Punta del Este

Punta del Este on the map of Uruguay

Punta del Este is a city in Uruguay. It is located about 140 kilometers east of Montevideo in the department of Maldonado in the immediate vicinity of the eponymous capital of the department.

Geography

The resort is located at the extremity of the mouth of the Rio de la Plata partly on a peninsula at the imaginary extension of the front tip of the island is the dividing line between Rio de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean. This location Punta del Este, which is mostly surrounded by sandy beach, boasts two different stretches of coastline. On the southwest side on the banks of the Rio de la Plata called Playa Mansa is located, while can be found on the Atlantic coast in the east of Playa Brava, prevails at the much rougher seas and surf. Other sections on the beach facing the Atlantic side of the Playa El Emir and the Playa de los Ingleses.

Across from Punta del Este approximately at the level of the peninsula located in the Rio de la Plata at a little distance the Isla Gorriti. It is an uninhabited but touristy developed island with an area of ​​21 ha, which is a popular attraction for water sports. Prior to the Atlantic coast in the east of the peninsula is also 12 kilometers from a 41 acre island, the Isla de Lobos located. This is home to a large colony of sea lions, the goal of many offered at the port of Punta del Este excursions by boat every day.

The appearance of the city is on the coast by high-rise buildings, in hotels and apartment houses usually dominates. Lie immediately behind the coastal road many villas in a park setting. In order, in its anterior part, the peninsula no high-rise buildings available and accredited, with the Rambla Grail. Artigas coastal road. This is used during the evening sunsets regularly the population as a meeting place to observe this spectacle of nature.

Sea lions on Isla de Lobos

Isla Gorriti

Skyline of Punta del Este

Climate

History

Punta del Este was officially means of classification in the category " Pueblo " and the result of private initiative on July 5, 1907 by legal decree ( Ley 3186 ) - on the same day as the towns of Cerrillos ( Canelones ) and Curtina ( Tacuarembó ) - founded. On 2 July 1957, the status is " Ciudad " awarded Punta del Este by Law No. 12,397.

Population

In the 2011 census, 9,277 inhabitants were counted in Punta del Este, of which 4,406 male and 4,871 female.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay

Tourism

The population from just under 20,000 multiplied in the three-month peak tourist season from mid-December to mid-March. Total annual visit 600000-700000 tourists the city, of which the majority comes from Argentina. The rest comes from Uruguay himself, the south of Brazil, other Latin American countries, and increasingly from the U.S. and Europe. Punta del Este is used particularly as an attraction of the South American celebrities and wealthy clientele, which is also reflected in the compared to the rest Uruguay considerably higher cost of living.

Due to the strong form of the season so does the economic activity in the local summer months considerably. Numerous shops, restaurants and other businesses open only during this time.

Culture and sights

Landmark of Punta del Este " Los Dedos " ( the finger ), an approximately five meters wide and three meters high stone sculpture in the shape of a hand, peaking at one of the beaches from the sand. Distinctive buildings in the city are also located on the peninsula in 1860 by Tomás Libarena built 45 meter high lighthouse, and also found on such Iglesia de la Candelaria, a company established in 1941 Catholic Church. In the area worth seeing is the location in Punta Ballena extravagant, Casa Pueblo -called former home of artist Carlos Páez Vilaró, where a museum and an art gallery are housed. Not far away, also located in Punta Ballena, is also the Arboretum Lussich. In addition to state casinos there are in Punta del Este is a large American casino at the same time the largest hotel " Conrad " in the city. Here were large and poker tournaments. Regularly in Punta del Este also finds a Festival Internacional de Cine de Punta del Este place called Film Festival, whose 15th edition was held in March 2012. Another regularly organized cultural event is the International Jazz Festival of Punta del Este, which premiered in 1996.

" Los Dedos "

Hotel " Conrad "

Casa Pueblo

Iglesia de la Candelaria

Sports

Punta del Este was 5 December 2010 Ausrichtungsort the full distance triathlons "Iron Punta 2010" with an international group of participants from more than 200 athletes from nine different nations. In addition, running a marathon with international participation in the city is carried out annually since 2008. With the Torneo Merryl Lynch a golf tournament with the participation of international top athletes will also be held on site. Punta del Este was repeatedly milestone of the Whitbread Round the World Race. In the season 2014/2015 a round of the Formula E is to be held on December 13, 2014 in Punta del Este.

Infrastructure

Education

Punta del Este has with the established in 1973, located in Barrio Pine Beach Liceo de Punta del Este on a secondary school ( Liceo ).

Traffic

The city has over the located nearby, opened in 1986 Airport Capitán de Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo International Airport terminal to international air traffic. Also located directly in the city near the Aeropuerto Internacional El Jagüel. There is also a ferry service across the company Buquebus from Buenos Aires to Montevideo. From there, Punta del Este is then accessible within the individual road transport or via one of the two bus lines that serve the city several times a day. In addition, the town has a marina which is not suitable for larger vessels. This has the consequence that about cruise ships disembark their passengers for a day trip to the country, while they are close to the Isla Gorriti anchor.

City ​​council

Mayor ( alcalde ) of Punte del Este is since May 2010 Martin Laventure.

Others

In 1986, Punta del Este hosted the Uruguay Round that led to the creation of the World Trade Organization later. From 15 to 20 November 2010 was Punta del Este hosted carried out in the local Hotel Conrad 4th Conference of the Parties (CoP ) of the World Health Organization ( WHO) adopted in 2003 to implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco. From 29 October 2012 to 1 November 2012 in Punta del Este at the Hotel Conrad the Second Conference on Agricultural Research for Development ( Segunda Conferencia sobre Investigación Agropecuaria para el Desarrollo / Second Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development, GCARD II) ( GCARD 2012) instead of.