Travel to Uruguay

Travel Guide, Tourism Information, History, Geography, Government and Culture

San Gregorio de Polanco

San Gregorio de Polanco

Rent in San Gregorio for your next vacations.

Your relax

This is a very beautiful city where the time stops, also is the first open museum of Latin America, where you can see paintings of national and international artists.

It’s from a long time a very important resort where is the ideal place to relax and enjoy the nature.

There you can take a rest, you can breathe fresh air, you can go on long walks, ride horses, eat healty and more. We recommend you at least two days in this very calm place.

Resort Lugarcito

Very comfortable commodities.
2 bedrooms up to five persons.
Kitchen fully equipped.Tv, Audio and more

Photos here

Prices and reservations: contact us here




Colonia del Sacramento tourism

Colonia del Sacramento Information - A portuguese fort

This charming little coastal town dating back to the 17th century should not be missed. A former fortress and contraband port now protected by UNESCO, Colonia has wonderful old Portuguese colonial architecture and streets shaded by sycamores. The old Barrio Historico is a slow-paced hamlet, a place to stroll cobblestone lanes, linger under palm trees in the park or sit and watch local fishermen cast for the day’s catch. On our most recent trip there, the air was fragrant from spring blooms - a welcome change from the more-polluted air of Buenos Aires and Montevideo.

Tour the fortress walls, lighthouse, municipal museum, the historical museums (Museo Espanol, Museo Portugues) and the oldest church in Uruguay, the Iglesia Matriz del Santisimo Sacramento, which dates from 1699. There’s also an old bull ring to check out, the only one in the country (bullfighting was abolished shortly after the ring was built). And take note of the daily yerba mate ritual - it’s quite a spectacle to see so many people imbibing the herbal tea-like drink in the late afternoon. Ferries and hydrofoils connect Colonia with Buenos Aires. 100 mi/160 km west of Montevideo.



Punta del Este tourist information

Punta del Este travel information

During high season, glamorous Punta del Este (or Punta, as most call it after a couple of days) is filled with rich South Americans, mainly Argentinians, looking for sun and fun. It’s a narrow spit of land jutting into the Atlantic, surrounded by beaches. Around its edge is the oceanfront promenade, the Rambla General Artigas, which is lined with cafes, bars and seafood restaurants. You can spend the day at the beach enjoying one of many water sports (yachting, swimming, surfing, deep-sea fishing and waterskiing). Then relax in the afternoon with a traditional British high tea (tea and scones) at one of the tea rooms in town. The wonderfully surreal Casa Pueblo is a good place for a break from the sun: The Moorish-style fortress, once the home of painter Carlos Paez Vilaro, is now an art gallery and hotel. Punta also has great golf courses, tennis courts and a vibrant night life (discos and casinos).

One geographic thing we particularly enjoy in Punta is being able to watch the sun both rise and set over water. The beaches are good, with each having a certain ambience of its own - one stretch of sand may be for families, another for sporty types, one for teenagers and another for supermodels. They change from season to season, so you’ll just have to find where you’re comfortable. Playa Mansa, protected by the peninsula, is calmer than the Playa Brava beaches that face the Atlantic. The Mansa beaches are favored by families and water-sports enthusiasts. Playa Brava’s waves draw surfers, and the activity carries on into the night, with numerous pubs and nightlife options.

harbor in Punta del esteDay trips can be taken to Isla Gorriti, a beautiful island just off the coast, which has uncrowded white beaches and the ruins of an 18th-century fort. Another boat trip will take you to Isla de Lobos, an island jammed with sea lions. If you would rather travel by car, drive a short way to the pleasant resort town of Piriapolis, anchored by the grande dame of Uruguayan resorts, the Argentino Hotel. Or drive along the East side of the peninsula past the spectacular mansions to Jose Ignatio, an increasingly popular small resort just outside of town with perhaps the prettiest beaches and best waves in Uruguay.

The season runs from December to March (summertime in the Southern Hemisphere). During peak season, the beaches can be crowded, the traffic horrendous and the prices steep. The best time to visit is early December until mid February. 70 mi/110 km east of Montevideo.




Montevideo travel information

Montevideo Information

The nation’s capital, Montevideo, is one of South America’s more attractive capitals, even if its once grand colonial architecture could use a little sprucing up. Home to more than a third of the country’s 3.3 million people, it’s a city of beaches, plazas, restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and casinos. The Ciudad Vieja (Old Town) and the newer downtown area hold the most interest for visitors, but keep in mind that you should explore the Ciudad Vieja during daylight hours only. We suggest two nights to visit both the old and new parts of town.

A pleasant way to start your tour is to see the entire city from the 11th-story terrace of the Palacio Municipal, located on the main street, Avenida 18 de Julio. Or you can take in the view from the old Spanish fort. Afterward, go to Ordonez Park to see the rose garden (more than 850 varieties) and La Carreta (a covered-wagon monument - there’s a similar one for stagecoaches in El Prado Park). Other sights include the Palacio Taranco (18th-century European-style mansion), the Casa Garibaldi (once the home of Italian freedom fighter Giuseppe Garibaldi) and the Solis Theater (one of the best theaters in South America, it was undergoing renovations last time we were in town). If you need to take a break for a coffee or beer, both Plaza Entrevero and Plaza Constitucion have pleasant outdoor cafes.

But if it’s lunchtime, head for the Mercado del Puerto in the Ciudad Vieja. Inside this ornate building (it was once a train station), market stalls have been converted into parrillas (grills) and a few bars. Grill after enormous grill is chockablock with various meats. If a space opens up on the grill, another side of ribs is immediately thrown on to rectify the situation. Many of the establishments have proper tables, but we highly recommend sitting on a stool facing the grill for an up-close view of the action.

Also worth seeing are the Plaza Independencia, Museo Torres Garcia (works by Uruguayan artist Joaquin Torres Garcia), National Museum of Fine Arts (Parque Rodo), Museum of Natural History, the Legislative Palace (mosaic floors and stained-glass windows) and the beaches (Ramirez, Malvin or Pocitos). There’s also an interesting gaucho museum in the same building where the Banco de la Republica has a small money museum. Make a point of stopping in, if only to see the building itself - the interior is marvelous. The Rambla, the avenue running along the beach, is good for walking.

Montevideo has several interesting outdoor markets, including the Feria de Villa Biarritz (open on Saturday) and the flea-markety Feria de Tristan Narvaja (Sunday morning). The artisans market, located on San Jose Street, is open every day but Sunday. If time is available, drive around the suburbs and the harbor to see ships coming in (sunset from the pier is beautiful). Festivals include a modest version of Carnival and a rodeo during Easter.


Places to Visit

Montevideo - Punta del este - Piriápolis - Punta del Diablo - Cabo Polonio - Colonia - Salto - Countryside

Montevideo

Picture of Montevideo from Uruguay
The oldest part of Montevideo is La Ciudad Vieja (The old city) (1724). The architecture in this part of the city is mainly Colonial with narrow streets.It is very nice to hang out in “El Mercado del puerto”. Here you can have a lunch accompanied by live music, the best beer in the most montevidean enviroment of the city.

Every saturday, in downtown, a big antique market with typical Uruguayan art and pieces made of silver, stones and, pure wool products.
La Ciudad Vieja is connected with the rest of the city by the “puerta de la ciudadela”.

> Know more

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Tango in Montevideo
The Most famous tango

Main square

Montevideo main square
When you go through the “puerta de la ciudadela” there is the big “Plaza Independencia” (Main square) on which you will find a statue of one of the heroes in history of Uruguay “José Artigas”.

He fought against the Spanish but was unable to prevent a Brazilian takeover of the “Banda Oriental” (the original name of the eastern shore of the Río de la Plata).

From the “Plaza Independencia” you will look at the main shopping street of Montevideo; 18 de Julio
The development of this part of the city started in 1832.

Arquitecture trip

 

Punta del Este

Punta del Este girl in the beach
The peninsula Punta del Este is THE PLACE to go if you like a summer full of disco’s, beaches, nightlife and beautifull people. It is the place for surfing, sailing, golf and jetskiing.

It is the place where the rich from all over the world spent their vacation. Punta del Este lies two and a half hour drive west of Montevideo. There is also a international airport.

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Piriápolis

Piriapolis tourism information
Also beautifull but more quite are the beaches of Piriapolis.
Developed before Punta del Este along the lines of a European spa resort, Piriápolis attracts visitors for its excellent beaches, lively nightlife, recreational facilities and relaxed vacation lifestyle.

Punta del Diablo
Punta del Diablo information
If you want a real quite place, go to Punta del Diablo.

The coast is a combination of sand and rocks. This place is highly recommended for those who have enough with bare necessities.There are only a small amount of “cabañas” and houses for rent.

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Cabo Polónio
Cabo Polonio beaches
Also beautifull but more quite are the beaches of Piriapolis.

The village Piriapolis is surrounded by parks, where you can walk or go horse backriding

 

Colonia del Sacramento

Holidays in Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia de sacramento is a small village two and a half hour drive from Montevideo. It was put on the list of world heritage of UNESCO in 1995.

In 1680 Colonia was founded by the portugues. In the old part of the city which is more than 300 years old, you still find streets made of cobblestones and houses built in portugues style.

more about colonia here

Countryside

Wild horses in Uruguay
Go to the “Valley of Pozos Azules” for a hike and take a shower under a waterfall. You will walk on one of the highest points of Uruguay with a beautifull view, only surrounded by wild horses.

Visit “Cerro Pan de Azúcar“. Here is a reserve of native animals. Take a trip on a horse and enjoy the nature of Uruguay.

Salto

Visit the beautiful city of Salto
The city of Salto has been founded in 1817. It is situated in the northwest of Uruguay near the River Uruguay. It is the capital of the department,

Salto is most famous for its thermen which can be found outside the city and in the country-side.

So go up to Salto and stay a few days to relax in the beautifull spa’s of Uruguay.

The golden coast

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