Cabo Polonio is a hamlet located in the eastern coast of Uruguay in the Rocha Department. Cabo Polonio has no roads leading to it and is located about 7 km from the main highway. It is accessible by walking through the dunes or by 4x4 vehicles.
14 km away
Aguas Dulces is a resort in the Rocha Department of southeastern Uruguay.
Learn more 37 km away
La Pedrera is a village and resort on the Atlantic Coast in the Rocha Department of Uruguay. It is located on Route 10, about 8 kilometres northeast of La Paloma.
Learn more 45 km away
La Paloma is a small city in the Rocha Department of southeastern Uruguay.
Learn more 46 km away
Punta del Diablo is a village and seaside locality in Uruguay, Rocha Department, 298 kilometres east from the capital Montevideo.
Learn moreDiscover the best tours and activities around Cabo Polonio, Uruguay and book your travel experience today with our booking partners
9 pictures of Cabo Polonio from Paz Arando, PatrÃcia Cassol Pereira, and other travelers
Travel to Cabo Polonio if you like:
🚢 LighthouseLocated in Rocha department in Uruguay, Cabo Polonio is an atypical hamlet, seaside resort, and a national and natural park. A hamlet, few houses scattered here and there on a rock isolated in the Atlantic, and miles of dunes, welcome to Cabo Polonio.
The particularity of this hamlet is that there are no roads, no motor vehicles, no electricity, no running water, no sewage: a guaranteed change of scenery. In 2009, the Cabo Polonio National Park was created, and its ecosystem was officially protected: new constructions were prevented from blooming, thus preserving the uniqueness of the area.
There are only a few well-defined streets in Cabo Polonio. The rest of the village is to be discovered by wandering among the houses, as the mood takes you. They are all different, with white facades and colored roofs. Some are of a refined style and others, much simpler. In Cabo Polonio, there are many stores and restaurants. Many of the permanent residents run these businesses and strive to offer visitors good food and beautiful handmade souvenirs in such an extraordinary place.
The lighthouse can be visited and offers the best views of the hamlet of Cabo Polonio, the dunes, and even the Torres Islands. The sea wolves have become one of the attractions of Cabo Polonio. Today, it is easy to see hundreds of sea wolves resting or fighting on the rocks of the lighthouse.
To complete the view, on each side of Cabo Polonio, there is a beautiful beach: La Calavera beach, the most popular; and Sur beach, which you cross in a 4×4 to reach the hamlet. These are well-preserved beaches, perfect for walking, and the Calavera beach is better for swimming.
This unusual hamlet offers many activities and visits, come and discover the specificity of the place, come and discover its preserved nature and its down-to-earth village.
In this atypical hamlet you will find several accommodation options. Cabo Polonio Hostel is a very good place to stay, it is the only accommodation that includes breakfast, and it is very well located.
The route to Cabo Polonio is complicated. It can be done by 4 × 4 starting from the Terminal Puerta del Polonio. The trip is 4.9 miles long and takes about 30 minutes. This way you can appreciate the isolation of the place. Despite the fact that, it is not easy to drive among the dunes. The terminal is located on road 10. The tour operators offer the trip there, but it is also possible to get there by public transportation, leaving from Montevideo or other cities in Rocha.
On the other hand, there are those who prefer not to take a vehicle to such a remote place, but rather walk the 4.9 miles (8 km) from the terminal, following the same route as the 4 × 4; or hike 6.2 miles (10 km) through beaches and dunes, from Barra de Valizas,
Discover the best hotels around Cabo Polonio, Uruguay and book your stay today with our booking partner booking.com
Click on the pictures to learn more about the places and to get directions
Discover more travel spots to explore around Cabo Polonio
🌲 Plain spots 🌲 Ecoregion spots Skimboarding spots 🏖️ Shore spots 🌊 Ocean spots 🚢 Lighthouse spots 🏖️ Beach spotsExplore popular touristic places around Cabo Polonio