Quick menu<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n Colonia del Sacramento. <\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n A safe and progressive country.<\/strong> After Chile, Uruguay is the safest country in South America, but that’s not all: it’s also one of the most progressive countries in the world. Here marijuana is legal, and so are abortion and same-sex marriage. On top of that, the vast majority of its electricity is produced from renewable sources.<\/p>\r\n The beaches.<\/strong> As I already said, this is where you’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches in South America: Punta del Diablo, Punta del Este and La Paloma are the best known, but the options along the coast are practically endless. The surf at many beaches isn’t bad at all.<\/p>\r\n The cities.<\/strong> The capital, Montevideo, is safe and clean, and with only 1.3 million inhabitants it’s nowhere near as chaotic as other South American capitals, so much so that it has been named the most livable city in South America. Colonia del Sacramento, not far away, is a really pretty town whose historic center, dating back to the seventeenth century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<\/p>\r\n Food, and especially meat<\/strong>. Uruguay is a huge producer and exporter of meat (there are about four head of cattle for every inhabitant), and a huge consumer of it too (81.5kg per person per year). Asado (barbecue) is taken as seriously as in Argentina, if not more, and of course it’s delicious.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Uruguay has a temperate climate with four very distinct seasons.<\/p>\r\n Summer<\/strong>, which runs from December to February, has average temperatures ranging from 20 to 30 degrees, with peaks of 35, and rainfall is low.<\/p>\r\n Fall<\/strong> (March – May) and spring<\/strong> (September – November) aren’t particularly cold: during the day temperatures hover around 20 degrees and the nights are cool.<\/p>\r\n Winter<\/strong> (June – August) isn’t particularly cold, with average daytime temperatures of 10-15 degrees that rarely drop below freezing, but of course all the beach destinations are half-deserted, with many places even closing their doors.<\/p>\r\n To sum up, the best times to go to Uruguay are December before Christmas, March and early April. Temperatures are pleasant, the beaches aren’t too crowded and prices aren’t at high-season levels. In January, February and over the Christmas holidays, the beaches are literally invaded by local, Argentinian and Brazilian tourists, and prices are high.<\/p>\r\n The Colonia del Sacramento lighthouse.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n With an Italian passport you get a free 90-day tourist visa from the moment you enter the country (the rules change depending on your nationality, so check yours).<\/p>\r\n You can renew the visa by leaving the country and coming back in, even on the same day (a process known in travel slang as a “visa run”), or by going to the national immigration office in Montevideo<\/a>; the process can be repeated up to a maximum of 1 year.<\/p>\r\n Uruguay doesn’t require any mandatory vaccinations, but Hepatitis A and B are recommended.<\/p>\r\n For up-to-date information on visas and everything else, I recommend checking your own government’s official travel advice (for example, the UK’s Foreign travel advice<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n\r\n Many travelers limit themselves to the coast because the main destinations are only a few hours apart, making a country that’s already easy to get around, given its size, even easier to navigate. Many cross Uruguay on their way from Argentina to Brazil and vice versa.<\/span><\/p>\r\n In this guide, prices are expressed in the local currency, the “Uruguayan peso,” often abbreviated as “UYU.” The exchange rate is about 1\u20ac = 45 UYU. For the current exchange rate, I recommend checking <\/span>this page<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n Founded in 1724, for years it didn’t grow in size, remaining what’s now called the Ciudad Vieja (old town); from the mid-1900s the city began to expand eastward, forming what is today the southernmost capital in all of South America. The city is pretty and has a relaxed atmosphere; there may not be any major attractions, but it’s still worth spending a couple of days there.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Although the city is certainly not known for its beaches, there are two that aren’t so bad after all: Playa Ramirez (<\/span>Google Maps<\/span><\/a>) and Playa de los Pocitos (<\/span>Google Maps<\/span><\/a>), which are extremely popular on weekends during the warm months.<\/span><\/p>\r\n As always, if you speak a bit of English or Spanish, I recommend joining the free walking tour<\/a> that takes you around the historic center (my guide was really good!).<\/p>\r\n In any case, in my opinion Montevideo’s charm lies within the old town, which you can easily explore on foot, and this is where you should spend most of your time; a visit to the Mercado del Puerto market is almost a must (<\/span>Google Maps<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n For the rest of your visit, I recommend walking along the Rambla, the approximately 22-kilometer-long bicycle and pedestrian path that runs along the coast, which is particularly pleasant in the late afternoon. And finally, soccer lovers in particular might consider visiting “Estadio Centenario” (<\/span>Google Maps<\/span><\/a>), the stadium that hosted the final of the first World Cup. <\/span>Official website<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n The stadium is really close to the bus station, about 5 km from the old town, and is easily reached by bus. The museum is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, 80 UYU.<\/span><\/p>\r\n If you decide to get around by public transport in the city, <\/span>this<\/span><\/a> is the go-to site for schedules and routes. Or apps for <\/span>Android<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>iOS<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n The gateway to Montevideo’s old town.<\/em><\/p>\r\n Where to sleep in Montevideo?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n If you’re looking for something right in the center, check out <\/span><\/i>Circus<\/span><\/i><\/a>, while <\/span><\/i>El Viajero<\/span><\/i><\/a> has a more youthful atmosphere. <\/span><\/i>Destino 26<\/span><\/i><\/a>, on the other hand, is in the Pocitos neighborhood a stone’s throw from the beach.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n How to get to Montevideo?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n Just outside the airport there are buses that go to Terminal Tres Cruces (<\/span><\/i>Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a>); from here you can also walk to the center (about 3 km) or take city buses.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n There are buses to and from Punta del Este (2 hours) and Colonia del Sacramento (2 1\/2 hours) about every hour.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n Colonia del Sacramento, particularly its small historic center, is probably the most visited destination in the country. Founded in 1680 by the Portuguese and strategically located between Brazil (a Portuguese colony) and the Spanish territories in present-day Argentina, it has changed hands several times, but despite it all it has been remarkably well preserved.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n To be honest, there isn’t much to do apart from strolling around the historic center (a UNESCO site), full of brightly colored colonial buildings, little cafes and restaurants. You can climb to the top of the lighthouse (<\/span>Google Maps<\/span><\/a>) from where there’s a great view of the city and the Rio de la Plata, 20 UYU. In my opinion, one day should be more than enough.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n Where to sleep in Colonia del Sacramento?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n Hostel & Suites del Rio<\/span><\/i><\/a>, an excellent modern and clean hostel just a stone’s throw from the center.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n How to reach Colonia del Sacramento?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n There are regular departures to Montevideo, about 2 hours. From the port (<\/span><\/i>Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a>) which is very close to the bus terminal (<\/span><\/i>Google Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a>) there are several daily ferries to and from Buenos Aires where you can continue your trip in Argentina. The cheapest company is <\/span><\/i>Colonia Express<\/span><\/i><\/a>; use the Uruguayan website (the one in the link): its prices are cheaper than the Argentinian one’s! The more expensive alternative is <\/span><\/i>Seacat<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n In the streets of Colonia.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n A small coastal town located between Montevideo and Punta del Este, famous above all for the many hills that surround it, but also for its beaches, which are much less crowded than those of nearby Punta del Este.<\/p>\r\n\r\n If you’re not interested in the beach, Piriapolis still has a lot to offer. The Castillo de Piria (<\/span>Google Maps<\/span><\/a>)<\/span>, the home of the town’s founder Francisco Piria, is undoubtedly the most beautiful building in town; it’s not a must-see, but admission is free and you can find interesting information about the town’s history. A little further north along the same road there’s a sort of reserve\/zoo called “Pan de Azucar Reserve” (<\/span>Google Maps<\/span><\/a>)<\/span>, also free. I recommend visiting it early in the morning or in the late afternoon, when the animals are more active.<\/p>\r\n As I already said, there are loads of hills around town: San Antonio (<\/span>Google Maps<\/span><\/a>)<\/span> is right in the middle of town and is the most popular one; from the top, on a clear day, you can see Punta del Este. There’s a cable car that goes up, but you can also walk up or take a taxi. Recommended for sunset.<\/p>\r\n Two other popular hills are “Cerro del Toro” (<\/span>Google Maps<\/span><\/a>)<\/span>, not far from the town center and easily reached on foot, which is more of a picnic area, and “Cerro Pan de Azucar” (<\/span>Google Maps<\/span><\/a>)<\/span>, which has a giant cross at the top with a spiral staircase inside. The hike isn’t extremely hard, but it still takes about two hours to get up. The well-marked trailhead is near the reserve.<\/p>\r\n Where to sleep in Piriapolis?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n Hostel Piria<\/span><\/i><\/a> is an excellent hostel just a stone’s throw from the sea.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n How to get to Piriapolis?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n From Montevideo, there are buses about every hour during the day, and it’s about a two-hour trip, while Punta del Este is about an hour away. <\/span><\/i>The bus terminal is here<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n Sunset at Cerro San Antonio in Piriapolis.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n Also called the “Monaco of South America,” Punta del Este is a resort city complete with luxury hotels, casinos, yachts, nightclubs, and many tourists. From December through February, the city’s population swells from 20,000 during the winter to over 250,000 during the peak of the high season.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n This is the classic summer destination where nightlife alternates with relaxing on the beach; on top of that, you can surf at Playa Brava, although conditions are better further north in La Paloma. If you decide to stop in town, you can’t miss the now-famous “Hand in the Sand,” a modern outdoor sculpture (<\/span>Google Maps<\/span><\/a>). If you’re looking for a quiet, relaxed place, you’re probably better off skipping it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Where to sleep in Punta del Este?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n Tas D Viaje Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a>, an excellent hostel right in the center of town, a stone’s throw from the beach and three blocks from the bus station. They also offer private rooms with hotel-like services. <\/span><\/i>The Trip Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a> is probably the cheapest option in town.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n N.B. If you visit the town in the summer, I strongly recommend booking well in advance.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n How to reach Punta del Este?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n From Montevideo it’s only 2 hours by bus, while heading east there are frequent connections to Rocha (2 hours), and from there you can continue to La Paloma (40 minutes) or Cabo Polonio (about an hour and a half). <\/span><\/i>Location of the bus station<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n
Destinations<\/summary>\r\n
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![\"A](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/edifici_coloniali_Colonia.jpg\")
\r\nWhy visit Uruguay<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
When to visit Uruguay<\/b><\/h2>\r\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/faro_colonia_Uruguay.jpg\")
\r\nDocuments and vaccinations to enter Uruguay<\/b><\/h2>\r\n
What to do and see in Uruguay<\/b><\/h2>\r\n
![\"Tourist](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/cosa_vedere_uruguay.jpg\")
<\/h3>\r\nMontevideo<\/b><\/h3>\r\n
What to do and see in Montevideo<\/b><\/h4>\r\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/porta_citta\u0300_vecchia_Montevideo.jpg\")
\r\nColonia del Sacramento<\/b><\/h3>\r\n
What to do and see in Colonia del Sacramento<\/b><\/h4>\r\n
![\"In](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Colonia_del_sacramento_Uruguay.jpg\")
\r\nPiriapolis<\/b><\/h3>\r\n
What to do and see in Piriapolis<\/b><\/h4>\r\n
![\"Sunset](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Cerro_San_Antonio_Piriapolis.jpg\")
\r\nPunta del Este<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
What to do and see in Punta del Este<\/b><\/h4>\r\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Mano_nella_sabbia_punta_del_este.jpg\")
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