max and hailey travel

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Uruguay

Punta Del Este, Jose Ignacio & Garzon

From March 13th to 16th, 2023

Day 1

  • Arrived in Montevideo, 1.5  hour drive to Jose Ignacio (Punta Del Este) 

  • Checked into Playa Vik & crashed

Day 2

  • Excited to be in Jose Ignacio, we woke up early for a morning walk on the beach. We got a feel for the sleepy beach town and why many around the world come to Punta Del Este to escape from the busy world. 

  • We walked along the beach until we came to Bahia Vik, a sister property to Playa Vik. We got massages at “The Shack” and then went for lunch afterwards in the hotel. The hotels boast art pieces all over the place, and the dining hall in Bahia Vik is no different. The ceiling is painted with a mural like bohemian and astrology theme. It’s extremely colorful, new age, and quirky. 

  • After massages and dinner we headed back to the hotel to relax at our pool. 

  • We got ready to have sunset cocktails at the fire pit at our hotel and waited until our dinner reservations at 8pm at La Olada, the only restaurant open. 

  • Dinner was delicious, and although we arrived at 8, when we left around 10 the place was packed and didn’t show signs of slowing down. 

Day 3

  • Hailey went to 10am yoga at “The Shack” and then we went for lunch again in the main dining hall at Bahia Vik. 

  • The rest of the day was spent relaxing at the pool, walking along the beach, and appreciating the beautiful homes that are tucked back into the landscape. 

  • We were excited for dinner at Garzon, in the town of Garzon - about a 20 min drive from Jose Ignacio. Garzon is run by Francis Mallman, one of our favorite chefs of all time (see also: Siete Fuegos (Miami) and 1884 (Mendoza). 

Day 4

  • We walked around the town of Jose Ignacio, although nothing opens before noon. We explored the north/east side of the beach which had a lot more beach and larger ocean waves coming in from the Atlantic. 

  • We got ready for the airport and packed our bags for Buenos Aires. We drove ~25 minutes to the airport in Punta Del Este (as opposed to flying into Montevideo originally). The PDE airport is a small one, with only 3 terminals and 1 security belt for scanning. 

Next time we visit, we plan to:

  • Eat lunch at La Huella (it is only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

  • Come in December or January when Punta Del Este is in their peak season. 

  • Spend a day wine tasting