Punta del Este is a beach resort in Uruguay, located in Maldonado Department. Recently it has become one of the most important touristic hubs in South America specially for visitors coming from Argentina, but also coming from different Latin-American nations (particularly Brazil, Paraguay and Chile), from Europe and from North America.

Located in the south eastern extreme of the country, in a small peninsula which gives its name, and which is taken as conventional limit on the Uruguayan coast between the Atlantic Ocean and the Rio de la Plata. Its beaches are divided in "Mansa" and "Brava". The beaches were named this way because the first one is protected from the winds and currents' coming from the Atlantic Ocean by the Gorriti Island, resulting in very calm waters, while on the contrary, "Brava" beach presents very impetuous waves.

Punta del Este is practically linked to Maldonado city and expands extensively to the east, covering La Barra and Jose Ignacio. The city counts with 122 hotels, 80 restaurants, an international airport and a port for yachts, which can harbor up to 500 boats. Around 8 kilometers southeast of Punta del este Lobos Island is located.

The beach resort was founded in 1907. Until then, it was a small homestead. At the time of its inception , the most affluent people from Buenos Aires and Cordoba started to use it as exclusive beach resort for the summer because of its proximity to Argentina.