El Nido is not open yet. The developer is targeting 2026. It runs Wavegarden Cove in Punta del Este, Uruguay.
Verified July 2026
Uruguay's first wave pool, in the country's best-known resort town. Construction is real; the access terms are the detail to watch.
El Nido is a residential and sports development under construction in Punta del Este, Uruguay, with a Wavegarden Cove as its centerpiece, the country's first wave pool. Heavy equipment is on site and the developers have targeted a 2026 opening, positioning the lagoon for both training and recreation within a private neighborhood and beach club.
A full Wavegarden Cove in South America's most famous beach resort town. Uruguay has real ocean surf, and Punta's summer crowds have money and time; the Cove menu from learner waves to performance settings fits that market cleanly.
Residents and members of the surrounding development, on current information. Punta del Este swells with Argentine and Brazilian visitors each summer, and any public or guest access would find an eager market; that model is not yet confirmed.
No pricing or access model published. We will update when the operator clarifies whether non-resident sessions exist.
Punta del Este is two hours from Montevideo and a short flight from Buenos Aires. The region's ocean surf, from La Barra up to José Ignacio, is properly good in season; the pool would be a bonus, not the reason to go.
Technology
Wavegarden Cove
