Follow The easy going nature of the Uruguayan people make Uruguay a fun place to travel. Montevideo is a city where many interesting sights can be
seen! On a Friday night in Montevideo you may see couples dancing tango in the street to music. By day the old city is an amazing area to walk
and wander down to the sea to view the fishermen on the wharf. On Sunday you must visit the huge market (La Feria Tristan Narvaja) and see inside the cathedral.
Uruguay is also the safest country in South America to travel in. I spent 4 days in Uruguay in 2008, I enjoyed Montevideo a lot and from here I traveled directly north to Rivera on the border of Brazil.
In 2012 I returned to Uruguay for 8 days and saw some new places like Paysandu, Colonia, Mercedes and Tacuarembo. In 2013 I spent a few
days in Punta del Este, Maldonado and Chuy. In 2016 I stayed in Colonia del Sacramento and spent a couple of days in Fray Bentos. In 2019
I enjoyed a 15 day trip in Uruguay all around the country including new places like Piriapolis and Punta del Diablo!
I plan to return in the future and see more of this interesting country. Here are my experiences and story.
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Inland heading westward from Punta del Diablo and Chuy is the city of Treinta y Tres. A simple low-rise city with a tall 45
meter obelisk (Obelisco) which was built in 1954. What is an obelisk? It's a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument made
of concrete which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top - homage to the founders of the city. Moredate: November 2019
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Devil's Point known in Uruguay as Punta del Diablo is not as scary as it sounds, in fact it's a very laid back place as long as
you are not here in peak season (December to February) when this small fishing and resort town is populated by about half of
Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina. Moredate: September 2013, November 2019
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The Rocha Department has a lot more to offer than the city itself. The department has coast, beaches and fishing villages to explore - go
to La Paloma (31kms from Rocha). The city has a few old colonial buildings and facades in the streets around the main plaza. Moredate: November 2019
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Piriapolis is a beautiful beach and resort town backed by lush green hills and an easy day trip from Montevideo (100kms). Piriapolis is for
certain a fantastic place to come and relax, enjoy water sports like jet skiing and kayaking, do hiking, horse riding, camping and sport
fishing. Moredate: November 2019
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Entering Uruguay at Salto from Concordia in Argentina offers the opportunity to travel through the river cities southward on your way to
Colonia del Sacramento or Montevideo, these cities being Paysandu, Mercedes, Fray Bentos and Carmelo.
In the city there are a couple of museums worth visiting and a couple of large plazas with churches too. Moredate: April 2016, November 2019
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Fray Bentos is one in a string of tranquil little towns
beside a river on the western side of Uruguay close to Argentina. It's near others such as Mercedes, Carmelo
and Paysandu. Fray Bentos is a popular border crossing to and from Argentina, just across the international bridge to or from the city of
Gualeguaychu. Moredate: April 2016
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Montevideo is a city I have visited 3 times now on travels over the years in Uruguay. There always seems to be new things to discover here!
The city itself is full of tall historic buildings with towers and domes and interesting side streets with beautiful street art. Moredate: March 2008, May 2012, November 2019
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I have visited Punta del Este (East Point) twice now. The 'point' has a distinct beach on each side, there's a calm side and
a rough side. Brava Beach (Playa Brava) is where you will find the surfers riding the waves that come crashing in onto the shore. Moredate: September 2013, November 2019
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I've visited Paysandu twice now, most recently arriving from Salto northward. The first time I crossed the border from Argentina at Colon into
Uruguay at Paysandu, it is a quick 45min bus ride across the General Artigas International Bridge, passport procedures are fast and simple. Moredate: May 2012, November 2019
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Mercedes is a lovely small city on the banks of the Negro River inland from the Uruguay River and the border with Argentina. Walking
around Mercedes is captivating with its many eye-catching streets, colorful houses and tree-lined footpaths. Being beside the river
brings a definite sense of being able to relax and take it easy, go fishing or just enjoy the peace of nature. Moredate: May 2012, November 2019
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I traveled south from Mercedes to Carmelo on Route 21 which takes 2hrs (105kms).
The bus passes through the small cities of Dolores and Palmira, it is a scenic journey. During the first hour to Dolores you
pass many cattle farms with their windmills, tractors and rows of tall trees. Moredate: May 2012, November 2019
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The small city of Carmelo sits on the edge of the Rio de la Plata (river), northwest of both Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo and
just 2hrs by boat from Buenos Aires with Colonia Express. I have visited Carmelo twice now and unlike
other semi 'off the beaten track' places in Uruguay I was able to find a reasonably priced budget hotel. Moredate: May 2012, November 2019
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The historic neighbourhood 'Barrio Historico' of Colonia del Sacramento is one of the most well-preserved old cities that I have
seen in South America. I've been here 3 times now! So well-preserved and very attractive to walk around, like Cartagena in
Colombia. Moredate: May 2012, April 2016, November 2019
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The heart of gaucho country in northern Uruguay, Tacuarembo is also the birthplace of tango legend Carlos Gardel. On 2 occasions
I have been here to explore the city and to visit the Carlos Gardel Museum in Valle Eden (Eden Valley). The first time I
left Montevideo by bus north for 2hrs to Durazno. Moredate: June 2012, November 2019
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I have visited Maldonado twice now, the first time just for a few hours while staying in nearby Punta del Este. The 2nd time I arrived by
bus from Piriapolis (20mins) and stayed for 3 nights because the accommodation in Maldonado is cheaper than in both Punta del Este
and Piriapolis. Moredate: September 2013, November 2019
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North to Chuy from Punta del Diablo takes just 1hr by bus. The 2nd time in Chuy I was just passing through on a bus on my way
to Treinta y Tres. The first time I was on my way up to southern Brazil but first I really wanted to see the San Miguel Fort
7kms west of town (Fuerte San Miguel). Moredate: September 2013, November 2019
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In 2008 I caught the ferry from Buenos Aires across the Rio de la Plata to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay and took a bus
east to Montevideo. 3hrs on the ferry and 2hrs 30mins on the bus. The ferry and bus were on a combo ticket.
This was during the day and the ferry and bus were full. Moredate: Mar 2008, Sep 2013, Apr 2016, Nov 2019
I came to Rivera from Montevideo which takes 6hrs by bus. The reason I came here is because I drew a straight line from Montevideo to Puerto Iguazu
in Argentina during my very first trip to South America and decided to go for this direct route approach. Moredate: March 2008
Marble sculpture of a wise old man, art in the plaza in Treinta y Tres.
Mercedes cathedral, first stone laid 1860, nave inaugurated 1868, towers built 1891.
Unique chess set with interesting ceramic figures, the municipal museum, Treinta y Tres.
Ramirez School started in 1946, the building was built in 1875, historic circuit, Maldonado.
Magenta flowers grow out above the street in Colonia, a very colorful place.
The sky turns dark orange as the sunset draws to an end in Fray Bentos.
Face looks so real and is sculpted from leather, art gallery in Punta del Este - La Vista.
Miniature model of San Jose fortress (1725) located near Montevideo, Santa Teresa fortress, Punta del Diablo.
2 girls pose for a picture in Montevideo old city.
Large purple, yellow and red flower opens up above the street in Colonia.
Centro Union Obrero, historic building in Melo founded in 1900.
Teatro M. Young in the distance in Fray Bentos, the theatre.
Terrains and colors of the countryside between Dolores and Palmira.
Reaching for the sky, the hand is a big tourist attraction at Brava Beach in Punta del Este.
Mural of Jose Artigas made from tiles made by Nestor Medrano (from Gualeguay) in Paysandu.
Monument to Fructuoso Rivera (1784-1854), the founder of Durazno.
Mansa Beach stretches around the bay and so do the white sands, the waterfront in Punta del Este.
Powder keg (Polvorin) and cannon keep guard at Santa Teresa Fortress in Punta del Diablo.
Looking down to the lobby and duty-free shop on the Buquebus ferry.
Decorative and arched facade with a wooden door, a nice entrance in Montevideo.
Gaucho monument in front of the Methodist church in Montevideo, man on horseback.
Ship bringing immigrants, commissioned
mural by Jonathan Orona called Los Inmigrantes (2018) in Paysandu.