2025_26 Oosterdam, Punta del Este, Uruguay...

I was up 5:30 am to sail into Punta del Este. Being a tender port, we were on the first tender ashore to meet our Guide Gabriella. Our first stop was the Punta del Este Lighthouse, the adjacent Our Lady of the Candelaria Catholic Church and the Meteorological Building. Heading for the furthest point in Uruguay, we passed a number of beaches along the Atlantic Ocean…Playa Manso, Bravo, Montoya and Bikini. Gabrielle made a quick stop at Emir Beach with its shrine to the Candelaria Virgin. We stopped at The Hands, the famous sculpture of fingers emerging from the sand on Playa Brava…being there in the early morning we had the hands to ourselves. We left Punta del Este for La Barra stopping at the Wavy Bridge for photos. Passing a number of small seaside towns and crossing the Round Bridge we arrived at Jose Ignacio village to see the Lighthouse which I climbed for a panoramic view of the peninsula. Making our way back towards Punta del Este, Gabrielle stopped at MACA (Museum of Contemporary Art). This Pablo Atchugarry Foundation exhibition is dedicated to the promotion of arts and culture in Punta del Este. Atchugarry is an internationally acclaimed master sculptor. We toured the open-air museum set in a stunning natural landscape that features open-air sculptures, chapel and art exhibitions that showcase both local and international artists…It is amazing that this museum has no admission fees and you are at liberty to roam the property at your leisure…a great stop! Gabrielle returned us to the tender pier in plenty of time to enjoy a late lunch! Another nice day in Punta del Este.