Punta del Este (Maldonado) has been chosen to as the location for the South American Darwin200 celebration because the symbolic meaning of the place, its natural beauty and entertainment possibilities. Indeed, Charles Darwin stayed in the region of Maldonado that today is called Punta del Este for more than 10 weeks in 1833 during his HMS Beagle journey (read more about Darwin in Uruguay in his diary). Besides, Punta del Este is one of the most important resorts not only in Uruguay but also in Latin America (see wikipedia entry), being well known for the beauty of its beaches, the peaceful countryside 'sierras', the natural lagoons surrounding the peninsula, and its charming environment.

Those attending the meeting can expect to find many attractions in Punta del Este since the place is ideal for nautical sports, sportive fishing (remarkable shark fishing), horse-back riding and wildlife observation (links). A notable example is the excursion to 'Isla de Lobos' (Sea lions' Island) located 11 kilometers offshore, that has a huge population of south american sea lions with more than 200 thousands individuals (local agencies organize excursions to the island). Moreover, the period of the year when the meeting will take place is ideal for the observation of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) directly from the coast, since these whales use the Bay of Maldonado as a resting point in their migration between Antarctica an the Brazilian coast.