One of the best things about basing yourself in La Barra is how easy it is to explore beyond the beach. Within a few hours, you can be in a totally different country, a sleepy colonial town, or deep in nature, all without long, stressful travel days (which matters a lot when you’re traveling with kids). You can put on a fun audiobook for the whole family and the time flies!
We spent 3 months living in La Barra with Boundless Life. During those 3 months we explored around the area and even took longer trips during the mid-cohort break (school break).
Here are some of our favorite family friendly trips from La Barra, I hope this list inspires you to explore even more during your time there.
If you want to learn more about our stay with Boundless Life in La Barra, you can read our honest review here.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Best for: Culture, food, city adventure
Travel time: ~1 hour flight from Punta del Este or ferry via Montevideo
Buenos Aires feels like Europe meets Latin America, wide boulevards, incredible food, and so much energy.
Why families love it:
- Easy flights from Punta del Este or take the ferry for a fun adventure
- Walkable neighborhoods like Palermo
- Parks, playgrounds, cafés, and ice cream everywhere
Check out our full travel guide for Buenos Aires with kids.
Punta del Este: A High-Energy Family Day Trip
Just a short drive from La Barra, Punta del Este offers a completely different vibe, more buzz, more options, and lots of easy wins for families who want a full “day out” feeling.
Think:
- Sea lions lounging at the marina
- One of the best playgrounds in the region (Parque El Jagüel)
- Skate parks, wide open spaces, and kid-friendly beaches
- Casual restaurants, ice cream stops, and easy meals
We loved dipping into Punta when we wanted a change of pace from La Barra’s quieter rhythm, it never felt overwhelming, just energetic enough to keep everyone engaged.
If you’re planning a visit, we’ve put together a full guide to Punta del Este with kids, including must-do parks, beaches, animals, and family-friendly activities. This was one of our favorite family friendly trips from La Barra.
Speaking of food, read about our where to eat in La Barra recommendations here.
José Ignacio
Best for: Laid-back beach days, sunsets, slow living
Travel time: 20 minutes
This is the easiest “trip” from La Barra, and one we did often.
Don’t miss:
- The lighthouse (simple but iconic)
- Long beach walks with kids
- Sunset dinners overlooking the water
Perfect for a half-day escape when you want a change of scenery without packing much.
Cabo Polonio
Best for: Wildlife, adventure, unplugging
Travel time: ~3 hours
Cabo Polonio feels like stepping into another world, no paved roads, limited electricity, and seals everywhere.
Why it’s unforgettable for kids:
- Riding in the 4×4 trucks through sand dunes
- Seeing sea lions up close
- Learning what life looks like without screens
This works best as an overnight trip so it doesn’t feel rushed.
Punta del Diablo
Best for: Surf vibes, relaxed beach town energy
Travel time: ~2.5–3 hours
More laid-back than Punta del Este, Punta del Diablo is colorful, creative, and welcoming for families.
Great with kids because:
- Casual restaurants and beach cafés
- Surf lessons for beginners
- Small-town feel where kids can roam a bit more freely
Rocha Countryside & Laguna Garzón
Best for: Nature, wildlife, quiet exploration
Travel time: 1–1.5 hours
If you want to slow things way down, this region is full of lagoons, birds, and open space.
Things to look for:
- Flamingos and native birds
- Quiet swimming spots
- Scenic drives and picnic stops
This is a lovely reset day between busier adventures.
Ready to turn the world into your family’s classroom? Boundless Life combines worldschooling, community, and unforgettable travel so your kids learn through experience.
Use code “BLINKS” to get €400 off your next cohort.
Montevideo
Best for: History, food, urban culture
Travel time: ~2.5 hours
Montevideo feels more lived-in and local compared to Punta del Este.
Family-friendly highlights:
- Rambla walks along the water
- Markets and casual food spots
- Museums and plazas to explore
It’s a great stop if you’re heading toward Buenos Aires or want to show kids a different side of Uruguay.
If you’re looking for fun things to do right in La Barra, check out our favorites here.
Sierra de las Ánimas
Best for: Hiking, nature, active kids
Travel time: ~1.5 hours
One of the best places near La Barra for kids who need to move their bodies.
Why it works:
- Gentle hikes with big views
- Wildlife spotting
- Cooler temperatures on hot days
Colonia del Sacramento
Best for: History, cobblestone streets, easy wandering
Travel time: ~4.5 hours
Colonia del Sacramento feels like stepping into a storybook. It’s small, charming, and incredibly easy to explore with kids.
Why families love it:
- Car-free feeling in the historic quarter
- Cobblestone streets that feel safe for wandering
- Old city walls, lighthouses, and ruins kids can explore
- Tons of ice cream stops and casual cafés
This is a great overnight stop or a slow day trip if you’re already making your way toward Buenos Aires (there is a ferry that leaves from there).
Want to Go Further? Bigger South American Adventures From La Barra
One of the things we didn’t fully appreciate before arriving in Uruguay was how naturally La Barra can become a long-term base for bigger South American trips. Once you’re settled, confident, and grounded, it suddenly feels much easier to say yes to destinations that might have felt intimidating before. That opens up so many possibilities for family friendly trips from La Barra.
During our time here, we used Uruguay as a launch point for several bucket-list trips:
Patagonia
- Wide open landscapes and dramatic scenery
- A completely different pace from beach life
- One of those trips that reminds you how vast and wild South America really is
Rio de Janeiro
- High energy, iconic beaches, and unforgettable views
- A powerful contrast to the calm, understated rhythm of Uruguay
- Great reminder that you can dip into chaos… and then come home to calm
Here’s our full family travel guide for Rio de Janeiro.
Ready to turn the world into your family’s classroom? Boundless Life combines worldschooling, community, and unforgettable travel so your kids learn through experience.
Use code “BLINKS” to get €400 off your next cohort.
Cusco & the Sacred Valley
- Deep history and culture
- One of the most meaningful trips we’ve taken as a family
- A place that stretches kids (and adults) in the best possible way
Learn more about visiting Peru in our family travel guide here.
Each of these trips felt more doable because La Barra was our anchor. We weren’t constantly on the move. The kids had routines. We had a home to return to. That sense of stability made longer flights, bigger adventures, and unfamiliar cultures feel exciting instead of overwhelming.
If you’re curious, we’ve shared full posts about Patagonia, Rio, and Cusco that dive deeper into what those trips were like as a family and how we planned them.
