BEACHES

Punta del Este has two beaches: Playa Brava (wild beach), to the east, on the Atlantic Ocean; and Playa Mansa (soft beach), to the west, on the Rio de la Plata. The names Playa Brava and Playa Mansa actually refer to two distinct areas of Punta del Este, containing several beaches.

Playa Brava area. Starting from the tip of the peninsula (the border between the river and the Atlantic Ocean) and heading east, the first Atlantic beach is Playa de los Ingleses, followed by Playa El Emir, which is very popular with surfers and ends at the border of the old city center to give way to Playa Brava. Then there are more trendy beaches: La Chiverta and Playa San Rafael. This beach owes its name to the terrible shipwreck of the frigate San Rafael on June 21, 1765.

Playa Mansa area. Starting from the tip of the peninsula (border between the Rio and the Atlantic Ocean) to the west, in the extension of General Artigas Avenue, you will find the port and then the following beaches: Mansa, La Pastora, Marconi and Marangatu, rather family beaches. Then there are the beaches of El Grillo and Cantegril, named after the Cantegril Country Club founded in the 1950s, and Las Delicias, where windsurfing is practiced.

To know: the monokini(topless) is not in vogue; the g-strings are on the other hand. Naturists will have a great time at Playa Chiuahua (Bahía de Portezuelo), where the practice of nudism is authorized by the department of Maldonado.