Playa La Balconada, Atlantic coast beach in La Paloma, Uruguay

Playa La Balconada is a beach in La Paloma, in the Rocha department of Uruguay, on the Atlantic coast about 190 km east of Montevideo. It is one of the department's busiest beaches, drawing groups of young people and many families, and it is also a meeting point for surfers. Waves break both left and right over a sandy bottom, reaching up to 2 metres, with medium to high difficulty.

The beach was part of La Paloma's transformation from a small fishing village to a major coastal destination beginning in the 1970s. This shift brought increased visitors and development to the area, establishing it as a regular gathering place.

The name comes from the curved shape of the cove, which resembles a balcony facing the sea. You can observe how the sheltered waters make it a gathering spot where families and locals spend time together along the shore.

The beach has lifeguards from December through February plus public restrooms and parking areas. The shallow waters make it easy to access, but checking local conditions before entering the water is always a good idea.

From July to October, southern right whales can be spotted from the shore at La Balconada and neighbouring Anaconda beach, often close enough to see from the sand. The surf breaks over a sandy bottom as a left and right wave reaching up to 2 metres, with optimal conditions under south to west winds and east to east-southeast swell.