MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY

After leaving Montevideo, passing through residential areas, we will be driven 135 kilometres (85 miles) to Punta del Este – a fine beachside resort often referred to as the ‘San Tropez of South America’.

After leaving Montevideo, passing through residential areas, we will be driven 135 kilometres (85 miles) to Punta del Este – a fine beachside resort often referred to as the ‘San Tropez of South America’. On the outskirts of Punta del Este, our first stop is to visit Casapueblo – home and studio of artist Carlos Paez Vilaro. The unique architecture of this gleaming white building is a great attraction for photographers. Built by the artist himself in 1985, this mixture of Spanish – and Moroccan – style architecture sits on a rocky bluff overlooking the ocean. Vilaro’s works are scattered about the maze of rooms, which are approached down some narrow steps. We continue our journey to Punta del Este, seeing a selection of residential areas such as San Rafael, Cantegril, Parque Golf and Beverly Hills, where there are elegant examples of the most sophisticated architecture. We shall now visit Fundacion Ralli, a private museum of contemporary Latin American art – an impressive collection of sculptures and paintings, including works by Salvador Dalí. Next we will visit La Barra and its unique hanging bridges. We will proceed past the wide variety of fine sandy beaches such as Playa Brava, San Rafael and El Emir, to the downtown area and port. Our lunch will be served at a local restaurant, after which there will be some free time for shopping or exploring on our own. There is some moderate walking involved in this tour – including some steps, mostly at Casapueblo and the Fundacion Ralli Museum. The itinerary is subject to change due to traffic conditions.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2008 SOUTH AMERICA CRUISE