Uruguay
Punta del Este in December
☀️ SummerPleasant and some showers.
🎒 Pack: sunglasses & hat
Why December scores 9.4What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.5
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (24°C highs / 16°C lows)
- ✓Slightly humid (dew point 15.3°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~67 mm rain)
- Air quality9.6
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~8 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | Apr | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.4 Excellent | 9.4 Excellent |
| Season | ☀️ Summer | 🍂 Autumn |
| High / low | 24° / 16° | 21° / 15° |
| Rain | 67 mm | 84 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 15° | dew pt 15° |
| PM2.5 | 8 µg/m³ | 5 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Punta del Este weather-station normals. Rainfall: Punta del Este weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Family Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore Punta del EsteEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyBeach resort on Uruguay's Atlantic coast, busiest in the southern summer, known for its peninsula, the 'La Mano' sculpture and nightlife.
New Year's EveEvery year31 December every year
The peak of the summer season, with fireworks along the coast.
Why go: The resort is at its busiest from Christmas to early January; book well ahead.
Where: Beaches and the peninsula
Coming up later
Semana de TurismoDate variesHoly Week — usually March or April, date moves each year
Uruguay's week-long Easter holiday, when many locals travel.
Why go: Accommodation fills with domestic visitors.
Where: Nationwide
La Mano (Los Dedos)
A sculpture of fingers emerging from the sand on Playa Brava.
Casapueblo
The white, sculpted home and studio of artist Carlos Páez Vilaró at Punta Ballena, now a museum and hotel.
💡 A popular place to watch the sunset.
Playa Mansa and Playa Brava
Two sides of the peninsula: calm water on the bay side, surf on the ocean side.
Port and sea lions
Sea lions gather at the harbour by the fish stalls.
Isla de Lobos
An island offshore with a large sea lion colony, seen on boat trips.
Southern right whales
Whales can sometimes be seen from shore along the coast.
💡 Sightings are most likely from late winter into spring.
Chivito
Uruguay's signature steak sandwich piled with ham, cheese, egg and salad.
💡 Snack bars and parrillas
Asado
Beef and other meats grilled slowly over wood embers.
💡 Parrillas
Fresh fish
Local fish grilled or fried near the port.
💡 Port-side restaurants
Dulce de leche
Thick caramelised milk spread used in many desserts.
💡 Bakeries and ice-cream shops
Mate gourd and bombilla
The cup and metal straw used for Uruguay's daily mate tea.
💡 Craft markets
Leather goods
Uruguayan leather jackets, bags and belts.
💡 Leather shops
Uruguayan wool
Hand-knitted and woven wool items.
💡 Craft and design shops
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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