Things to see and do East Coast

The park is run by military personnel who have been managing this magical place for years and are very welcoming. At the entrance, a magnificent tropical greenhouse built in 1939 and nicknamed "the Champs-Élysées" (who knows why!) contains more than 90 tropical plants as well as aquariums including water lilies and papyrus. A wildlife refuge and a large aviary hold a number of tropical birds including the superb federal, cacatua, Australian cotorita , naranjero, toucan... Baboons, wild cats(gatos de monte), turkeys, horses, donkeys, coypu and ostriches also live there in semi-liberty.

This museum reveals all the richness of the Uruguayan aquatic fauna. Discover the skeletons of whales or orcas, corals, lobsters or spider crabs, mollusks and seahorses. Lots of information. Everyone will be able to marvel at the 2.60 m sunfish caught in Solanas, or the 19 m whale skeleton... In three aquariums, corals, octopuses, snails and starfish will lead you in their aquatic ballet. Finally, we will discover - with photos and texts - the history of Piriápolis, Punta del Este and Pocitos (Montevideo).

The Los Boots (or pescadores) is the most traditional of Punta del Diablo beaches. This is where fishermen's boats leave. A family beach, it is protected by rocks and is next to a pier.

The Viuda is the most wild of the three beaches of Punta del Diablo. This thicker sand beach, and 4 km long, ends at the lighthouse level (which gave its name to the beach). More popular by young people, especially the summer with makeshift bars scattered along the coast. Beautiful waves, but caution because the current is strong!

The playa del Rivero begins after the Playa de los Boots and ends at the rocky tip of Rivero, border with the Parque Nacional Santa Teresa (note: The beauty of the first beach in the park, one of the most beautiful in the country. It's actually a closed bay where the waves make the surfers happy. Enjoy the beautiful sunsets.

The beaches of Piriápolis extend over nearly 25 kilometers of coastline. Heading west, you will find some of the most pleasant beaches for swimming (from Playas Grande to Playa Solis), often protected from the wind. To the east of the city, you can walk to Playa San Francisco and its Punta Fría, Playa Punta Colorada, Punta Negra with beautiful landscapes of rocks and nature.

Playa del Centro: Along the rambla, it is one of the most popular, because it combines proximity, amenities, water sports, shopping and bathing.

Playa Grande, which paradoxically is quite small, has naturally formed pools between its rocks, ideal for swimming and diving.

Playa Hermosa with its fine white sand, thanks to its orientation, is protected from the evening wind. Some hamburger and ice cream stands in the afternoon.

Playa Verde, 5 km from the city, is a haven of tranquility; half sand, half rocks, it is surrounded by mountains. Remember to bring your lunch and bottled water, as there are no shopping areas or restaurants in the area.

Playa de las Flores (at km 89 of Ruta 10) extends from Arroyo Las Flores to Arroyo Tarariras. It is a family-friendly, quiet place where you can also fish.

Playa Bella Vista is quiet, bordered by nature, small pebbles and sandy gullies. Less pleasant for swimming, unless you bring beach shoes.

Playa Solís, to finish on the west side, discover peace and fishing on the Arroyo of the same name.

Montoya.The surfers' beach. Lots of wind in the afternoon. Beware of rocks. Lifeguard services.

Bikini.In summer, the party is in full swing on this beach where it is not uncommon to run into celebrities and paparazzi. The DJs arrive around 5pm and the festivities go on until the early hours.

Manantiales.Beautiful beach located near restaurants, art galleries and decoration stores.

La Barra.At the mouth of the Maldonado River, overlooking the Leonel Viera Bridge, this is a quieter beach with finer sand.

A red, ochre and yellow geological concretion sculpted by erosion, the Valle de la Luna is a set of pointed mounds, some of them quite imposing, crisscrossed by regular rain flows, which by their aspect and their mineral panorama remind us a bit of lunar landscapes. Be careful not to get lost because one quickly loses his way. A local hippie guide who lives in the forest with his wife and children will show you the secrets. He will gladly invite you to take a mate in his gnome house. A nice discovery.

Laguna José Ignacio is a privileged place to observe the local fauna and flora. Visitors can admire a wide variety of bird species, such as flamingos, swans, herons and roseate spoonbills. Boat and kayak tours allow visitors to discover the diversity of this fascinating fauna. In addition, the site is also famous for its waves generated by the Atlantic Ocean, making it a popular spot for surfers, especially at El Pepe, a coastal point located at the mouth of the lagoon.

Largest of the coastal lagoons of the country, the Laguna Negra enjoys a superb natural environment. It is a very peaceful place dedicated to the observation of birds and flamingos. Hills covered with low foliage trees delight the walker. The walk can be done on foot from Punta del Diablo or on horseback. Many other smaller lagoons border this exceptional ecosystem: lagunas Verde, Blanca, del Bicho, which can be interesting to discover if you are motorized (or by kayak). Superb sunsets.

This park for relaxation and picnic deserves a visit, if only for its 5-metre high waterfall.

This hill rises 250 meters above sea level. It is possible to climb to the top of the hill, but part of it can only be done on foot. On the way, we will stop at the Fuente del Toro, a mineral spring dominated by a statue of a bull that is said to be the work of a student of Rodin. These springs are said to have therapeutic properties! Then, you take the stairs dug in the rock to reach the top, where a superb panoramic view awaits you. The path is marked by arrows on the rocks.