Punta del Este is one of South America's most exclusive beach resorts and the largest on the Uruguayan Riviera. There are numerous golf courses, yacht clubs, casinos and lush holiday complexes in Punta del Este. The city's beaches are excellent.

Punta del Esta boasts numerous colonial buildings, as well as many modern skyscrapers. Most of the commercial galleries, restaurants, cinemas, casinos and shops are located around Gorlero Avenue, which is the city's main drag.

• There is a handicraft market on Artigas Square.
• The Hotel l'Auberge Inicio features an early 20th-century water tower.
• La Mano (The Hand) is a sculpture that depicts five human fingers partially emerging from sand. It is located on Parada 1 at Brava Beach. it is also known as Los Dedos (The Fingers) and Hombre emergiendo a la Vida (Man Emerging into Life). The sculpture was inaugurated in 1982.
• The Punta del Este Lighthouse is 45 m tall and offers excellent views over the area.
• Not far from town is the island of Gorriti. It has 2 nice beaches: Garden Port and Honda beach.

• The Roman Catholic Fátima Chapel.
• The Roman Catholic Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Parish Church of Our Lady of Candelaria) was originally established in 1911. It was replaced by the current building in 1948.
• The Jewish Templo Rafael (Rafael Temple) is the oldest synagogue in Punta del Esta. It is located on Capitán Miranda Street (calle 7).
• Sinagoga Beit Yaacov (Beit Yaacov Synagogue) is located on Calle Riso.
• The Hasidic Jewish of Sinagoga Ajdut Israel (Ajdut Israel Synagogue) is also known as Beit Jabad and it is administered by the Chabad Beit Jabad organisation.
• St. Raphael Chapel is a Roman Catholic chapel.

There are countless hotels, apartments and other holiday homes, as well as many restaurants in Punta del Este. The town is 115 km east of Montevideo.

Offshore from Punta del Este are Isla Gorriti and Isla de Lobos. The former has the best beaches, as well as the remains of an 18th century fortress, while the latter is a nature reserve that is home to a large sea-lion colony.

Punta del Esta ©Pedro Slinger

La Mano ©Mayumi Maciel

Punta del Este Lighthouse ©Natalia Zuritta

Church ©Mayumi Maciel