The lighthouse
On the rocks.
Jimmy Baikovicius — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Lorisstragliotto — CC BY-SA 3.0 · No machine-readable author provided. Tano4595 assumed (based on copyright claims). — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Jimmy Baikovicius — CC BY-SA 2.0
A slender stone lighthouse on a rocky point in the small village of José Ignacio, built in 1877 to guide ships along the dangerous rocky coast, flanked by wide sandy beaches on two sides: calm sea on one, ocean surf on the other. Once a simple fishing village, José Ignacio is now one of South America's most exclusive resorts, yet it has kept its quiet character: sandy streets, low houses and small restaurants, with no towers or big crowds as in Punta del Este. Visitors climb the lighthouse stair at permitted times to the top balcony for views of the village, beaches, rocks and ocean. People sit on the rocks around it at sunset, and whales may be seen from shore in winter and spring. Near the village are Laguna José Ignacio and the round bridge over Laguna Garzón. Punta del Este is very busy and pricey in summer, December to February, and very quiet the rest of the year.
On the rocks.
Calm and surf.
From the rocks.
José Ignacio point, about 40 km east of Punta del Este
Yes at permitted times for a small fee; hours differ between summer and winter, so check locally.