Introduction: Cabo Polonio from Punta del Diablo
For a while we were wandering if we should stop and stay overnight in Cabo Polonio or simply make a day trip from Punta del diablo. As we didn’t have a plan and were planning day by day, we couldn’t really find an accommodation within what we wanted in Cabo Polonio, so we decided to leave in the morning and come back the same day.
Time of visit: January
Table of Contents
Cabo Polonio
Cabo Polonio is both a town and a national park. The city is located on the coast side of the national park 7km from the main road and is only accessible by 4×4 or by walking as there aren’t any road going there but only a sand path. What makes the place unique is that it is secluded and apparently untouched by man as there are only 95 inhabitants plus the tourist.
Getting there
To get there we had checked the schedule from the bus operator Rutas del Sol one day in advance. The morning we simply went to the bus terminal and bought a bus ticket for the next departure (157 UYU each). After 1h40 we arrived at the entrance of the national park.
From there we bought a ticket for the 4×4 that ride to the town (270 UYU each). We took the next departure and sat on that cool truck modify in a 4×4 bus. After 30min we arrived in the truck terminal in Cabo Polonio town.
The bus schedule to Cabo Polonio with Rutas del sol is: 7h40, 10h30, 14h10, 18h00, 18h20 and 20h15
The 4×4 schedule to the town is every hour from 7h30 to 19h30 then 20h and 22h.
The town
The town of Cabo Polonio is small but beautiful. It is really well maintained and has really good vibes. We walked around, checking small shops on the street and passed by many restaurants on the way.
Apart from downtown, all houses and construction are scattered, giving them lots of space and making the scenery beautiful.
This didn’t take us much time, but it was cool. For us the town was more developed that what we had expected. There was great 4G connexion in town, lots of shops and restaurants.
In the center of town, there are public toilets.
The lighthouse
We kept walking toward the lighthouse that was unfortunately closed at the time we arrived. But it didn’t remove its charm. We headed behind it were tones of sealions were chilling on the rocks. We find ourselves a nice spot with shade for lunch and ate our sandwiches. Also, the spot we found didn’t smell too bad. Sealions are super smelly 😊
But if you didn’t bring your own food, no problem, you can simply eat in one of the many restaurants there.
If you want to visit the lighthouse and get on top of it, it’s open from 10am to 1m and 3pm to 5pm. The entry cost is 25 UYU.
The beach
From there we joined the beach and took a nice and long walk from town until the sand dunes of the national park.
Near town more people were present but after a while only a few where still along the beach. Also, along the beach there were many dead sealions. Unfortunately, when one die, it ends up on the beach.
Returning
When you bought your 4×4 truck ticket it included the return as well. So, you can just take the 4×4 back to the main entrance. From there you can buy a bus ticket to Punta del Diablo and hop on the next bus.
The bus schedule to Punta del diablo is: 7h00, 10h20, 11h40, 13h50, 16h40 and 19h35.
The 4×4 schedule returning is every hour from 8h00 to 20h.
Recommendation
This trip was a budget one with no plan but if we added on our bucket list 4 to 7 days stay in Cabo Polonio enjoying the beaches and living an easy life going from restaurants to restaurants and back to a hammock.
3 to 4h are enough to see most of what Cabo Polonio has to offer, the rest is just chilling.
“Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
Where to stay in Punta del Diablo
- Budget: Angelo
- Posada: Posada Las Maravillas
- House: QuedateAqui
