About an hour and a half yet east of Punta del Este is a 180km (112-mi.) stretch of coast lined with a string of delightful towns. The largest is La Paloma (pop. 3,500), founded in 1874; known for its lighthouse and traditional architecture; and popular with families and seniors though also offering plenty to do for holidaymakers of all ages, and a lagoon just off the beach that’s wonderful for birding and other ecotourism. Another very worthwhile stop along here is a magical cape called Cabo Polonio (pictured here), prized for its tranquility, golden sands, deep-blue waters, and Latin America’s most important sea lion reserve. There are no roads in – you get here through the shifting sand dunes on foot, horseback, or 4×4. Development is minimal – just a village of barely 100 residents with a few cabins, guesthouses, and a grocery store or two, with the highest construction being its 144-year-old brown-brick lighthouse, whose 136 steps can be climbed by visitors for great views over the village and coastline. There’s also plenty to see and do farther inland, including the charming capital town, also named Rocha, a palm forest, and low-lying hills great for hiking and ecotourism.
Read more in our post Uruguay´s "Gold Coast" Is a Holiday Paradise.
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