Best surf beaches in Uruguay, 2026
25 surf beaches in Uruguay that score highest on the OnlyBeaches Index for what matters to surf travellers.How we rank →
1OBI 7.5+
Anaconda West Beach
La Paloma, Uruguay
Western Anaconda stretch useful for curated depth without duplicating the main beach identity.
2OBI 7.5+
El Desplayado North Beach
La Pedrera, Uruguay
Northern extension of El Desplayado with real beach continuity toward Punta Rubia.
3OBI 7.5+
El Desplayado South Beach
La Pedrera, Uruguay
Southern El Desplayado stretch with local surf value and less crowd pressure.
4OBI 7.5+
La Serena Dune Beach
La Paloma, Uruguay
Dune-backed west La Serena beach stretch with useful local identity and surf appeal.
5OBI 7.5+
La Serena West Beach
La Paloma, Uruguay
Quieter western extension of La Serena with real surf-coast value and fewer crowds.
Playa Anaconda
La Paloma, Uruguay
Recognized western La Paloma beach and a key transition point between town and the quieter west coast.
7OBI 7.5+
Playa Brava
Punta del Este, Uruguay
Punta del Este’s iconic Atlantic-facing beach and home to the famous Los Dedos landmark.
8OBI 7.5+
Playa Brava de José Ignacio
José Ignacio, Uruguay
Iconic Atlantic-facing José Ignacio beach known for surf, dunes, upscale stays, and strong global recognition.
9OBI 7.5+
Playa Brava Este
José Ignacio, Uruguay
Eastern Brava beach sector with strong dune and surf character but lower mainstream visibility.
Playa Brava Norte
José Ignacio, Uruguay
Northern/eastern Brava stretch with surf and dune value beyond the main José Ignacio beachfront.
11OBI 7.5+
Playa de la Viuda
Punta del Diablo, Uruguay
Punta del Diablo’s broad southern surf beach, known for strong waves, dunes, sunsets, and a wilder edge of town.
12OBI 7.5+
Playa del Barco
La Pedrera, Uruguay
Iconic La Pedrera surf beach and one of the strongest must-have records on this Rocha coast.
13OBI 7.5+
Playa del Barco East
La Pedrera, Uruguay
Eastern stretch of Playa del Barco with surf value and less crowding than the central beach.
Playa del Barco West
La Pedrera, Uruguay
Western Playa del Barco stretch useful for curated coverage without creating access-point records.
15OBI 7.5+
Playa del Rivero
Punta del Diablo, Uruguay
Popular northern town beach with surf schools, beach bars, rocks, and easy access from central Punta del Diablo.
Playa El Desplayado
La Pedrera, Uruguay
Major La Pedrera beach with broad sand, surf appeal, and high regional visitor recognition.
Playa El Emir
Punta del Este, Uruguay
Small but central beach near the peninsula with surf appeal and strong visitor recognition.
18OBI 7.5+
Playa Grande
Punta del Diablo, Uruguay
Long, less-developed beach north of town, offering a quieter coastal walk toward the Santa Teresa area.
19OBI 7.5+
Playa Grande
Santa Teresa, Uruguay
Large wild beach bordering Punta del Diablo, popular for long walks, dunes, surf, and easy park access.
20OBI 7.5+
Playa La Balconada
La Paloma, Uruguay
La Paloma’s most iconic surf-and-sunset beach and a must-have Rocha record.
Playa La Balconada East
La Paloma, Uruguay
Eastern La Balconada stretch with real beach identity and lower crowd pressure than the central zone.
Playa La Balconada West
La Paloma, Uruguay
Quieter western stretch of La Balconada with surf value and strong sunset appeal.
Playa La Calavera
Cabo Polonio, Uruguay
Iconic north-side Cabo Polonio beach with surf, dunes, and strong backpacker appeal.
Playa La Moza
Santa Teresa, Uruguay
One of Santa Teresa’s best-known beaches, valued for strong surf, wide sand, and a scenic national park setting.
25OBI 7.5+
Playa La Serena
La Paloma, Uruguay
Major west-side La Paloma beach with strong surf, long-sand appeal, and real visitor demand.