La Paloma
A Rocha resort town on a rocky point, with a striped lighthouse and beaches facing several directions.
Updated 2 September 2026
La Paloma sits on a rocky headland where the Uruguayan coast turns, which gives it beaches on more than one exposure: calm water on the sheltered side and open Atlantic surf on the other, so there is usually somewhere swimmable whatever the wind is doing. The Cabo Santa María lighthouse of 1874, black and white striped, stands on the point. It is the working town of the Rocha coast rather than a resort built for visitors.
The main sights
- The Cabo Santa Maria lighthouse - an 1874 striped tower on the headland.
- The multiple beaches - sheltered and open-Atlantic sand on different sides of the point.
- The surf breaks - the exposed beaches used by surfers through the year.
- The working town - a year-round settlement rather than a seasonal resort.
When to go
December to March is the summer season, with January the busiest. The wind decides which beach works on any given day. Outside summer much of the town closes.
Good to know
January prices and crowds are extreme by Uruguayan standards. Out of season a great deal is shut and the town is bleak. Atlantic currents on the open beaches are strong and lifeguards are seasonal.
Nearby
La Pedrera is east, and Laguna de Rocha is west.
What to pack for La Paloma
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Reef-safe sunscreen - High SPF that will not bleach the coral you are swimming over. Find on Amazon
- Quick-dry clothing - Board shorts or synthetics that shrug off spray and dry fast. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Quick-dry towel - A microfibre towel packs small and dries in minutes. Find on Amazon
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Where to start if La Paloma is going on the list.
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
