Among the exciting variety of beaches that can be found in Uruguay, there are many where the surf breaks on sandbanks or rocky points and therefore, prove ideal for some water sports, especially for surfing. The first ones are known as beach breaks and others with rocky bottoms are known as point breaks.

In this area of the country, winds that blow from the north and from the northwest are very common features of the climate. Hence, conditions here are ideal for surfing. During the summer season, these winds alternate with the Pampero, with the cold and dry fronts from the Pacific that make their way into this region or the warm and humid fronts from the east.

The beaches in Punta del Este fall into one of the two categories: beaches from the Mansa (sheltered beaches) and beaches from the Brava (surf beaches). The first ones are more protected from the winds and from currents of the Atlantic Ocean since they face the River Plate. Thus, have calm waters. The second ones, on the other hand, are ocean-facing beaches and therefore have bigger waves.

Nevertheless, the ocean-facing beaches are the most popular ones among tourists. A wonderful sculpture can be found in one of these beaches, known as "La Mano". Created by Chilean artists Mario Irrazábal in 1982, this is a sculpture of a big hand that comes up from the beach.

These beaches have coarse sand and the sea is quiet rough, not recommended for inexperienced swimmers. They prove ideal for surfing.

Among the ocean-facing beaches, El Emir is the one geographically located in second place.

Given its excellent natural conditions, El Emir is the most popular beach among surfers from all over the world who visit to Punta del Este.

This beach was named after a man who was said to be an eccentric and visited Punta del Este very regularly. As he fell in love with this beach, he decided to build a house by the shore.

This story, which is especially popular among local people, took place during the 1920s and its main character was a man named Emir Aíslan.

 
Nowadays, after the road by the sea known as Rambla de Circunvalación was built, this place has less sand though it remains as attractive as it used to be. The deep sea of El Emir can become rather dangerous at times.

This is another important ocean-facing beach in Punta del Este and one of the best-known ones in al the seaside town.
 
It is located immediately after La Barra and marks the beginning of a stretch of ocean beaches that continues up to the seaside resort known as Jose Ignacio.
 
Since it is a wide beach with great waves and coarse sand, one of the stages of the World Surfing Championship is held here during the summer.

The beach known as Manantiales is also very suitable for doing sports such as surfing. It is a sandy beach with deep waters and great waves. It is very popular among the jet set.

These are some of the main features of the beaches from the beginning of the Oceanic coast to Jose Ignacio. The beach known as El Emir heads the list: sand bottom beach break that breaks right and left, wind swell and groundswell.

La Olla: rock and sand bottom left break; La Plage: sand bottom right and left break, La Virgen: rock bottom left break, El Martillo: rock bottom right break, Manantiales: rock and sand bottom left and right breaks.