El Martillo, Uruguay
Also within 20 km of Punta del Este
- El Emir Surf spot · 0.4 km from Punta del Este
- La Virgen Surf spot · 0.4 km from Punta del Este
- Los Dedos Surf spot · 0.9 km from Punta del Este
- La Olla Surf spot · 1.6 km from Punta del Este
- Zorba Surf spot · 1.8 km from Punta del Este
- La Plage Surf spot · 3.4 km from Punta del Este
- El Pedro Surf spot · 5.2 km from Punta del Este
- El Pendorcho Surf spot · 8.5 km from Punta del Este
Watch this spot We email you when El Martillo is worth the trip.
About El Martillo
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces SE (149°), so it takes swell from the SE. The wind blows offshore from the NW (329°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. The sea is about 12°C in July, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 23°C in February, its warmest (2 mm shorty). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually March, April, May and June, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Punta del Este, 0.9 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 6 surf spots.
Water about 16°C: 3/2 wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Saved: this link opens the same trip
The link holds the trip itself: nothing about you is kept. Check the forecast again before you book.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 21 h 15 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to PDP, changing at São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU).
See flights ORD → PDP · Skyscanner from about £535 returnAdGetting there. 40 min from the airport to El Martillo.
Accommodation.
Stay in Punta del EsteAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Punta del Este (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Punta del Este 2 min by car · rooms from £70 a night · 86 places to stay · where El Martillo stays
Places to stay in Punta del Este · Booking.com AdLa Barra 18 min by car · rooms from £70 a night · 33 places to stay
Places to stay in La Barra · Booking.com AdPiriápolis 55 min by car · rooms from £70 a night · 62 places to stay
Places to stay in Piriápolis · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Punta del Este · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Punta del Este · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
El Martillo on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 13, poor | 5 ft9 s | 320kJ | wind from the south, 19 knots | 12°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 38, fair | 5 ft7 s | 258kJ | wind from the south, 6 knots | 12°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 37, fair | 4 ft7 s | 164kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 3 knots | 14°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 18, poor | 3 ft8 s | 112kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 15 knots | 15°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 13, too small | 2 ft8 s | 66kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 14 knots | 16°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 6, too small | 2 ft8 s | 41kJ | wind from the east, 18 knots | 15°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 5, too small | 2 ft4 s | 16kJ | wind from the east, 18 knots | 15°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 4, too small | 2 ft8 s | 27kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 17 knots | 14°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 51, good | 4 ft8 s | 197kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 6 knots | 13°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 46, fair | 3 ft7 s | 91kJ | offshorewind from the north, 4 knots, offshore | 15°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly ORD to PDP, changing at GRU, then 40 min by road. About 21h 15 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf El Martillo
Best 09:00 to 12:00 local time: 4 ft at 7 s, wind 3 kn (6 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctSurf El Pendorcho
Best 09:00 to 12:00 local time: 3 ft at 8 s, wind 15 kn (27 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 25 of 80.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to PDP, changing at GRU, then 40 min by road. About 21h 15 door to door
The plan picks the best of 9 spots near Punta del Este each day: El Emir, El Martillo, El Pedro, El Pendorcho, La Olla, La Plage, La Virgen, Los Dedos, Zorba.
Rough cost
About £1,055–£2,025 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to PDP, estimated from distance and season, changing at GRU, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £535–£1,115 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £30–£55 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £185–£305 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £185–£345 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £85–£140 |
| Total | £1,055–£2,025 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Punta del Este
- CrêpasPancake house · 0.2 km from the centre
- Fish And ChipsFish and chips · 0.2 km from the centre
- Pez Globo Punta Del EsteSushi · 0.2 km from the centre
- Watashi Sushi & WokSushi · 0.2 km from the centre
- DamianoItalian · 0.4 km from the centre
- Il Mondo della PizzaPizza · 0.4 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.