La Paloma - Uruguay

La Paloma is a small beach resort on a cape in the SE of Uruguay,
270 Km from the capital, Montevideo, and 110 Km from Punta del Este.

Located in Rocha, the province that has the greatest diversity of landscapes, wildlife and history, offers you a variety of activities and tours to enjoy. Along its coastline you will find astonishing beaches where tourists from Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil relax on summer months (Dec, Jan, Feb). Its greatest value is the coastal lagoon systemthat host exclusive fauna and vegetation which makes part of a world protected area and national parks. Equally attractive is the historical legacy that deeply marked this region before and after the conquerors’ ages.

La Paloma began as a reference’s point for ships that sailed from and towards Montevideo and Buenos Aires. Numerous shipwrecks around the area caused the lighthouse to be the first building in town. Since that moment a fishermen and tourist village developed around the cape. Nowadays 4000 people live in La Paloma all year round being the main Atlantic resort in the country. It provides great areas for aquatic sports, cycling, horseback riding, ecotours and more.

Migratory animals of all kind arrive to town every year in different seasons: whales, sea lions, dolphins, penguins, flamingos, beach plovers are only the most popular.

How to get to La Paloma

Once at Carrasco International Airport in Montevideo, you can either rent a car or take a taxi to Tres Cruces bus terminal. Highly frequent buses leave to La Paloma and Punta del Este from there. Most of the people arrive to Uruguay from Argentina taking a ferryboat to the charming Uruguayan city of Colonia and from there to Montevideo in a couple hours bus ride. You can also fly from Argentina to Punta del Este and then take a one hour bus ride to La Paloma. The price of a Montevideo-La Paloma bus ticket is around U$S 15 and the trip takes less than 4 hours. From Brazil is possible to take buses from Sao Paulo, Florianopolis or Porto Alegre to the border city of Chuy. Once there, many buses leave to La Paloma (one hour away).

The weather in La Paloma

Uruguay goes through four well defined seasons. Precipitation is evenly distributed along the year so no rainy or dry season can be distinguished. The rainiest season is autumn (Mar.-Jun.) with one or two rainy days per week. In summer the average temperature is 23ºC (76ºF) and due to Brazil Current sea temperature is warm. In winter (Jun.-Set.) temperatures go down to 12ºC (54ºF) and sea water cools down. But it is in winter when whales and penguins reach the Uruguayan coast to turn this place in a surreal experience.

What to do in La Paloma

Whale watching

A unique experience with these magnificent South Atlantic mammals that reach our coastline from June through November. It is amazing how quiet they show, almost reaching the shore and rolling with the waves.

Area tours

Another opportunity of getting to know the region is taking full day or half day tours to Sierras de Rocha, Monte de Ombúes (Phytolaca dioica), palm tree fields (Butia capitata), sand dunes, coastal lagoons, and wetlands that own one of the highest bird diversity in the world (flamingos, swans, kingfishers, ducks, etc.). The SE of Uruguay is a Protected Area of the United Nations program.

A day in the countryside

Take a day doing traditional "gauchos" duties like horse rides, barbecues and "mate" (South American tea). There is no better way of enjoying the "green rolling hills".

Sport fishing

The abundance of fish calls for intense moments on either on board or from the shore. Nightfishing at the beach is popular in summer.