Punta del Este

Punta del Este, on the Atlantic coast, is the glamorous beach playground of South America, a chic peninsula resort where a forest of high-rise towers, marinas and mansions meets long beaches lapped by two waters, the calmer River Plate on one side and the wilder open Atlantic on the other. The summer haunt of the wealthy of Argentina, Brazil and beyond, it is famous for its beaches, upscale dining and legendary nightlife, and for La Mano, the iconic sculpture of giant fingers emerging from the sand of Brava beach.

What you actually see

• La Mano - the iconic giant-fingers sculpture in the sand.
• The beaches - the calm Mansa and wild Brava beaches.
• The marina and nightlife - the yachts and the legendary summer nightlife.
• Casapueblo - the striking white sculptural building nearby at Punta Ballena.

When to go

December to February, the southern summer, is the season, when the resort buzzes with beach life, glamour and nightlife, though it is also the busiest and priciest; outside summer it is quiet and many places close. It is very much a summer destination.

Honest expectations

It is a glossy, high-rise resort geared to the wealthy summer crowd, so it is glamorous and lively in peak summer but expensive and packed, while out of season it is largely shuttered and quiet. It is more about the beach-and-party scene than natural beauty or culture, sometimes likened to a South American Miami. For summer glamour and nightlife, though, it is the place; quieter beach towns lie nearby.

Nearby

The bohemian village of Jose Ignacio and the wild coast toward Brazil are nearby.