Uruguay

Uruguay is arty, wealthy and well-groomed. But, away from its cities and polished beach resorts, things get a little wilder. Gauchos canter across open pampas, and sand dunes flank tiny fishing villages where time seems to stand still. Though it’s sandwiched between Argentina and Brazil, our specialists think Uruguay merits a trip in its own right (although it proves a rewarding next step from its bordering countries). They’ve explored it on foot, on horseback, and behind the wheel, and they’ll use this knowledge to help you make the most of your holiday to Uruguay, however long you choose to spend here.

Driving is straightforward, and most attractions are within easy reach. You might explore the former Portuguese colony of Colonia del Sacramento, rub shoulders with the well-heeled residents of beachside José Ignacio, and dine in Montevideo’s finest steakhouses. Or, sidestep civilisation altogether and relax in vineyards or on a remote estancia.

Uruguay is most frequently combined with time in Argentina, either in the form of a visit across the River Plate from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento or Montevideo, or by ending a trip around Argentina with a beach stay on the Uruguayan coast.
However, for those with an interest in the outdoors, in particular birds, ranches and riding plus good food and drink, Uruguay easily offers enough to fill a week or even two

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to travel to Uruguay – particularly to its coastal areas – is during its summer months between November and February, with many of the beach resorts effectively closing for much of the year as soon as summer slips into autumn. However, travel is possible year-round; especially if focusing on more cultural sites and cities.

 

What to Pack

Things to do and see

Food and drink

Montevideo has a wide selection of great cuisine, both local and international, as you might expect from a thriving capital city.
Uruguayan wine is not as famous as its Chilean and Argentine neighbours but its Tannat, manufactured with a sturdy grape, is definitely worth a try and is becoming more readily available worldwide. One of its varieties was awarded the prestigious ‘Best Red Wine of the World’ in Ljubljana’s 2006 International Wine Competition.

How to Get Around

VISA

UK passport holders require a Cuban Tourist card to visit Cuba: we can arrange this on your behalf. As well as being a fantastic country to visit in its own right Cuba can very easily be combined with Costa Rica or Mexico.

Language

The official language is Spanish, although English is widely understood and spoken by many in the tourist industry.

money and expense

The currency is the ‘peso’, its symbol being ‘$’. Notes are available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 pesos, while coins come in 0.50, 1, 2, 5 and 10 peso denominations.
We would recommend taking some US dollars with you to Uruguay, the smaller the denomination the better. The easiest way to obtain cash whilst there is by using ATMs (in major cities) which operate under the sign Redbanc. They take Cirrus, Visa and Mastercard. Credit cards are widely accepted, in particular Diner’s Club, Visa and Mastercard. American Express is less recognised.
Travellers cheques (in US dollars) are accepted at reasonable rates if exchanging them for pesos.
Allow £30 – £50 a day for basic day-to-day expenses (drinks, meals, etc). A local beer will normally cost around £1.30, a 2 course lunch £15 and a 2 course dinner £20. The further off the beaten track you are the more expensive goods tend to be.
Tipping for good service is an accepted fact and amounts are obviously discretionary.

Tipping

Tipping not compulsory

Please ask permission before taking photographs.

Adaptor

WIFI