Punta del Este is 140 km East of Montevideo. Together with the city of Maldonado (capital of the department with the same name) they form a sole urban unit, being as they are, only a few kilometers apart from each other.

The Start and the Finish areas of the Marathon are situated in the center of Maldonado, some 7 kms from the “Peninsula” (which is the center of Punta del Este).

By Bus from Montevideo or from the Carrasco International Airport

Two companies share the regular Montevideo to Punta del Este lines: COT and COPSA. Below you will find timetables and the trip duration.

All buses leave from the Tres Cruces Bus Station in Montevideo and make a stop 25 minutes later, at the Carrasco International Airport.

If the bus is boarded at the Tres Cruces Bus Station, the ticket should be purchased at the ticket office of the corresponding company (COPSA or COT) within the Station. If boarded at the Carrasco Airport, the ticket can be purchased at the COT Office (only when travelling with COT) in the hall of the arrival building or also directly on the bus for any of the companies.

There is a small office of the Tourism and Sports Ministry (with a sign that reads: “Uruguay Natural”), in the arrival building of the Carrasaco Airport, where you can ask for maps, information and help. The Ministry employees are aware that there will be people arriving for the Punta del Este marathon and will be able to assist you.

The bus stop for Punta del Este is across the street in front of the arrival building of the Airport.

Relevant detail: make sure you purchase a “Direct” or “semi-direct” ticket and that the bus does NOT go through Piriápolis (because it would be a much longer trip).

The cost of the ticket is $ 146 Uruguayan Pesos (approx. 6.20 US Dollars).

The bus station in Punta del Este is in the middle of town.

By car from the Carrasco Airport

For those who rent a car at the Carrasco Airport, the route to Punta del Este is very easy:
One must leave the Airport area by the only possible road which leads to the ANCAP gas station some 500 meters from the main building. This station is on a traffic circle which one must drive around in order to take to the left (Pando and Punta del Este direction).  2 or 3 km after that, just in front of the construction site of the new airport, there is a route leading to the right, with signs indicating “Punta del Este”.  You will reach the main Montevideo–Punta del Este highway 30 kms after that and you should take it to the left.

There are two toll gates, one in km 32 and the other one in km 80.  The cost of each toll is 50 Uruguayan Pesos (approximately 2 Dollars)

Montevideo to Punta del Este bus timetable