URUGUAY TRAVEL GUIDE

ESSENTIALS | WHEN TO GO | BUDGET | ACTIVITIES | HIGHLIGHTS

Uruguay is a South American country known for its verdant interior and beach-lined coast. The capital, Montevideo, revolves around Plaza Independencia, once home to a Spanish citadel. Progressive, stable, safe and culturally sophisticated, Uruguay offers visitors opportunities to experience everyday ‘not made for tourists’ moments, whether caught in a cow-and-gaucho (cowboy) traffic jam on a dirt road to nowhere or strolling with maté-toting locals along Montevideo’s beachfront.

It pays to dig deeper than just the cosmopolitan Montevideo though. Go wildlife-watching along the Atlantic coast, or hot-spring-hopping up the Río Uruguay, or horseback riding under the big sky of Uruguay’s interior, where vast fields spread out like oceans.

RELATED POSTS

TRAVEL ADVISORY

LOCATION MAP

COUNTRY MAP

Do You Need a VISA to Visit

URUGUAY?

<<VISA RESULT>>

<< Visa Details >>

URUGUAY QUICK FACTS

• Capital: Montevideo
• Government: Republic
• Currency: Uruguayan peso (UYU)
• Area: 176,220 km²
• Population: 3,449 million (2018)
• Language: Spanish (official), Portuñol, or Brasilero
• Religion: Roman Catholic 47%, non-professing or other the remainder, with almost 20% agnostic/atheist

Uruguay is often called the Switzerland of South America not for geographical features but for a stable democracy and social benefits such as free education, but mostly due to a developed financial sector based on bank secrecy.

In 2013 Uruguay became the first country in the world to fully legalize cannabis. Uruguayan citizens are allowed to grow up to 6 marijuana plants for personal use each year, and are entitled to purchase up to 40g per month at local pharmacies through the government’s national distribution system. Smoking marijuana in public is perfectly legal – for anyone, foreigners included – in the same places where cigarette smoking is permitted. However, non-Uruguayans are not allowed to purchase any for themselves.

URUGUAY PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

• 6 January, Epiphany/Children’s Day
• 19 April, Landing Day of the 33 Orientales
• 1 May, Labor Day
• 18 May, Battle of Las Piedras
• 19 June, Birthday of José Gervasio Artigas
• 18 July, Constitution Day
• 25 August, Independence Day
• 12 October, Battle of Sarandi/Día de la Raza
• 2 November, All Souls’ Day

FESTIVALS IN URUGUAY

• Carnaval - Much livelier and longer-lasting than its Buenos Aires counterpart, Montevideo’s multiweek Carnaval is the cultural highlight of the year. Festivities begin as early as January and end as late as March, depending on the year. Montevideanos cut loose in a big way every year, with music and dance filling the air for a solid month. Not to be missed is the early February Desfile de las Llamadas, a two-night parade of comparsas (neighbourhood Carnaval societies) through the streets of Palermo and Barrio Sur districts. Another key element of Montevideo’s Carnaval are the murgas, organized groups of 15 to 17 gaudily dressed performers, including three percussionists, who perform original pieces of musical theatre, often satirical and based on political themes all over the city
• Semana Criolla - (March) After Carnaval, this is Montevideo’s liveliest fest, and is essentially a celebration of gaucho culture – those tough-looking, leather boot-wearing cowboys from Uruguay’s interior who manage to make oversized belt buckles look cool. Come for rodeo events, concerts, open-air barbecues and craft fairs.
• Fiesta de la Patria Gaucha - (March) This colourful, homegrown five-day event in Tacuarembó is the planet’s largest gaucho festival, attracting participants from Argentina, southern Brazil and all over Uruguay for exhibitions of traditional gaucho skills, music and other activities. (http://www.patriagaucha.com.uy/)
• Días del Patrimonio - In the last weekend of September or first weekend of October, Montevideo’s museums, churches and historic homes all open their doors free to the public during the National Heritage Days, celebrated throughout Uruguay.

URUGUAY WEATHER SYNOPSIS

Warm Temperate; Freezing Temperatures Almost Unknown

URUGUAY TOURIST SEASONS

HOT MONTHS:

.

MODERATE MONTHS:

.

COLD MONTHS:

.

WET MONTHS:

.

DRY MONTHS:

.

SPORT & ACTIVITIES

HEALTH RISKS IN URUGUAY

Be aware of possible health risks in 

Uruguay

Yellow fever - The yellow fever virus is found in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa and South America. The virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no medicine to treat or cure an infection. To prevent getting sick from yellow fever, use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and get vaccinated.

Zika Virus - Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. These mosquitoes bite during the day and night. Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects. There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika.

Malaria - Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. People who get malaria are typically very sick with high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illness. Although malaria can be a deadly disease, illness and death from malaria can usually be prevented.

Dengue - Dengue is spread mostly by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. These mosquitoes bite during the day and night. About one in four people infected with dengue will get sick. For people who get sick with dengue, symptoms can be mild or severe.

124

VALUE RANK:

/ 199

URUGUAY TRAVEL TIPS

• Uruguay is a paradise for travellers who want to get off the beaten track. Look beyond the tourist hot spots and embrace Uruguay’s wide-open spaces in places like Valle del Lunarejo and Cabo Polonio.

• Travel in Uruguay is refreshingly easy. Buses are frequent, efficient, comfortable and relatively inexpensive, while driving Uruguay’s sparsely travelled back roads is considerably less stressful than in many other South American countries.

• If possible, visit Montevideo on the weekend, when you can enjoy some of the city’s most iconic local events, like the Ciudad Vieja antiques market.

• One of the prettiest beach towns on the Atlantic Coast, the Punta del Diablo has an easy-going vibe and laid-back guesthouses, beachfront bars and fireside parties on the sands.

GETTING AROUND MONTEVIDEO

• Buses, shuttle vans, taxis and remises (private cars) make the 20km journey from the airport into Montevideo. Cheapest are the local Copsa and Cutcsa buses (US$1.50, 45 minutes) that leave from a stop directly in front of the arrivals hall, making frequent stops en route to Terminal Suburbana, five blocks north of Plaza del Entrevero. Faster and more comfortable is COT’s direct bus service between the airport (US$4.50, 30 minutes) and Tres Cruces bus terminal. Look for the stop to the right as you exit the arrivals hall. Shared shuttle vans (five-person minimum) also travel from the airport to the center (US$10 per person); buy tickets from the taxi counter in the airport arrivals hall. Fixed-rate airport taxis charge between US$30 to US$40 (depending on neighbourhood) for the 30- to 45-minute taxi ride from the airport into Montevideo. You can also book a private car (remise) for the same price in advance on www.bybremises.com.

• Montevideo’s city buses, operated by Cutcsa, go almost everywhere for < US$1 per ride. For the beach neighbourhoods of Punta Carretas and Pocitos, take city buses 174 and 183, respectively, from in front of the terminal.

• At the time of writing Uber is available in Montevideo as well as in Punta del Este.

GETTING AROUND URUGUAY

• Buses are comfortable, the government-regulated fares are reasonable and distances are short. Many companies offer free wi-fi on board. In the few cities that lack terminals, all companies are within easy walking distance of each other, usually around the main plaza.

• If you are staying in Uruguay less than 90 days and plan to drive, you need only bring a valid driver’s license from your home country. Uruguayan drivers are extremely considerate on average.

• Taxis, remises (private cars) and local buses are similar to those in Argentina. Taxis are metered; between 10pm and 6am, and on Sundays and holidays, fares are 20% higher. There’s a small additional charge for luggage, and passengers generally tip the driver by rounding fares up to the next multiple of five or 10 pesos. Uber and similar ride-sharing services are also widely used in Montevideo and Punta de Este.

• Micros (minibuses) form the backbone of the local transit network in smaller coastal towns such as La Paloma.

More location information and points of interest are available in the above map

WESTERN URUGUAY

The land west of Montevideo is in many ways the ‘real’ Uruguay – little river towns separated by large expanses of pampas and wheat fields. It’s far off the tourist trail, mostly, except for the region’s superstar, Colonia del Sacramento, whose charms attract visitors from all over the world.

Take a step back in time as you explore the gracious 18th-century cobbled streets and fascinating history of former smugglers’ haven, Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. Check out the great bar and restaurant scene and the gorgeous position on a peninsula of the Río de la Plata. All this and its super-accessible location a short hop away from both Montevideo and Buenos Aires make ‘Colonia’ a classic tourist town, but even on weekends it’s worth dodging the crowds and letting yourself get seduced by the town’s eternal charms.

EASTERN URUGUAY

This is Uruguay’s playground - a long stretch of beaches all the way from Montevideo to the Brazilian border offers something for everyone: from surfers, party animals, nature lovers to family groups. In midsummer prices skyrocket and beach towns seriously pack out. During the rest of the year you might have them to yourself. Conflicts between Spain and Portugal, and then between Argentina and Brazil, left eastern Uruguay with historical monuments such as the imposing fortress of Santa Teresa. Just inland lies a varied landscape of palm savannas, lagoons and marshes rich in birdlife.

CHOOSE NEXT DESTINATION

RELATED POSTS

RECENT BLOG POSTS