La Paloma, nestled in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, has as its main attraction the 20 km of its magnificent beaches and its surroundings to enjoy all year round. Some sustainable suggestions in harmony with nature, culture and local identity that will allow you to escape from the routine and the mass travel.
1) Walk and/or bathe on the beach, surf and ascent to the lighthouse
La Paloma beach has a coastline for all tastes due to its peninsula shape, from calm waters such as Bahía Chica, to those with great 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 such 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 facilitate their access to the water with amphibious chairs and security elements. While La Serena is a beach with wide dunes with accessible descent and wooden terraces.
In the Cabo de Santa María neighborhood, you can go up to the homonymous lighthouse, the main icon of the resort, from where you can take the best selfies and postcards of the place.
2) Adventure in Laguna de Rocha
Just 8 km from La Paloma, a large multitude of native and migratory birds coexist, 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 trip through the Laguna de Rocha with Marianna Rovira, the first guide in Uruguay with UNIT certification in interpretive hiking in protected areas and nature reserves.
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 path allows you to approach its bar, where it is possible to observe the fine 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 few blocks from the center of the La Paloma spa the Ca'aguigua nursery –'forest dweller' in Guarani–. There he cultivates more than 200 species that could include any native forest. Located on Delfín street between Sagitario and Acuario, this green lung surprises with its variety of specimens of palo santo, lapacho, aguaí, inga, ñandubay, guayubirá, ibirapitá, timbó, as well as native fruits such as arazá and also the diversity of flowers, among others.
WHERE TO HAVE LUNCH?
Cocina de la Barra, from 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 artisanal production with a strong imprint on local tradition. From the following species: shrimp, sole, silverside, corvina and sirí crab, various dishes are prepared such as empanadas, cakes, fish milanesas and minutes, among others.
La Onda Bar and Restaurant, in the center of La Paloma offers homemade food, a variety of craft beer and live music throughout the year. His cuisine is based on the search for local products at the best time of the year. The daily menu is prepared from a joint effort with local farmers, ranchers, fishermen and producers. Always taking care of the environment, aiming for a sustainable kitchen.
REST AND RELAX
When you put your head on the pillow, the La Serena Suites accommodation 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, as well as a hydromassage area. As a plus, it provides access to the "Sotavento" sea club, from December to Tourism Week, where you can enjoy open pools, restaurant service, bar, as well as access to the garden with umbrellas and lounge chairs.
It is classified among the sustainable establishments for having a waste separation and classification system that is then transferred to a recycling center.