Punta Del Este - History

Discovered by the Spaniards in 1516, the area was not inhabited without loss of life to the explorers. The Charrúa Indians put up a fierce fight and the battles for the territory continued, later including the Portuguese and the British. But in 1825 the independent Uruguayan territory was declared "free from any and all foreign powers." This set the stage for the development of the country.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Punta del Este was a vast semi-deserted region only visited by sailors and fishermen. Today this coastal town, commonly referred to as the St Tropez of South America, attracts close to 300,000 visitors each year.

Opposite the large peninsula separating the two waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Rio de la Plata, lie the enchanted islands of Isla Gorriti and Isla de los Lobos, inhabited by one of the world's largest sea-lion colonies.

Punta del Este is one of the largest and most fashionable seaside resorts of South America; fishing is also important to the local economy. In 1939 the German battleship Graf Spee was crippled by a British squadron in waters off Punta del Este. The city was the site of the conference (Aug., 1961) of the Inter-American Economic and Social Council, during which the charter of the Alliance for Progress was drafted, and there also the foreign ministers’ conference of the Organization of American States met in Jan., 1962, and voted to impose a censure on Cuba.

THE PRESIDENTS OF THE AMERICAN STATES AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO MEETING IN PUNTA DEL ESTE, URUGUAY  In 1967 the presidents of republics in the Americas met in Punta del Este to formulate economic assistance programs for Latin America.

THE PRESIDENTS OF THE LATIN AMERICAN REPUBLICS resolve to create progressively, beginning in 1970, the Latin American Common Market, which shall be substantially in operation in a period of no more than fifteen years. The Latin American Common Market will be based on the complete development and progressive convergence of the Latin American Free Trade Association and of the Central American Common Market, taking into account the interests of, the Latin American countries not yet affiliated with these systems. This great task will reinforce historic bonds, will promote industrial development and, the strengthening of Latin American industrial enterprises, as well as more efficient production and now opportunities for employment, and will permit the region to play its deservedly significant role in world affairs. The ties of friendship among the peoples of the Continent will thus be strengthened.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, for his part, declares his firm support for this promising Latin American initiative .