La Posada del Faro

Rooms

Carla García-Arocena let her instincts guide her in designing rooms which she modestly describes as "comfortable, not luxurious". Tucked into a modified V around the pool, the 13 rooms (no 2 identical) share simple lines and elemental New England-style features - whitewashed walls, beamed ceilings and plank floors - in tune with the seaside setting. Inside, crisp white sheets are paired with the occasional exuberant pillow or throw; some have rustic, blackened brick fireplaces, all with sleek marble bathrooms. Outside, the sun slants through bamboo patio covers onto clusters of oval stones and elegant calla lilies.

If romance is your goal - and this is an ideal place for it - choose a larger Superior Room or Special Room with a wood-burning fireplace, an ocean-facing sofa and a spacious private balcony or terrace. Ground-floor Standard Rooms run alongside the pool and have limited views of the gorgeous horizon and no balcony.

In a separate building beside the main hotel, you'll find three suites (one with a kitchenette) with a sitting area with fireplace and a private gravel terrace. However, you’ll trade extra space and privacy for limited views of the water. One of the Standard rooms is also found here.

All rooms have queensize beds, some of which can be separated into twins, as well as heating, air conditioning, ceiling fans, safes, minibars, tea- and coffee-making facilities and WiFi. European-style bathrooms have hairdryers, bathrobes, bidets and rain showerheads; some have both a shower and a tub. At turndown you get cookies and a weather forecast.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Minibar/fridge
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is served anywhere, anytime. In addition to a tall flask of freshly squeezed orange juice, a basket of breads with butter and jam, sliced fresh fruit and coffee or tea, you’re welcome to order eggs or anything else you’d prefer at no charge. Linger over room service or chat with other guests by the pool.

A variety of simple sandwiches, such as ham and cheese on a baguette, and other snacks are available in the afternoon; you can order tea and cakes until midnight. You're free to mix yourself a cocktail or pour an aperitif at the small honour bar in the dining room at any time. "The house is yours," José says, "just leave me a note". There’s also a swim-up bar in the pool, with cocktail prices listed on a blackboard.

In high season (December - March) the Posada runs a Beach Club with bar, bar menu and waiter service, 50 metres away on west-facing Playa La Mansa; as a hotel resident you are guaranteed beach beds, loungers, chairs and an umbrella. We spent as much time as possible here, loving the fresh pejerrey simply pan-fried with lemon, as well as the sea bass, not to mention the fine caipirinhas and fresh fruit smoothies, leaving only after the last rays of sun had disappeared behind the distant condo towers of Punta del Este.

Note that during low season (when most restaurants in town close), you may want to do a trip to Punta del Este to eat out.

In season, Jose Ignacio’s restaurants run the gamut, from world-class destinations to walk-in diners. La Huella, on Playa La Brava, is a regular stomping ground for local celebrities, and definitely the place to be seen - we loved their fresh fish. You could also try Marismo for Mediterranean-inspired fare. At the other end of the spectrum, Popeye is a friendly diner serving local specialties such as seaweed ravioli and chivito (beef loin topped with lettuce, tomato, green olives and hard-boiled eggs with mayonnaise, on a thin muffin-like bun). José, Martin and Carla are happy to make other recommendations.

Features include:

• Minibar/fridge
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Relax at the hotel. "Aqui sólo corre el viento" - “Here only the winds rushes” - says a sign in the centre of town. So nap; enjoy your massage for booking through i-escape (if staying in a Special room for 3 nights); read a book; hang with friends in the main living room or under the pergola; stroll the beach; and toast the sunset from your private balcony or deck
  
  
• Play tennis. Book a court at the tennis club 200m from the hotel
  
  
• Sunbathe, surf, windsurf or kite-surf. Calm, pristine Playa La Mansa is 50 metres from your room, and the (high season only) Beach Club makes life very civilised indeed here. Playa La Brava (a short walk across town) has a surf school. Kite-surfing gear is available for rent in town and there's a windsurfing school at San José del Garzón Lagoon, 7.5km east of the village
  
  
• Explore Jose Ignacio. Only 40 blocks, the village "of castle and shacks" is a delight to roam by mountain bike or rented golf cart. Shop at upscale clothing boutiques (El Canuto is a must), wine shops (try Tierra y Vino) and galleries (we liked Deco Almacén), and climb to the top of the 1877 lighthouse
  
  
• Pamper your palate. Two of South America’s best chefs spend their summer (November-February) here, so the cuisine is amazing; local specialties range from seaweed omelettes to divine artisan ice cream
  
  
• Commune with nature. Surrounded by 4,000 hectares of lagoons, Jose Ignacio is a paradise for bird-watchers (the streets are named after local birds), fishing enthusiasts (try off-shore, coastal and underwater fishing), equestrians (there's great riding along the beaches) and whale-watchers (you can see and hear right whales from the shore between March and October)
  
  
• Commute to the party. If you tire of untamed beaches, virgin sand dunes and perfect sunsets, then sailing, golf (3 courses) and round-the-clock parties await in Punta del Este, half an hour away by car

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Sailing
• Surfing
• Windsurfing

Kids

Babies under 12 months are welcome, and cots can be provided. As a rule, no other kids under 16 are allowed to stay, though those over 8 may be accepted by special arrangement during low season. “Guests are paying for the peace,” says José. Do note that occasionally family parties are permitted to stay during special circumstances at the discretion of the Posada.

There's a small supermarket in Jose Ignacio which sells nappies/diapers and other baby sundries.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

La Posada del Faro is set in the seaside village of Jose Ignacio, off Route 10. It's 40km (half an hour) from the high-rise resort town of Punta del Este.

By Air
Punta del Este Capitán Corbeta CA Curbelo International (35km away) is the nearest airport. It's served by flights from Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery Airport, more commonly known as Aeroparque, during high season (bear in mind that if you're flying into Buenos Aires from abroad you'll land at the international airport, Ezeiza, and will need to take a taxi between the 2). If you don't want to connect via Buenos Aires or are visiting during low season, you'll probably arrive at Montevideo Carrasco International (180km away) - click on the links below for more information.

From the Airport
The hotel can arrange a transfer from Punta del Este airport. If you plan extensive rambles into the countryside or are landing at Montevideo, it's better to rent a car.

By Hydrofoil and Bus / Car:
There's an excellent Buquebus hydrofoil service from Buenos Aires to Montevideo or Colonia del Sacramento, which takes 2.5-3 hours or 1 hour respectively. From Montevideo it's 180km by road - 2-3 hours by car (see our car rental recommendations), or a bit more by bus. You can get a bus to Punta and a taxi to La Posada del Faro, or get the less frequent bus which goes all the way to Jose Ignacio, the bus stop is about 400 metres from La Posada del Faro.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

More on getting to Uruguay and getting around.