Punta del Este: South America's St. Tropez
Punta del Este — Uruguay's glamorous resort city at the tip of the Río de la Plata peninsula — is South America's most exclusive beach destination; the contrast between the calm Playa Mansa (facing the estuary) and the wild Playa Brava (facing the Atlantic) defines the city's dual personality
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La Mano Sculpture
La Mano (the hand) — a giant concrete hand with five fingers emerging from the sands of Playa Brava — is the most iconic image in Punta del Este; the sculpture was created by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázaval in 1982 for an outdoor art festival. The sculpture has become the city's symbol and is photographed by every visitor
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Playa Brava vs Playa Mansa
Punta del Este has two fundamentally different beaches — Playa Brava (facing the Atlantic with powerful waves, perfect for surfing) on the eastern side and Playa Mansa (facing the Río de la Plata, calm and warm) on the western side; the choice between rough seas and calm estuary defines the beach experience
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Peninsula
Punta del Este is built on a narrow peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic; the high-rise apartment buildings, marina and casino give the peninsula a Miami-like character; the combination of the resort's architecture and the Uruguayan coastal landscape creates a distinctive South American Riviera atmosphere
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Yacht Marina
Puerto de Punta del Este - the largest marina in South America - is the social hub of the resort; the superyachts of Argentine and Brazilian billionaires, the yacht clubs and seafood restaurants of the marina make it the city's most glamorous public space; the marina is at its most spectacular during New Years, when hundreds of yachts gather
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Atlantic Surf
Playa Brava and the beaches east of Punta del Este - La Barra, José Ignacio, La Paloma - have consistent Atlantic swells that support a serious surfing culture; the Uruguayan surfing scene, centered on the beaches around Punta del Este, has produced internationally competitive surfers and has a distinctly local character
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Casino Conrad
Conrad Casino — Uruguay's most famous casino — is one of Punta del Este's iconic institutions; the casino complex (with its hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues) is the center of the resort's nightlife; the casino's New Year's celebration is South America's most glamorous annual party