answer to the question: anywhere to stay in uruguay between brazil and argentina, with a beach?

contemplating a swim
Originally uploaded by ladelentes.

if you don't mind roughing it a bit, there's this beautiful place which is a bit remote but very nice called cabo polonio, very close to the border between brazil and uruguay. i think they may have some better accommodation now, but it used to be just made up shacks with no electricity or water. everybody just gets along and smokes pot happily etc...

much posher and overpriced, and about half way down the cost of uruguay (i.e. half way between argentina and brazil, if you go that way) is punta del este, a favourite with b-list european royalty and where you'll find the most happening nightlife, with clubs and dj's just like in ibiza

further west (closer to the capital) you have smaller resorts such as piriapolis which has a posh spa hotel (can't really see you into that!) as well as cheaper hotels, or atlantida which is small, but close enough to montevideo to have a bit more of an interesting nightlife than most sleepy resorts, as people often pop over from the capital for the weekend

between punta del este and atlantida there are a million tiny tiny towns all pretty relaxed and summery. one where the beach is truly lovely is solis, pretty windy and rocky but really lonely and natural

the best beaches for surfing and that kind of stuff are east of punta del este, where it's proper ocean. but the beaches west of punta del este are pretty as well and can be less crowded. if you go in february, that's jellyfish season, so beware the nasty bites!!!

of course you must also spend some time in montevideo, the capital (but not for the beach which is not so cool for three reasons: one, it's a big city, so not so clean, two, it's not the ocean anymore, it's a river and three, everybody fucks off from montevideo for most of the summer so there ain't a soul left!) it's worth a visit though. the downside of going in summertime is that it's almost empty, so you don't get to appreciate the crazy socializing that usually takes place, but hey, it's my town -- you must visit!

nearer argentina, and a place where you can get a ferry to buenos aires from is colonia this is a tiny colonial town (yeah, the name is a giveaway) which hasn't really got a proper beach at all, but you'll probably end up here on your way to argentina and it is nice to spend a day here, just mooching around (but no more than a day -- it really is tiny)

and that's it. the countryside is also lovely, but if you're after beaches, that pretty much sums it up

have a lovely holiday

see also: what comes out when someone asks me what there is to see at home...