Authorities in Punta del Este, Uruguay, have advanced plans for the Cipriani Resort, Residences & Casino, a mixed-use development that will incorporate a casino within a 320-meter tower projected to become the tallest building in South America.
The initiative is structured as a private investment of approximately $500m and combines residential, hospitality and gaming operations within the same complex.
The project includes a casino as part of the main program of the development, alongside restaurant areas, a bar, a VIP lounge, an event space, a beach club, and a 64-room hotel.
The tower will also house residential units, with delivery of the first phase scheduled for 2027. The residences will operate under a high-end positioning and will include building services based on security, concierge assistance and technology-enabled infrastructure.
The casino will function as one of the principal commercial anchors of the complex, integrated into the broader hospitality offering and international tourism market of Punta del Este. A second phase of the project is expected to incorporate 120 hotel suites and 68 additional residences, expanding capacity for regional and cross-border visitation, particularly from Brazil.
The development also involves the reconstruction and integration of the historic Hotel San Rafael building, originally opened in 1948, which will be incorporated into the new site program while maintaining elements of its architectural identity within a redesigned residential and gaming environment.
The Cipriani brand has additionally outlined regional expansion plans in Latin America, including a proposed Casa Cipriani project in São Paulo, although timelines and location details remain under evaluation.
Chile's Costanera Center is 300 meters tall. If completed as planned, the Punta del Este tower will surpass it and become the tallest building in South America
