Sea lions
On the rocks.
Priscilla Jordão — CC BY 2.0 · Jimmy Baikovicius from Montevideo, Uruguay — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ismael Cordero — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sandra Pineda Arce La Torre / Alfredobi — CC BY-SA 3.0
A small rocky island in the ocean off Punta del Este, a nature reserve home to one of the region's biggest colonies of sea lions and fur seals, thousands of them lying on the rocks, topped by a tall white lighthouse, one of the tallest in South America. Landing is not allowed, to protect the animals, so visitors circle close by boat, watching sea lions bask, squabble and swim, hearing their loud calls, while gulls and cormorants fly past. Trips leave Punta del Este harbour and take about two hours, and on the way you may meet dolphins and, between July and November, southern right whales passing near the coast. The sea can be rough and trips are cancelled in high winds, so bring seasickness tablets and a jacket. Punta del Este is very busy and pricey in summer, December to February, and very quiet the rest of the year.
On the rocks.
Among the tallest.
July to November.
About 10 km south-east of the Punta del Este peninsula in the Atlantic
No, the island is protected, so boats circle close by to watch the sea lions without landing.