Punta del Diablo, a sleepy village of about 1,000 people, swells to an impressive 25,000 people during the high season (December to February) when visitors enjoy a quiet escape in a fabulously untouched area of soft sands on the Atlantic coast.
Punta del Diablo is an hour and a world away from Punta del Este, but it still has plenty of high-end dining, shopping, and lodging overlooking the rocky waters.
Due to strict building codes, no large construction projects or significant developments are permitted here. Hence, as you walk through the town’s wide-open streets, all you see are brightly coloured cabanas (cabins) and small shops selling local crafts and souvenirs.
Early morning dunes treks are popular here, but more adventurous explorers can leave the village and travel to Santa Teresa National Park, a forested seaside reserve with an 18th-century granite masonry fortress, a large campground, some protected species, and several beaches, including Playa del Barco and Playa Achiras, where surfing and windsurfing opportunities abound.
Punta del Diablo starts as a fishing village and has become a popular summer vacation destination.
Tourists, money, and developers are flocking up the coast from Punta del Este, sparking new development and higher prices in Punta del Diablo.
On the other hand, Punta del Diablo is the ideal middle ground for those who believe Punta del Este is too big and Cabo Polonio is too small.
If you need some help getting there, check out https://www.booking.com/.