was very happy with their food. Punta del Este has many cute shops and bars, so there were plenty of options for people to do after dinner. Many of us ended up hanging out in the hotel, and some chose to go to the dance club at the hotel.
Overall, everyone has been extremely happy to arrive to Punta del Este. There are many activities to do, things to eat, and places to go. It is too bad we only have one more full day in this beautiful city!
SIE 2020, Latin America 