About Uruguay & Punta del Este

Uruguay lies on the coast between Brazil and Argentina. The coastal plain boasts many beaches along the Atlantic and on the shores of the Río de la Plata. Most of the country consists of gently undulating plains crossed by long rivers with natural forests.

 

Uruguay is amongst the 10 “greenest” countries in the world, and it was ranked the 6th top country in the Environmental Sustainability Index (by the World Economic Forum and the Universities of Yale & Columbia). A mild climate, the lack of environmental pollution, the extent of sanitation, potable water, and medical care networks afford a very healthy environment for the population. It is one of the smallest countries in South America. In spite of that, it has always been the pioneer in many aspects. It was once called “the Switzerland of the Americas”. According to the United Nations, it possesses one of the highest levels of literacy in the world. It is the official host for the headquarters of Mercosur and Aladi Parliaments. It’s also one of the most economically developed countries in South and Central America (together with Chile, Argentina and Costa Rica). Two thirds of the workers in private companies are highly qualified with technical or professional education, and, according to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), it has one of the highest percentages in the world of woman graduating from college. It was the first country with 100% digital telephone lines, and with the highest amount of phones per capita in Latin America. According to “The Economist”, it is the most democratic country in South America, and the country with the second least amount of corruption in the continent.

 

Spanish is the official language, even though the teaching of English, French, Italian and Portuguese has traditionally been emphasized by all public and private schools. Most Uruguayans are from European descent, mainly Italian and Spanish. There are few racial, religious or other conflicts and public meetings are generally peaceful. The possession of guns is illegal for civilians, and death penalty was abolished in 1997, becoming one of the first countries in the world to do it. Uruguay offers better security than most locations in South and Central America.

 

Montevideo, the major city, is where the first World Cup soccer tournament was ever staged (FIFA World Cup). Played in 1930, Uruguay also became, that same year, the first Soccer World Champion in history. Visitors can still see the original stadium and probably watch local teams playing there. Montevideo has one of the biggest and oldest hospitals in Latin America (Hospital de Clínicas), and is the only city in the continent having an official center of the “Pauster Institute” of France.

 

Punta del Este was once called the St. Tropez of Uruguay, for its miles of beautiful beaches, upscale resorts, attractive nightlife, and famous summer visitors and residents. Punta has welcomed Gina Lollobrigida, Antonio Banderas, Shakira, Vinicius de Moraes, and many other international personalities. It was the first Latin American city having representation of the “Sotheby's International Realty”, and the only one having the luxurious Hilton’s brand: “Conrad”. Expensive by local standards, Punta del Este is attractively priced compared to European and US resorts. “Playa Brava” on the Atlantic Ocean and “Playa Mansa” on the Río de la Plata are the two main beaches, but all of them are crowded during the summer season (December through March). Locals use other beaches, notably “La Barra de Maldonado”, a beautiful inlet that flows from the back bay area of Maldonado out to the Atlantic. One of the city landmarks is “Dedos” (“fingers” in the sand at Playa Brava). In the off-season, the city is relaxed and resembles any resting seaside resort. Many of the restaurants and shops close, but the beautiful beaches are always open.