Enjoy Punta del Este Resort and Casino: Uruguay’s Historic 5-Star Accommodation
With so many amazing locations and activities on Earth, what makes a place so good that it is overwhelmingly deemed the best in travel? When considering South America, Uruguay may not be the first country you think of. And yet, its prospects are so rich that hotel magnate Giuseppe Cipriani has already invested $600 million into a resort and residential development he claims will be the largest Latin American residential foundation ever built.
But that begs further questions about what this luxury undertaking is trying to emulate or compete with. The clear answer lies no further than the Enjoy Punta del Este Resort and Casino, which already stands grandly in the seaside city. Once awarded the Best Casino and Resort in Latin America by the World Travel Awards, dive into what makes this historic 5-star accommodation the place to beat and, aptly, enjoy.
Punta del Este finding its way to Enjoy-ment
Credit - @masantanaofficial on Instagram]
Punta del Este has a long history of pioneering Uruguay's accommodations and tourism space. It is where the first Conrad Hotel in South America launched, and it is also known for the summit that eventually led to the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Before it came under the hands of the Chilean group Enjoy SA, the iconic Enjoy Punta del Este Resort & Casino opened under the Conrad brand in 1997. Its stunning design outlived the transfer of operations from Hilton, mainly due to the sublime work of legendary Uruguayan architect Guillermo Gomez Platero. Enjoy took on the hotel and immediately used its 294 rooms and 42 luxury suites to revitalize the resort’s role as a hub for casino-loving travelers, investing in updating more than 500 slot machines and almost a hundred table games.
To further promote Punta del Este as the place to be, Enjoy invested around $23 million in charter flights for casino players to and from Argentina and Brazil. A significant part of this effort was hosting the partypoker Latin American Poker Championships (LAPC) in 2018, drawing 1,137 entries and a guaranteed prize pool of more than $1 million. This attracted the attention of prominent poker platforms as popular players like Kristen Bicknell and Lucas Scafini participated.
A historic hotel for resort and casino lovers
Credit - @enjoypuntadeleste on Instagram]
With this breath of life for resort and casino experiences, further investment in the municipal casinos and structure of hotel towers would garner the attention of the giant Americas Cardroom. In 2024, the $1 Million GTD Enjoy Poker Series Main Event was held in Uruguay with Full Packages including airfare, a 10-night luxury hotel stay, and spending money. The 5-Star resort and casino was the location of choice for the satellites, with international buy-ins surging significantly. US poker icon Chris Moneymaker noted that these satellites have always been player favorites because of the stellar combination of the thrilling tournament and the exceptional space to have these arrangements. Americas Cardroom has become well-known for its huge tournament schedule, which is packed with some of the most significant poker events for players of various skill levels. With the attention and prestige this has brought to the casino, Enjoy further roots itself as the mainstay for poker travel and luxury leisure.
Its pristine amenities, proximity to the magical beachside, and sheer volume of excellent restaurants to sample have drawn in tourists looking to jump into the heart of Latin America beyond the usual haunts. Diverse landscapes, vibrant culture, and historical treasures make Uruguay stand out in good company, and the keen investment in the resort and casino demographic has only served to make the luxury location even better. With musical shows, heated indoor pools that span over 5,000 square meters, hydromassages, pet-friendly accommodations, and a 4,000-square-meter Las Vegas-style casino, it’s hard not to want to stick around for the long haul here.
Curiosity and enlightenment can make for the most incredible adventures, and you could find your next one with some Exploratory Glory inspiration.
