Easy Day Trips Along the Maldonado Coast

Every day trip from the peninsula heads west along the coast, east over the La Barra bridge, or inland toward Garzón. This page sorts the options by direction so you can see which stops combine.

West: Punta Ballena

Casapueblo is the destination, about 13 km from the peninsula. Carlos Páez Vilaró began the building in 1958, and today it contains a museum, a gallery, a cafe and a hotel. Doors are open daily from 10:00 until sunset. Adults pay UYU 600, residents and over-65s pay UYU 500, and under-12s are free.

Time the visit for the end of the day. A ceremony takes place at sunset every evening, with a recording of the artist’s poem, and the official site asks guests to arrive at least 40 minutes beforehand. More at casapueblo.com.uy .

East: La Barra, Manantiales and José Ignacio

You leave the peninsula over the Puente Leonel Viera, the wavy ribbon of a bridge built in 1963 to 1965 across the Arroyo Maldonado. Beyond it:

  • MACA at Ruta 104 km 4.5 in Manantiales, a free contemporary art museum that opened in January 2022. It is open Wednesday to Monday from 10:00 to 18:00 and closed on Tuesdays and 1 May. See the visits page .
  • José Ignacio, a fishing village turned resort with a lighthouse and beach restaurants such as La Huella. Opening seasons vary, so ask before you plan a meal.

Both stops lie east of the bridge, so they fit into a single day.

Inland: Garzón

The Laguna Garzón bridge, designed by Rafael Viñoly and opened on 22 December 2015, is a ring-shaped crossing between Maldonado and Rocha. It was built to slow traffic down. Bodega Garzón is in the village of Garzón, roughly an hour’s drive from the peninsula. Allow a long lunch; the two menus are UYU 3,900 and UYU 5,000 per person, tables must be booked a day ahead, and the first seating is at 12:30. The bodega’s page has directions.

How to get there

A rental car is the simplest way to link these stops. A taxi is fine for a single destination. Visitors without a car can reach the Punta del Este terminal by COT or Copsa coach from Montevideo and use taxis from there. The Montevideo guide covers the capital end of the journey.

Places that are too far

Colonia del Sacramento, Santa Teresa, Punta del Diablo and Cabo Polonio belong to other departments, far to the east or west of Punta del Este. Plan them as separate trips instead of day trips.

Read more: Multi-day trips and Sightseeing . Find guided day tours on GetYourGuide .