URUGUAY TRAVEL GUIDE
Often overshadowed by its giant neighbours, Argentina to the west and Brazil to the north, Uruguay is an up and coming travel destination that is bursting with surprises. This compact nation ranks as South America’s second smallest independent country after Suriname and packs in Spanish colonial architecture, an idyllic Atlantic coastline and plenty of Latin vibes.
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URUGUAY WEATHER - When to Go
Uruguay’s climate is quite temperate. The summers and winters are mild, however, summer from December through March is the best time to visit. Temperatures during the summer range from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. Winter, June through August can be a bit chilly with temperatures averaging around 12 degrees Celsius. Spring is know for its windy and rainy days so be sure to pack some rain gear when visiting April, May and the beginning of June.
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URUGUAY HIGHLIGHTS - Places to Visit
- Montevideo: The lively capital of Montevideo sits across the Rio de la Plata from Argentina’s Buenos Aires and is the main entry point for international visitors. As Uruguay’s largest city and home to a substantial port, Montevideo is a big tourist draw, boasting excellent accommodation options and spectacular beaches. Visitors can explore the charming Old Town and Independence Square on foot, or stroll along any part of the 22km-long waterfront Rambla. There are several museums worth visiting in Montevideo including the Museo Romantico (this 1830s mansion is fully restored with furniture, ladies fans, paintings and other objects of the period), the Museo de Artes Plásticas y Visuales (National Gallery of Art) and finally - but best of all - the Museo del Gaucho y la Moneda (literally, the “Museum of Cowboy and Money”) that tells the story of Uruguay’s cowboys or gauchos (with displays including stirrups, spurs and clothing).
- If you’re there at the right time of year, Uruguayan culture can perhaps be best seen at the extraordinarily long Montevideo Carnival, lasting 40 days from February to March. Between frenetic parades make-shift theatres are set up around the city and operas and other musicals performed.
- Punta del Este and Beaches: Away from the bustling capital lies the sophisticated beach resort of Punta del Este, the perfect place to top up your tan, ogle million-dollar yachts or take a chance at one of the casinos. Surrounded by the Atlantic and the River Plate, the city is known for two types of beaches; one is calm with fine white sand and the other has strong waves and thick gold sand. Known for its nightlife and casinos it is a favourite vacation spot of the local elite. This is the spot to explore Uruguay’s ardent night scene, where tango, candombe and murga combine for an unbeatable Latin experience. Other resort cities with great beaches also located on the southern coast of Uruguay include Punta del Diablo, La Paloma and La Pedrera.
- Colonia: For architectural heritage, take a day-trip from Montevideo to the charming colonial town of Colonia del Sacramento, a World Heritage site characterised by cobbled streets and Portuguese and Spanish colonial architecture.
- Salto: For something different, head for the citrus growing city of Salto where visitors come to see the impressive Salto Grande hydroelectric dam and also to bathe in the thermal waters at Fuente Salto, just six kilometres from the city centre. Salto is also home to a comprehensive zoo, but Rocha Lagoon is a better choice for ornithologists, where the migratory bird watching is superb.
- Minas: To enjoy the countryside of Uruguay plan on visiting Minas. This town, 121-km northeast of Montevideo sits between hills and basins of the San Franciso and Campanero streams. Hike to the picturesque Villa Serrana, a very small village at the top of one of the many hills just outside of Minas.
- Estancias/Working Ranches: To get a true understanding of the gaucho way of life try visiting on of the many estancias surrounding the countryside. These working ranches allow the public to visit for the day or overnight depending on the establishment. Visitors actually live like the gauchos, working with the cattle and taking part in the daily chores necessary to run a profitable ranch.
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URUGUAY HOSPITALITY - Eat, Drink, Sleep
- Food and Eating Out: For a quick bite to eat try the empandas or meat and cheese pies. These tasty treats are easy to eat on the go and are quite inexpensive. Pick a couple up at one of the many local bakeries. When visiting an eatery be sure to sample the local specialty, gramajo. This dish included fried potatoes, ham and eggs. Or for a real treat sample the chivito, a sandwich with meat, lettuce, onion, tomato, bacon, ham, eggs, mozzarella, mayonnaise and French fries. Needless to say it is quite filling! The local dessert specialty is dulce de leche, a caramel cream that is the base for many different confections.
- Entertainment and Nightlife: There are plenty of bars and nightclubs located around Uruguay. A very popular drink in the country is Yerba Mate. Made from a plant, this thirst quencher cannot be purchased in a restaurant. Instead it must be sought out in a market. This is a social drink, though not normally appreciated by visitors due to its rather bitter taste. However if you want to score a few points with the locals ask for a sample. Uruguay is also slowly becoming known for its local wines. Many are now being served in restaurants all over the country so try to order a glass with lunch or dinner.
- Accommodation: There are many modern hotels located in the major cities of Uruguay. For those who prefer an establishment more in tune with nature try one of the may working ranches called estancias. The coastline has more beach houses than hotels available. Keep in mind that the first two weeks of January the seacoast cities fill up with vacationing Uruguayans and it is difficult to find anywhere to stay unless reservations are made well in advance.
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URUGUAY FLIGHTS - Flying from the UK
There are no direct flights between the UK and Uruguay. While it is possible to fly to Montevideo direct from Spain, you may want to fly to Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires or Santiago first, from where you can take a connecting flight, bus or ferry to the Uruguayan capital.
Ferry services from Buenos Aires to Colonia and Montevideo are popular and take about three hours.
For flight options from the UK to Ecuador, try Skyscanner, Expedia.co.uk or ebookers.
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