South America Uruguay

A land of rolling hills and many miles of coast and beaches, Uruguay shares its borders with its much larger neighbours Argentina and Brazil. It is a friendly and open country with a cultured and literate population and is good value for money for the visitor. The capital Montevideo has an interesting old city and the highlights in this area are the Mercado del Puerto, a former dockside market which has become an emporium for traditional food and drink, and the magnificently restored Solis Theatre.

Uruguay’s most famous beach resort is Punta del Este which in season (Dec-Mar) is packed with visitors and locals taking their Summer break. Two hours drive west of Montevideo, is Colonia del Sacramento a unique remnant of colonial buildings in this part of the continent.

There is a growing network of Estancias where visitors can relax for a few days, observe the gauchos at work or even ride for themselves the excellent quality horses at their disposal. The luxurious Four Seasons Resort in Carmelo provides a pampered break for all at any time of the year.

When to visit

Most tourists visit Uruguay during the Summer (December- March) which is also high season when accommodation prices are most expensive. Summer temperatures may reach 30C but there is always some breezes off the Atlantic to temper the heat and the nights are relatively cool. Winter (June-September) temperatures average 10-16C but cold fronts moving through can sometimes reduce these temperatures significantly. Out of the main Summer season many places on the coast are closed.