Punta del Este

Punta del Este needs 3 days: Playa Brava (with the «Los Dedos» hand sculpture) and the harbor on one, and Mansa and La Barra beaches for the rest. December-March (southern hemisphere summer) is absolute peak season. It's expensive, among South America's priciest beach destinations, comparable to the French Riviera in high season. It's South America's most exclusive beach resort, a historic meeting point for Argentine, Brazilian and Uruguayan upper classes, and its iconic «Los Dedos» (hand) sculpture is one of the most photographed images of the Southern Cone.