There are two main surf areas in the country of Uruguay. The closest to the airport and most accessible is the Punta Del Este and La Barra area. We crossed over the Rio Del Plata from Argentina and started our Uruguayan journey at a mansion that was converted to a bed and breakfast. The Hotel La Bluette is an impressive accommodation to say the least. It boasts its own pizzeria (Filipo’s), a private swimming pool, a personal patio outside the room, an incredible breakfast and last but not least, a very attentive staff that is very helpful with everything; from maps, directions, suggestions, history lessons…etc. The owner, Hugo, is very knowledgeable and interesting and is great company while eating or relaxing in the entry of the hotel.
The hotel has Italian architecture, with a beautiful patio to eat breakfast in the summer and an enclosed dining room for the winter. The furniture is beautiful, the marble work ornate, and the rooms are spacious. There is ample parking and one of the best aspects of this hotel is that it is right across the street from some of the best surf spots in Uruguay. Playa Montoya is directly across the street, and Posta Del Cangrejo, which was my favorite point break in the area, is within a 3 minute drive. The hotel is family friendly. They provided a crib for our baby, and our room had two rooms, so we had a little privacy and the kids had their own space. The food here is very high quality. Great coffee, eggs, bread, freshly squeezed orange juice. The beds here are also among the most comfortable we have ever been in. When we fell asleep here, we stayed asleep until it was time to wake up. Getting a good night’s sleep on vacation makes all the difference when you have a packed schedule. They also let us use their beach gear, chairs and beach umbrellas. Not only are they right across the street from the surf, they are also very close to the downtown are where there are shops and restaurants.
La Barra is about 15 minutes away from Punta Del Este, is it is a really nice, calm and relaxing area that is close to the raging party scene in PDE, but far enough to have a relaxing time. We preferred La Barra because the parking situation, mellow vibes and sleepy surf town feel that it has. The beaches are wide open and there is plenty space to hang out. It is the polar opposite of Punta Del Este while being right next door. This part of Uruguay is beautiful, with many options for diversion, beach combing, eating and shopping.
You can visit Hotel La Bluette’s website here.
