Punta del Este is looking to have a record-breaking season so unless you have a (very) flexible budget, getting accomodations from now until January 12-15, which is the ultra-peak season, is going to be challenging. Not impossible, but its going to be seriously expensive.

Yes, the Peso is currently strong (or the Dollar is weak, depending on how you look at it), but in PDE nominal prices are historically very high - and especially so during the last week of December and the first two weeks of January. The top places in Punta have become a playground for the international jet-set of sorts, what was once the place for wealthy Argentines is now more popular amongst not only Brazilians & Mexicans, but also from Americans (US) and also Europeans. If you go really high-end in Punta, expect to pay Monaco like- prices.