Uruguay
SOUTH AMERICA · 6 PLACES
Wedged between Argentina and Brazil, Uruguay swaps crowds for empty Atlantic sand, off-grid dune villages and UNESCO cobbles. It also runs the longest carnival on earth.
Montevideo
Carnival city, port-market parrillas and 22km of rambla to walk off dinner
Punta del Este
The big beach resort: Casapueblo, sea lions and a giant hand in the sand
Colonia del Sacramento
Portuguese cobbles and river sunsets, one hour by ferry from Buenos Aires
Jose Ignacio
Six streets, a lighthouse and the barefoot-luxury beaches Punta escapes to
Cabo Polonio
No grid power, no road in. Sea lions, dunes and a very dark night sky
Punta del Diablo
Sand streets, surf and the Santa Teresa fort and forest next door
One month here
Carnival city, port-market parrillas and 22km of rambla to walk off dinner
Portuguese cobbles and river sunsets, one hour by ferry from Buenos Aires
The big beach resort: Casapueblo, sea lions and a giant hand in the sand
Six streets, a lighthouse and the barefoot-luxury beaches Punta escapes to
No grid power, no road in. Sea lions, dunes and a very dark night sky
Sand streets, surf and the Santa Teresa fort and forest next door
Three months here
Base for carnival season, day trips to wine country and the whole Ciudad Vieja
Slow the pace right down and use it to cross into Argentina and back
Beach months plus La Barra, Punta Ballena and the museums nobody rushes
Long lunches, the Laguna Garzon bridge and Pueblo Garzon inland
Long enough to walk to Valizas over the dunes and back again slowly
Learn to surf, watch whales July to October, and live off fresh fish
Festivals worth flying for
Carnaval · Late January to early March
The world's longest carnival: 40-odd nights of murga and candombe tablados across Montevideo
Desfile de Llamadas · Early February
Candombe drum parade down Isla de Flores through Barrio Sur and Palermo. 2026 ran 6-7 February
Fiesta de la Patria Gaucha · Early March, Tacuarembo
Nine days of jineteada bronc riding, 4,000 horses and recreated gaucho encampments
Semana Criolla del Prado · Easter week, Montevideo
Rodeo, folk music and asado at the Prado showground. 2026 ran 30 March to 5 April
Whale season · July to October
Southern right whales pass close to shore along the Rocha coast. Not a festival, but the winter draw
In an emergency
Emergency number 911
911 reaches police nationwide, free from any mobile. Fire is 104 and ambulance is 105 — separate numbers, so know which one you need.
Language
Spanish, in a distinct Rioplatense accent using 'vos' not 'tu'. Little English.
Money
Cards widely taken; pay by card and non-residents get 9 VAT points off meals. Cash in Rocha.
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