The Hand, at Playa Brava

Driving in Uruguay guide

The whole coast, stop by stop.

It’s 133 km on the Interbalnearia highway. You can drive it straight through in a couple of hours, but the road has stops worth making: a hill overlooking the bay, a century-old forest and the most famous sunset in the country.

  • Distance133 km
  • Approx. time2 h 15 min
  • 2 tolls · $ 428 one way

The road, stop by stop

Kilometers from our office (La Paz 1319). Approximate times, without stops.

When to set off. In high season, especially on weekends, the Interbalnearia can get busy. Before you set off, check Waze or Google Maps: they show live traffic and the best route at that moment.

  1. km 20

    Carrasco Airport

    If you’re flying in, pick up the car here: you’re already on the highway and don’t have to cross Montevideo.

  2. km 32
    Pando toll · $ 214, paid when you return the car
  3. km 81
    Solís toll · $ 214, paid when you return the car
  4. km 100
    Piriápolis

    Piriápolis

    Short detour

    A waterfront promenade on the bay and the Argentino Hotel, from 1930. Drive up Cerro San Antonio for a view over the whole bay.

  5. km 121
    Lussich Arboretum

    Lussich Arboretum

    Short detour

    A forest with trees from all over the world, planted since 1896 on the hills of Punta Ballena. It has trails and sea viewpoints.

  6. km 122
    Casapueblo, in Punta Ballena

    Casapueblo, in Punta Ballena

    Carlos Páez Vilaró’s white sculpture-house, hanging off the cliff. The museum opens from 10 am until sunset, which is the best time to go.

  7. km 133

    Punta del Este

    You made it. Below: what to see and where to leave the car.

PandoSolísMontevideoPunta del Este
See all of Uruguay’s tolls

When you arrive

  • The Hand, at Playa Brava

    The Hand, at Playa Brava

    The fingers rising from the sand, by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal (1982). The must-have photo of the trip.

  • The port

    The port

    Sea lions come up to the pier when the fishermen return. Boat trips to Isla de Lobos leave from here.

  • Where to leave the car

    Street parking is currently free. Maldonado’s local government has announced paid parking on the peninsula starting in summer 2027. In January the peninsula fills up: arrive early.

Choose your car

Lowest daily rates of the upcoming seasons: they vary with the dates. You’ll see the exact total when you choose yours.

See the whole fleet

Explore Uruguay at your own pace

For this trip

A same-day round trip is about 266 km. A 1-day rental includes 150 km and a 2-day rental 300 km; from 3 days mileage is unlimited.

Book your car
  • Everything is closeUruguay is small: from Montevideo, Punta del Este is just over 2 hours away and Colonia 2 h 30. In a few days you can combine coast, countryside and city.
  • Your own paceStop wherever you like, change plans on the go and reach places buses don’t.
  • Hassle-freePick up at the office, the Airport, the Port or Tres Cruces. The car has an electronic toll tag and from 3 days mileage is unlimited.

More getaways

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Before you go

What must be in the car

  • Your valid driver’s license, the physical card (local or foreign).
  • Your ID card or passport.
  • The car’s documents (a copy of the registration and of the insurance policy): they’re already in the car, don’t take them out.

Driving without fines

  • Low beams always on. On highways they must be on day and night.
  • Zero alcohol. The limit is 0.0 g/l for all drivers.
  • Speed limits. The general highway limit is 90 km/h, but signs show where it goes up or down along the way. Waze also shows the limit for each stretch and warns about speed cameras: it’s the app that works best for this.

Fines and the deposit

Traffic fines are sent to us, and local governments take about 15 to 20 days to notify us. That’s why the deposit stays held on your credit card for that period after you return the car. If a fine arrives after the return, it’s charged to the deposit.

Renting an electric car?

You can also make this trip in an electric car. Good to know:

  • Charging on the roadSeveral apps show public charging points, and some let you pay for the charge from your phone. UTE’s app is UTE Mueve, with points all over the country.
  • Emergency cableThe car comes with a cable of about 2 kW to plug into a Schuko outlet rated for that power. It charges slowly: it’s to get you out of a jam.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons. Some photos are cropped.

Coolcaesar (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Ricardo Freitas (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Marcelo Campi (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Wagner T. Cassimiro "Aranha" (CC BY 2.0) · Andrés Franchi Ugarte (CC BY-SA 3.0)