Punta del Este is a seaside city and peninsula on the Atlantic Coast in the Maldonado Department of southeastern Uruguay. Starting as a small town, Punta del Este grew to become a resort for the Latin and North American jet set and tourists. The city has been called "The Monaco of the South", "The Pearl of the Atlantic", "The Hamptons of South America", "The Miami Beach of South America", or "The St. Tropez of South America".