#17596 Escaping to Paradise on Jose Ignacio's Playa Brava in Uruguay

Punta del Este was once the spot for moneyed Argentines and international jetsetters on holiday. Rolling shorelines, sun-kissed afternoons befriending the Atlantic, pulsing nights befriending Wilhelmina models—what could be better? Answer: Jose Ignacio, a lazy, fishing village just north of Punta proper. Protected by dunes, Jose Ignacio oozes exclusive cool. Pristine sand stretches in every direction. Airy restaurants on hidden side streets boast sexy low-lights and hypnotic soundtracks for a steady clientele of barefoot, linen-clad beautiful people. Evening bonfires flicker as the crowd frolics over fresh fish and champagne. The Posada del Faro delivers on laid-back boutique lodging and when the sun sets, head to La Huella, a candlelit beach joint that evokes a fabulous seaside living room.