This guide is for you if Casapueblo is the reason you are going west of Punta del Este. It helps you choose a start time, decide whether to stay for the sunset, know what you will find inside, and plan the rest of your stay around it.
What the white house is
Casapueblo stands on the cliffs of Punta Ballena, about 13 km from the peninsula. The Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró found the spot in 1958 and started with a tin shed to store materials. There was never a plan. The house grew as he sold paintings, or swapped his work for building materials, and the building took him 36 years.
The result has 13 floors and no straight lines inside: domes, tunnels and whitewashed passages. He called it a sculpture you could live in. In 1984 part of it was sold to a hotel group, and he designed the hotel himself, nine floors down to the sea. Páez Vilaró died in 2014.
The museum and workshop are in the main dome, with his paintings, ceramics and sculpture, and it opens every day. Entrance is not included in the tour, so pay at the door. There is a café and restaurant with a terrace over the sea, where food and drinks are paid on the spot.
Morning, afternoon or sunset
You choose 07:00 or 13:00 when you book. On the early start the house is closed when you get there, so we see it from outside first and go in once the museum opens. The afternoon start puts the museum in the middle of the visit.
Sunset is what Casapueblo is known for. Every day, shortly before the sun goes down, a recording of the artist's voice plays on the terraces, reading a poem that greets the sun and thanks it. People call it the Ceremonia del Sol. The hour moves through the year, and a four-hour tour does not always reach it. If you want to be on the terrace for it, tell us when you book, and we will shift the times or price the extra hour.
When to go
Summer brings average highs of around 26°C in January and February, and December is the sunniest month, with more than nine hours of sun a day on average. From June to August, highs are about 14°C, and the sun is out for fewer than four hours a day. A clear evening in any season is worth more here than a warm one, so keep an eye on the forecast and be ready to swap days if your plans allow it.
How the four hours fit together
The drive is short. You are at the Lussich Arboretum about twenty minutes after pick-up, then at the viewpoint at Punta Ballena, and you spend the longest stretch at Casapueblo. The way back follows the Playa Mansa side of the bay, with a stop on the beach if you want one.
The Lussich Arboretum
Antonio Lussich bought the land on 5 October 1896 and started planting the following year. The wood now covers 192 hectares, with more than 400 species from abroad and around 70 Uruguayan ones. In 1979 most of it was given to the municipality of Maldonado and opened to the public. Wear comfortable shoes for the paths.
Punta Ballena
The point is a rocky spur between two bays. Looking east you see Punta del Este, and looking west the coast runs on. It is a short stop, but bring a jacket if it is windy.
Getting there on your own
Casapueblo is about 12 km from the Punta del Este bus terminal. A taxi there and back adds at least an hour and a half to your day, before the visit itself. Without a car the arboretum is the harder piece to fit in, since it lies in the hills above the point. With a private car and driver you get all three in one half-day, picked up and dropped at your door. Fuel, tolls and parking are included, and you can change the order on the day. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
Who it suits
- Anyone who likes art and architecture, since most of the time is inside or around the house.
- Couples who want the sunset on the terrace, with the times moved to suit.
- Travellers staying in La Barra or on the peninsula who want an afternoon away from the beach.
Think twice if anyone in your group finds stairs hard. The house is built on many levels down the cliff, so ask us before you book. If you also want the peninsula, the lighthouse and La Barra, the full-day Punta del Este tour covers both sides of town in eight hours. If you only want the peninsula, take the peninsula and La Barra half-day.
Questions people ask
Is the museum open every day?
Yes, it opens daily. Check the opening hours on its official site before you go.
Can we stay for lunch?
Yes. Eat at the café or restaurant on the terrace and pay there.
What if there are more than 16 of us?
Two vehicles travel together on one booking. Message us and we will price it.
Can we cancel?
Yes, up to 24 hours before pick-up, with a full refund. See our cancellation page.
Booking the half day
Decide first whether you want the sunset, because that sets the times. The pick-up, stops and what is included are on the Casapueblo, Punta Ballena and Lussich Arboretum tour page. For the other days out from town, read the guide to day trips from Punta del Este.
