Playa Bikini

Bikini Beach sits on a gentle curve of golden sand at Manantiales, about twenty minutes east of Punta del Este along Ruta 10. It's a wide, open stretch of soft sand backed by low dunes and beach houses, with steady Atlantic surf rolling in all day. Because the curve opens towards the west, the sun drops right into the water during sunset. On a clear evening the low sun lights the waves from behind and the wet sand goes gold, so plan to stay late into the evening. The long rolling waves, low dunes and beach houses give you lots to experiment with during long warm-light frames. Summer here will bring a different kind of vibe to your photography. In January and February the sand fills with umbrellas and surfers enjoying the long waves. Mornings are usually quiet all year round if peaceful photography is your goal. Getting here is simple. A small parking lot sits above the beach, but it does fill fast during tourist season and buses run along Ruta 10 from Punta del Este. (Manantiales, Maldonado, Uruguay)