3 Days in Punta del Este Itinerary: La Península, Casapueblo, La Barra, MACA & José Ignacio

Three full days in Punta del Este give you time to walk the historic Peninsula and sail to its offshore islands on Day 1, explore the forests and cliffside architecture of Punta Ballena on Day 2, and follow the scenic Atlantic highway (Route 10) through La Barra and MACA to José Ignacio on Day 3.

Day 1: La Península, La Mano, the 1860 Lighthouse, Puerto Sea Lions & Isla Gorriti

• 09:00, Playa Brava Parada 1 (La Mano) & the Rambla Circuit: Begin at Mario Irarrázabal's five concrete fingers on Playa Brava, then follow the breezy oceanfront promenade of Rambla General Artigas past the surf reef of El Emir and the rocky southernmost tip of the cape to the white 1860 Faro de Punta del Este and the sky-blue Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria.
• 12:00, Puerto Seafood Lunch & Boat to Isla Gorriti: Walk down to the Puerto de Punta del Este to watch wild South American sea lions beside the fish stalls, enjoy grilled corvina negra or a classic Uruguayan chivito, and take the 15-minute passenger launch out to pine-covered Isla Gorriti (or book a half-day wildlife excursion to the seal colony of Isla de Lobos) before watching sunset from the wooden boardwalk of Playa Mansa.

Day 2: Museo Ralli, Colonial Maldonado, Arboretum Lussich & Sunset at Casapueblo

• 10:00, Museo Ralli & San Fernando de Maldonado: Spend the morning amid the leafy courtyards and Salvador Dalí bronzes of Museo Ralli in Beverly Hills, then continue ten minutes inland to historic Maldonado to visit the 1771 Cuartel de Dragones and the 1800 Torre del Vigía.
• 15:00, Arboretum Lussich & the Sun Ceremony at Casapueblo: Head west to Punta Ballena to walk the shaded eucalyptus and pine trails of Arboretum Lussich, drive out along the whale-back ridge of the Sierra de la Ballena, and arrive at Museo Taller Casapueblo an hour before dusk for Carlos Páez Vilaró's Ceremonia del Sol.

Day 3: La Barra Undulating Bridge, MACA Sculpture Park, José Ignacio & Laguna Garzón

• 10:30, Puente Leonel Viera, La Barra & MACA in Manantiales: Cross the twin roller-coaster spans of the Puente de La Barra over the Arroyo Maldonado and spend two hours exploring the monumental outdoor sculpture park and Carlos Ott-designed timber galleries of MACA (Fundación Pablo Atchugarry) on Route 104.
• 14:00, José Ignacio Lighthouse & the Circular Bridge of Laguna Garzón: Continue twenty minutes east along Route 10 to José Ignacio for a wood-fired beach lunch, climb the 1877 lighthouse, and drive ten minutes further to walk across Rafael Viñoly's ring-shaped Laguna Garzón Bridge.