13 Best Sights in Punta del Este, Uruguay

This hamlet with a vibrant art community and some of the most jaw-dropping properties for miles is the choice beach for Punta's most well-heeled and stylish visitors. José Ignacio sits on a miniature peninsula and has beaches with both calm and rough waters. Because it's just enough outside the downtown Punta orbit, visiting is a day trip for most, but if you're an art lover, make time to visit artist James Turrell's new Ta Khut Skyspace (US$40). Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; toilets. Best for: partiers in the know; sunrise; sunset; surfing; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

The La Barra hamlet is both artistic and trendy, with a number of popular boutiques, restaurants, and nightlife spots that spring into life in January. A mostly locally patronized beach sits here, too, where the Río Maldonado spills into the ocean. Keep in mind that swimming is risky. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunrise; sunset; surfing; walking.

Locals have dubbed this trendy stretch of sand Bikini Beach. The swimwear skews a tad more daring here, where people come to see and be seen, as well as swim or play volleyball. During peak season DJs often spin through sunset. If you're looking for a party beach, this is where you want to be. Amenities: food and drinks; lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunrise; sunset; surfing; swimming; windsurfing.

The waters are calm at Punta's longest beach and one of its most popular. Good sand, shallow water, many food stands, and proximity to the center of town make it the area's most family-oriented stretch of coast. Catch good sunset views here, and take in one of the late-afternoon beach aerobics classes, too. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

The golden sand and numerous food stands here draw a young crowd that mostly stays on the beach rather than braving the rough water (brava means "rough"). Brava is one of the most frequented beaches—largely thanks to La Mano de Punta del Este, a giant sculpture with the fingers of an enormous hand appearing to reach out of the sand—where many visitors will surely be snapping photos. This work by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal gives the beach its colloquial name, Playa de los Dedos (Beach of the Fingers). Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; sunset; walking.

One of Uruguay's only two sanctioned nude beaches (the other being in Rocha, well up the coast)—look for the playa naturista ("naturalist beach") sign—sits out near the airport west of Punta Ballena and divides into a straight and a gay section. Be cool about it if you go: no cameras, no binoculars, no gawking. Amenities: none. Best for: nudists.

While this beach has fine sand, the wind and waves are strong here. Venture into the water at your own risk. You're still close to the center of Punta, meaning this beach sees many non-swimming visitors. Restaurants lining this so-called Englishmen's Beach were the spots for afternoon tea in a bygone era. Amenities: none. Best for: walking.

The wind gusts dramatically at Playa El Chileno, making this beach a favorite among windsurfers. Amenities: toilets; showers. Best for: surfing; windsurfing.

This beach, just east of Punta Ballena, can be a bit rough, with gritty sand and deep water. Chiringo catches full sun at midmorning, but shadows descend as the afternoon progresses, and the sun sets behind Punta Ballena. The wind and waves make swimming risky here. Amenities: lifeguards. Best for: solitude; sunrise.

This beach is named for an eccentric Middle Eastern emir who vacationed here and built a house near this stretch of sand. High waves make this beach popular with surfers, but somewhat dangerous for swimmers. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: surfing; walking.

Just east of La Barra beach (but still belonging to La Barra) is this stretch of sand, where a young, attractive crowd mostly stays dry but always seems to have volleyball or soccer games going. Montoya also is the site of a number of surf competitions. Amenities: lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.

A continuation of Playa Mansa, Playa Pinares has deep water and rocky sand that make this a beach you'll likely have to yourself. Expect little in the way of facilities. Amenities: none. Best for: sunrise; sunset; walking.

The famous Casapueblo museum and hotel sit above this calm beach, also called Portezuelo, at Punta Ballena. Its shallow water shielded from the wind makes it a favorite of families with small children. Great sunset views are a plus here, too. Amenities: lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; sunset; swimming; walking.