La Paloma: a gateway for nature lovers
La Paloma, nestled in the Atlantic Ocean, its main attraction is the 20 km of magnificent beaches and its environment to enjoy all year round.
We propose some sustainable suggestions in harmony with nature, culture and local identity that will allow you to escape from the routine and the massification of travel. Join this green economy with the experience that you like the most!
1) Walking and/or swimming on the beach, surfing and climbing to the lighthouse
La Paloma has a coastline for all tastes due to its peninsula shape, from those with serene waters such as Bahía Chica, to those with big waves such as La Serena, Los Botes, La Balconada and La Aguada, the latter ideal for surfers and long walks.
It also has an accessible beach as Bahía Grande, a few meters from the heart of the resort, attended during the summer by staff and supplies for people with disabilities that facilitates their access to the water with amphibious chairs and safety elements. While La Serena is a beach with wide sand dunes with accessible descent and wooden terraces.
In the neighborhood of Cabo de Santa Maria, do not miss the ascent to the lighthouse of the same name, the main icon of the resort, from where you can take the best selfies and postcards of the place.
2) Adventure at Laguna de Rocha
At only 8 km from La Paloma coexist a great multitude of native and migratory birds, for this reason it is considered a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. The vegetation in the area is very abundant and there are about 200 types of birds to be seen in a short tour.
In addition to fishing in the area, you can enjoy a boat ride on the Rocha Lagoon together with a boat trip a Marianna Rovira, the first guide in Uruguay with UNIT certification in interpretive trekking in protected areas and nature reserves. Marianna narrates in a pleasant way the history of the place, its fauna and flora in detail.
For the more adventurous, Marianna together with Bike Tours Uruguay, also offers a “Lighthouse to Lighthouse” tour from La Paloma Lighthouse to José Ignacio Lighthouse in Maldonado, among other experiences.
Contact: Mobile phone: (+598) 94 461 661/ puntarubiatrips@gmail.com
How to get to the lagoon?
Access at the intersection of routes 10 and 15, at kilometer 8, heading east on a dirt road. From there another road allows to approach its bar, where it is possible to observe the thin strip of sand that separates it from the ocean.
3) Native nursery
With the mission of recovering the national forest, the agronomist Raúl Nin installed a nursery a few blocks from the center of La Paloma beach resort Ca’aguigua –‘morador del bosque’ en guaraní–. It grows more than 200 species that could include any native forest. Located on Delfín Street between Sagitario and Acuario, this green lung surprises for its variety of palo santo, lapacho, aguaí, inga, ñandubay, guayubirá, ibirapitá, timbó, in addition to native fruits such as arazá and also the diversity of flowers, among others.
WHERE TO HAVE LUNCH?
Cocina de la Barra, from the water to the plate
The peace of the place, its simplicity and the freshness of the dishes are the letter of introduction of this community space led by women.
They add value to the daily fishing, preparing typical gastronomy of artisan production with a strong imprint in the local tradition. The following species: shrimp, sole, silverside, sea bass and siri crab are used to prepare various dishes such as empanadas, pies, fish milanesas and minutas, among others.
La Onda Bar and Restaurante, in downtown La Paloma offers homemade food, a variety of craft beer and live music throughout the year.
Its cuisine is based on the search for local products at their best time of the year. The daily menu is elaborated from a joint work with farmers, ranchers, fishermen and local producers. Always taking care of the environment, aiming at a sustainable cuisine.
More options: turismorocha.gub.uy/sabores-de-rocha
REST AND RELAX
When resting the head on the pillow, the lodging La Serena Suites turns out to be the rest you are looking for. A few blocks from the beach La Serena offers comfortable apartments equipped with kitchen and garden or balcony, plus a hydromassage area. As a plus, it offers access to the sea club “Sotavento”, from December until the Tourism Week, where you can enjoy open swimming pools, restaurant service, bar, as well as access to the garden with umbrellas and deck chairs.
It is catalogued among the sustainable establishments for having a system of separation and classification of residues that are then transferred to a recycling center.
+ info turismorocha.gub.uy/
