Outings and excursions · Cabo Polonio

Cabo Polonio National Park: dunes, islands and sea lions

Photos: Carolinasosa17 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

A protected area of more than 25,000 hectares of land and sea, with one of the country's most important sea lion reserves.

Photo: Carolinasosa17, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Cabo Polonio is more than a car-free village: since 2009 it has been a National Park within the National System of Protected Areas. It protects some 25,800 hectares, mostly marine, plus dunes, coast and islands.

The islands and the sea lions

Off the cape lie the islands of Rasa, Encantada and El Islote, known as the Torres Islands. They hold nearly half of Uruguay's populations of fur seals and sea lions, which breed there. The rocks of the cape also host the country's only mainland fur seal colony, where you can watch them up close.

How to look after it

  • Keep your distance from the sea lions and do not feed them.
  • Stay on the paths and take nothing from the dunes.
  • Take your rubbish with you: services in the park are limited.

Plan your trip

See alsoHotels and lodging in Cabo Polonio

Outings in Cabo Polonio

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