YOU'VE CHOSEN URUGUAY. NOW WHAT?

Real Estate in Uruguay

Once in Uruguay… where to start?

Upon arriving in Uruguay, one of the first questions that arises is: where?

Montevideo seems the obvious answer: it's the capital, the largest city, the cultural and economic center of the country. I was born there. And although Punta del Este is only 120 kilometers away—an hour by car—getting to know a place truly takes time. It requires living there, walking there, and understanding it.

Montevideo has density. More people, more movement, more layers. From nightlife and cultural events to work and family life: it's where many Uruguayans live year-round. Most of the people we meet around the world come from there; it's the oldest and most traditional city in the country, where the first families were formed. It has a very distinct character, more classic, more urban, more permanent.

Punta Ballena, Punta del Este

Historically, Punta del Este was something entirely different: a summer destination. A seaside resort. A place to visit on vacation or on weekends—not a place to stay. If you ask someone from Montevideo when they go to Punta del Este, they'll probably say, "in season." It was always thought of as something temporary.

But that has changed—and everything indicates that it will continue to change.

Why Punta del Este?

Punta del Este is in full swing. As has been the case with international destinations like Ibiza and Mallorca, it was designed from the outset to welcome high-end tourism. It boasts infrastructure, services, cultural life, international exposure... all of this in balance with nature, tranquility, and privacy. It has everything it needs to be not only a place to relax, but also a place to live, work, and grow.

That was one of the key reasons that helped me make the decision to set up the studio here.

After several years of experience in Montevideo—first as a design director at a renowned studio and then leading my own team—I began looking for a new challenge. I was considering opportunities abroad, as I mentioned in the previous article ( link ). But upon experiencing this new version of Punta del Este, I realized that I didn't need to travel so far to start a business and develop myself: I could do it here, in my own country, close to friends, family, and the values I hold dear.

Punta del Este has international energy, vision, a diverse community, and, above all, potential.

Playa Mansa, Punta del Este

A zoom: The Bar

Of all the areas in Punta del Este, we chose to set up our studio in La Barra . To understand why, it's necessary to visualize the map mentally.

The Uruguayan coastline is continuous and extensive, serving as a reference point for us all. From Montevideo, heading east, you'll pass Punta Ballena , a historic and elegant area with grand residences and privileged views. It's, in a way, the gateway to Punta del Este.

Then comes Playa Mansa , which stretches all the way to the peninsula. This is the historic heart of the city, home to the port. It's also the meeting point between the two coasts: the calm and the wild.

If we continue east, we reach Playa Brava —lots of sea, more nature, good waves, and great development potential.

And at the end of that entire coastline, La Barra appears.

Far from marking a boundary, La Barra functions as a natural nexus connecting the city with what continues to the east: first Manantiales , an increasingly established town, and further ahead, the iconic José Ignacio . It's a point of transition, but also one of its own identity. An area with a strategic location that makes it a key point for the current and future development of the region.

It has a year-round community. It's not just for the summer. And that's where we decided to build our studio.

This isn't meant to be anything more than a first glimpse into what we experienced as a studio during these first three years. To say we grew would be an understatement compared to all we learned, traveled, and built. But we do believe it can serve as an introduction for anyone wondering: Where do I start? Why choose this country? What should I look forward to?

We'll be publishing another article later to delve deeper into the various growth areas of Punta del Este. What's developing, what to expect in the coming years, and what opportunities we see based on our experience in the region.