El Nido

El Nido is a private gated residential development between Manantiales and José Ignacio, east of Arroyo Maldonado near Punta del Este, Uruguay, led by Maximiliano Schabsis of the Donato Group with partner Federico Fischer. Its centrepiece is a Wavegarden surf pool. In July 2026 Fischer told DUKE that after two years of construction about 10 percent remained, and that waves would be running in late October or early November 2026 after Wavegarden's team spends 15 to 20 days programming and testing. National champion Sebastián Olarte was named head of operations in March 2026, and in late August the project began hiring lifeguards, surf instructors, operators and receptionists.

A Wavegarden pool, which El Observador reported can produce up to a thousand waves an hour year-round. Fischer says it will be the first Wavegarden with a 360-degree beach: apart from the first 30 metres, the perimeter is sand rather than walls. The model and module count have not been published.

Owners in the development, on current information. El Observador reported in January 2025 that about 44 percent of the lots had been sold.

No prices or public access model have been published.

Nothing to book yet. The site is about 20 minutes from central Punta del Este, about 40 minutes from Punta del Este's Laguna del Sauce airport and about 2 hours 30 minutes from Montevideo by car.