Just beyond Punta del Este, the landscape opens into a world of rolling fields, quiet country roads and private estates. In Maldonado, country properties often begin with three to five hectares and extend from there. Known locally as chacras, they offer enough land to create a genuine sense of escape while still being within easy reach of the coast.

A chacra is often more than a home. It is a weekend retreat, a gathering place and somewhere to slow down. Horses graze alongside cattle and sheep, dogs have room to roam, and vegetable gardens, orchards and small vineyards become part of everyday life.

Days tend to revolve around the outdoors. A fire is lit for an asado, friends gather around a long table, children disappear into the fields, and evenings stretch well beyond sunset. Some chacras are simple and rustic; others have evolved into extraordinary country estates with guest houses, pools, stables, tennis courts and beautifully landscaped grounds.

What they share is space — and a different rhythm of life. And perhaps that is their greatest luxury.