How to Get to Punta del Este: Laguna del Sauce Airport (PDP), Montevideo Coaches & Ferries

Situated on the Atlantic coast 130 kilometres east of downtown Montevideo and directly across the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires, Punta del Este is connected by two international airports, a four-lane coastal highway, and high-speed river catamarans.

1. By Air: Punta del Este Airport (PDP) vs Montevideo Carrasco Airport (MVD)

• Capitán de Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo International Airport (IATA: PDP, Laguna del Sauce): Located just 20 kilometres (20 minutes by car or taxi) west of the Peninsula beside Laguna del Sauce and Punta Ballena, Punta del Este's dedicated airport handles direct year-round and seasonal flights from Buenos Aires (Aeroparque AEP) and São Paulo (Guarulhos GRU). Official airport taxis, remise cars, and rental desks meet every arrival.
• Carrasco International Airport (IATA: MVD, 115 km West): Because Montevideo's main international airport sits on the eastern edge of the capital right on the Ruta Interbalnearia, travelling from MVD to Punta del Este is remarkably straightforward: you never have to enter Montevideo city traffic. Express long-distance coaches operated by COT and COPSA stop directly outside the MVD arrivals level every 30 to 60 minutes, reaching Punta del Este's main bus terminal (next to La Mano at Parada 1) in 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours, stopping along the way at Piriápolis, Punta Ballena, and Playa Mansa Paradas.

2. By Coach from Montevideo Tres Cruces & By Ferry from Buenos Aires

• From Downtown Montevideo (Terminal Tres Cruces): Comfortable Wi-Fi-equipped COT and COPSA coaches depart Montevideo's Terminal Tres Cruces every half hour from early morning until midnight, travelling east along the pine-lined Ruta Interbalnearia (IB) to Maldonado and Punta del Este in roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes.
• By Fast Ferry from Buenos Aires (Buquebus & Colonia Express): Both Buquebus and Colonia Express sell integrated ferry-plus-coach tickets from Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires: sail across the Río de la Plata to either Montevideo (2 hours 15 minutes on the Francisco fast catamaran) or Colonia del Sacramento (1 hour 15 minutes) and board a waiting dedicated coach straight to the Punta del Este terminal; check the official operator sites for current seasonal schedules.