- Address: 27202 Rocha, Uruguay
- Phone: +598 98619209
In Uruguay on the Atlantic coast is the unique National Park Cabo Polonio (Cabo Polonio).
basic information
Its area is 14.3 thousand hectares, and it was founded in 1942. In this area shrub and tree thickets grow on sand dunes, the South American steppes (pampas), shallow water areas of the ocean and unique coastal swamps. Because of this diverse landscape, this park also received the status of National Park.
It is protected by the state and included in the Uruguayan list of Sistema Nacional de Areas Protegidas (SNAP). Cabo Polonio is a real paradise on earth, striking with its picturesqueness. Here are closely intertwined parts of the desert and islets in the sea. On the one side of the peninsula is a quiet surface, and on the other - a perpetual storm.
The name Cabo Polonio went from the local village of the same name, near which a shipwreck happened in 1753, and the captain was a Spaniard named Poloní. The park belongs to the Department of Rocha.
Animals of the reserve
The fauna of the National Park is numerous. The most common species are:
- South American fur seals;
- paca;
- the Laplace otter;
- sea lion;
- the pumper deer.
Birds here are more than 150 varieties. And there are traces of snakes everywhere.
What else is famous for Cape Polonio?
Since the 70s of the XX century, numerous hippies began to settle here. They built small houses (more like sheds) from improvised materials. These people ate the seafood, they did not need water and electricity. By the way, there is practically no communication nowadays. Street lighting is also missing, and people in homes use candles. From evening till morning there is always live music in the village.
For tourists in Cape Polonio, there are several cafes, shops and hostels. There are gas columns, an electricity generator and even the Internet. It is best to come here from December to March, when the air temperature does not rise above the mark of 25 ° C.
On the coast there is a large lighthouse , which serves as a guide for passing ships, and for visits it is open daily from 10:00 am. Famous and wild, wide sandy beaches with snow-white sand and warm sea, a total length of about 7 km.
It is worth to come here for a day or two to fully feel the local flavor. The national park is mostly visited by Uruguayans, tourists from Argentina , as well as hippies from around the world. They settle not only in inns, but also in small houses, enjoying pristine nature. On the territory of Cabo Polonio, vacationers move on rented jeeps or on foot.
How to get to the National Park?
It is located 150 km from the city of Punta del Este and 265 km from the capital of Uruguay . The main entrance to Cabo Polonio is located in the village of Valisas, to which from Montevideo can be reached by bus or car on Route 9 or Ruta 8 Brigadier Gral Juan Antonio Lavalleja (the journey takes 3.5 hours).
Further the trail ends and you can either walk through the forest and dunes (distance about 7 km), or rent an off-road camion to drive along the sandy surface (the journey takes about half an hour). Also, tourists are offered a ride on a horse cart.
At the entrance to the Cabo Polonio National Park, travelers, like a kaleidoscope, will change the landscapes that fascinate and fall in love with each guest.