Cabo Polonio
A tiny fishing village on a rocky point, reached across sand dunes by 4x4 truck or on foot, with no mains electricity or paved roads. Sea lions rest on the rocks nearby.
Cabo Polonio
A sea lion colony and a lighthouse are found at this rustic coastal village, which has no regular roads and sits among sand dunes.
Attractive locations
Cabo Polonio Lighthouse
A tall lighthouse on a rocky point at the end of the cape. Visitors can climb up for a wide view of the coast, dunes and the sea lions on the rocks below.
Cabo Polonio National Park
A protected coastal area of sand dunes, rocky points and beaches. The small village inside has no mains electricity, and visitors reach it by walking or by 4x4 across the dunes.
Santa Teresa National Park
A coastal park of forest, lagoons and sandy beaches, with an old Portuguese-built fortress at its centre. It is a popular spot for camping, walking and swimming.
Laguna de Rocha
A shallow coastal lagoon on Uruguay's Atlantic side, separated from the sea by a sandbar. It is a good place for birdwatching and quiet nature walks.
Barra de Valizas
A small beach village at the mouth of the Valizas stream, with large sand dunes to its east. Many visitors start the walk to Cabo Polonio from here.
Punta del Diablo
A former fishing village on the Atlantic coast with long beaches, surf and a relaxed holiday feel. Colourful wooden cottages and small shops line its sandy streets.
Airports
Capitan Corbeta CA Curbelo International Airport PDP
It is about 130 km in a straight line from Cabo Polonio.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Uruguay page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan22.2 °C104 mm
- Feb22.3 °C125 mm
- Mar21.1 °C130 mm
- Apr18.5 °C122 mm
- May15.5 °C117 mm
- Jun12.7 °C119 mm
- Jul11.2 °C106 mm
- Aug11.9 °C127 mm
- Sep13.0 °C117 mm
- Oct15.3 °C120 mm
- Nov17.7 °C92 mm
- Dec20.1 °C90 mm
Driest months: Jan, Nov, Dec. Wettest months: Feb, Mar, Aug.
Costs
Prices here are about 66% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
911 for all emergencies.
ngo
Uruguayan Red Cross (Cruz Roja Uruguaya)
Helps with: National Red Cross society. It trains people in first aid, runs emergency response and disaster risk work, and has a service to help people who have lost contact with relatives reconnect.
Who qualifies: People in Uruguay needing its first aid, emergency response or family contact services.
Phone: +598 2480 1956
Email: cruzroja@cruzroja.org.uy
Address: 8 de Octubre 2990, Montevideo 11600
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Uruguay
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Uruguay since 1956. It supports migrants, displaced people, returnees and host communities, with work on migration management and crisis response.
Who qualifies: Migrants, displaced people and returnees in Uruguay. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +598 290 44064
Address: Edificio Plaza Mayor, Plaza Independencia 831, Oficina 508, Montevideo
local government
Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches police, ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 911