Punta del Este Transportation

If you have a few days for your visit to Uruguay, I recommend travel directly to the airport in Punta del Este: www.puntadeleste.aero/ at Laguna del Sauce.

Then you can go to Montevideo, (I recommend you visit in Montevideo: Old City and then travel by bus to Salto from the terminal Tres Cruces: http://www.trescruces.com.uy/innovashop/tc/contents/new_BuscarHorarios. jsp? company = & origin = 1 & destination = 69 & Submit = Search (are about 8 hours) and if you travel in hours of the day, you know landscapes of the countryside and towns.

I hope that your visit to Uruguay is pleasant and enjoyable lot.

The best way to get around is to rent a car. If you are staying at Casa Pueblo, there is nothing nearby. It is several miles to the nearest restaurant or mercado.
There are no buses after you get off the main roads.
Economy cars are under $200 for a week but fuel is expensive.

If you haven't been to Punta del Este before, you need to know peak season is between December and February. And, if you're lucky ones to find a rental car at a decent price, you will most likely be stuck in Traffic going from La Punta (Downtown) to La Barra or Jose Ignacio.

My advice...have some fun and rent a 125cc scooter from Thrifty car rental located in the heart of Downtown Punta. They run about $30 per day (which is a steal during peak season) and get up to speeds of 60mph.

On a scooter, it takes roughly 25-30 minutes to go from the marina downtown to Jose Iganico beach. Also, Punta del Este is a relatively safe city and you will find youngsters hitch hiking to and from La Barra (Punta's party scene). On a scooter, picking up a young gal with her thumb out is always an option if you ready to make a new friend.

Lastly, the best way to beat traffic through single lane road in La Barra is cut through the cars on your scooter. If you're from a big, metropolitan city like myself...there is a special feeling when looking through your rear view mirror and seeing the traffic in your dust.

Enjoy.......and don't forget to wear your helmet or you may get a ticket!

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Buquebus is the name of the ferry company that goes from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Uruguay. I made the trip several times but I have a queasy stomache so I preferred the 30 minute flight instead. The ferry lasts about 3 hours and can get a little bumpy. I would recommend taking a dramamine before the ride if you tend to get seasick.

When you go to Punta del Este, consider having a car to move around. There are not many buses in the city, and you have to wait a long time for them. There are taxis, but they are really expensive. There are plenty of rent-a-cars, but I don't know the prices since I took my own car.
There's a downside to moving around by car though. The fuel is expensive too. It costs more than a dollar per liter!!!

If you lack the time or inclination to stay in PDE, but still want to see it, consider taking a tour from Montevideo. If money is a problem, just take a bus and spend the day.
I booked a tour at my Montevideo hotel for $30USD. It took about 10 hours to check out Piriapolis, see the Casa Blanca, tour PDE and spend a few hours of free time there.
I had originally intended to work my way up the coast and spend a few days in PDE. Then I decided to take the tour and see if I wanted to stay there. I had read that it was expensive, glitzy, full of 'fat cats' and I thought it might not be my kind of place. It wasn't. The money for the tour was well spent.

The flight from BA to PDE is short and pleasant. It only takes 45' to leave the frenzy atmosphere of the big city and land in paradise. You may fly with Aerolíneas Argentinas or Pluna.

The PDE airport is 20 kms. from the city along a scenic route over the ocean.