Luxuries - natural and material - that can only be experienced in the exclusive Uruguayan resort
In Punta Ballena, watching the sunset is a must. The Hotel Art Spa Las Cumbre has a great viewpoint. Photo: Diego Lima. With practically unparalleled foreign investment in the region, Punta del Este has become a cosmopolitan city brimming with luxury offerings for visitors from all over the world. Touring the eastern peninsula and its surroundings reveals a persistent offering of services and activities to enhance your life. But there are also natural luxuries, those that don't cost a cent and fill your heart with beautiful images. For those strolling along its coasts this summer, we've compiled a bucket list of things to do at least once in your life that can only be found in Punta del Este. The peaks of La Ballena and the best tea in the 5 Punta Ballena is the quintessential viewpoint in the East. No one leaves the Uruguayan resort without watching the sunset from the Casapueblo terraces. However, the beauty of this eastern tip doesn't end there, and visitors' adventurous spirit gives them the option to explore more and see the landscape better. At the Solanas complex roundabout on Route 12, right at the entrance to Punta del Este, there's a sign pointing inland that says Las Cumbres. The road turns into a winding route through an area called Cumbres de la Ballena, because geographically it's a continuation of the peninsula of the same name. Among pine forests and dense vegetation, the ascent continues, and the view of Laguna del Sauce extends until reaching the maritime horizon at the top. There's the Hotel Art Las Cumbres, listed as one of the best in the world and with almost a quarter of a century of history. A must-see vantage point, especially at sunset, and with the added bonus of housing a beautiful restaurant that begins to run out of reservations after 5:39 p.m. The afternoon tea menu is a true luxury: a menu from Tealosophy by Inés Bertón served on antique porcelain and English silverware, a welcome glass of champagne, and a tasting of mini sandwiches, warm sweet and savory puff pastries, a basket of toast, and a slice of cake of your choice, all for US$14 per person. There's a children's option for US$24, and dinner is also available: dishes start at US$XNUMX. A must-try at least once. The Vik experience
If you're not staying at the hotel, you can also enjoy the experience by going for dinner or spending a day enjoying its facilities. Photo: Courtesy of Estancia Vik. Few places better exploit the beauty of Punta del Este than the luxurious Playa and Estancia Vik resorts, owned by Norwegian businessman Alexander Vik. Located in prime spots on the eastern map, they elevate the category of hotel infrastructure in Uruguay to unthinkable levels. Playa Vik is located in La Mansa de José Ignacio, with a privileged view of the sunset, which in those latitudes is a veritable painting of pink and orange brushstrokes. It consists of a series of cabins with garden terraces, a restaurant with exquisite decor, and a pool that seems to merge with the sea. Estancia Vik is located in the countryside and is a colonial-style mansion with all the luxuries of a first-class hotel. There is a polo field there, and matches are held there in the summer. Paying for a room in a hotel of this kind costs from $2900 per night during high season and from $2300 during off-season. However, for those who want to enjoy this wonderful spot, there is an option: you can book a dinner reservation with a privileged view of the sunset at the Playa Vik restaurant. The meal—another luxury for discerning palates—costs $100 per person and includes five courses and three dessert options. Estancia Vik offers a "full day" option for $350, which includes access to all the hotel's amenities without being a guest. A once-in-a-lifetime experience: The sculpture park
Unmissable and little-known place to visit: the Atchugarry Foundation Sculpture Park, located in El Chorro The countryside in Punta del Este has captivated many owners who did not hesitate to acquire huge plots of land far from the beach but surrounded by a charming environment. For those who visit the city, however, there are not many opportunities to enjoy its fields simply because almost everything is private property. A nice outing for children has always been the Lapataia ranch, 5 kilometers inland. But for a few years now there is a must-see and little-known place to visit: the Atchugarry Foundation Sculpture Park. Located in El Chorro, three kilometers from the sea on Route 104, the park is free to enter and is open every day from 10 a.m. to 21 p.m. A walk through the park can take an hour and a half, and among the 57 sculptures scattered throughout the park and surrounding a lake are works by Gyula Kosice, Frank Stella, and the host, Pablo Atchugarry, among many other artists. In addition to enjoying a walk in the open air, there is an auditorium on the grounds and a recital is offered every week. This summer, Rubén Rada and the Sodre Ballet were there, among other shows. Dawn on the peninsula Although in recent years the most promoted part of Punta del Este has been the route to José Ignacio, the peninsula has a charm that transcends the seasons. Its low houses surrounding the lighthouse, its small squares and picturesque buildings retain the aura of a quiet, family-friendly summer village. From stop 3 of La Mansa to the famous Los Dedos beach, at stop 1 of La Brava, the entire perimeter is occupied by a two-tone path that is a perfect walk to look at the sea and listen to the waves, go out on a bike, skate or run. Trekking in the Lussich Arboretum
A bit of trekking? Yes, and what better way to do it than in the Arboretum Park. It is true that the beach is always the main attraction of a coastal destination. But there is also magic in the forests of the East and it is worth exploring them. The Lussich Arboretum, one of the largest forest reserves in terms of variety of species in the world, is an unmissable place to experience nature in Punta del Este. Located at the foot of the Sierra de la Ballena, the park offers the possibility of hiking through its 190 hectares of extension, literally through the middle of the forest, spotting birds and enjoying the total silence. The scent of eucalyptus invades visitors and the viewing points make it possible to get the best postcards of the resort. Snacks in the port The stalls in the port of Punta Del Este are ideal for buying seafood. All the ports of tourist cities are an attraction in themselves: luxury yachts, original sailboats and a good handful of restaurants that offer the catch of the day for exorbitant prices usually make up the port landscape. In the case of Punta del Este, there is an extra luxury to discover: on the sides of the dock where tourists embark for Isla Gorriti or Isla de Lobos, there is a market with the best seafood in the area to cook at home. The stalls have been there for decades, although it was only four years ago that they opened their own premises specially designed for them. The oldest of all, El Gaucho, has been selling seafood in Punta del Este for 60 years. Its owner is called Gardelito Costa, although everyone knows him as El Gaucho and they respect and love him for being the biggest in the market. A real luxury is to buy a bag of cooked shrimp (1/2 kilo for US$ 13) or octopus (1/2 kilo for US$ 6), some seasonings and some drinks and sit on the terrace of the port to watch the boats leave. José Ignacio full day
