Highlights of Uruguay
Uruguay features in Lonely Planet’s top 10 countries to visit in 2020. And quite rightly so, if you ask us. The country is often overlooked by travellers. That’s a shame, because Uruguay is a wonderful country to travel through. Are you curious to find out what Uruguay has to offer? We’ve put together a list of 5 highlights of Uruguay.
Uruguay Highlight 1. Capital city Montevideo
Montevideo is certainly a highlight of Uruguay that is well worth a visit. The capital is home to around half of Uruguay’s population. It is a lively city brimming with culture and history. It’s well worth visiting the historic centre. At lunchtime, head to the harbour market where you can enjoy a delicious asado steak with a glass of red wine. Cycle along the promenade and visit the National Museum of Fine Arts.
Tip: It’s not just neighbouring Brazil that’s an expert in carnival – in Uruguay, too, they love to let their hair down. Discover the colours and rhythm of the Uruguayan carnival on a unique trip. A guide will take you through the history of Murgas and Candombe, well-known Spanish-African musical styles. Take part in a percussion workshop and step into the swinging world of Uruguayan drumming.
Uruguay Highlight 2: Colonial history
Colonial del Sacramento is a small colonial town not far from Montevideo. The town lies on the Río de la Plata, with Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, on the opposite bank. This charming little town, with its narrow alleyways, cobbled streets and unique architecture, takes you back in time. The little colourful houses, the defensive wall and the lighthouse towering above it all make it a wonderful place to wander around.
Tip: At the end of the day, head towards the pier for a romantic sunset.
Uruguay Highlight 3: Wine & Dine
Uruguayans are incredibly good at enjoying life. Throughout the country, the atmosphere is relaxed and the people are friendly and helpful. They also enjoy a good life. After Argentina, Chile and Brazil, Uruguay is South America’s fourth-largest wine-producing country. The pride of Uruguay is the Tannat, which is mainly produced in the west of the country. Here you’ll find rolling vineyards and wonderful lodges where you can stay. With a large Swiss community, you can treat yourself to delicious cheeses during a trip, and plenty of olive oil is produced here too. Plenty of ingredients for a lovely evening out.
Uruguay Highlight 4: Staying at an Estancia
Uruguay isn’t known for its extreme or unspoilt natural landscapes. The country boasts a beautiful coastline and plenty of countryside inland. It’s a marvellous place to drive through. What’s more, we highly recommend getting a taste of this rural way of life. Throughout the country, there are various traditional estancias – farms – where you can stay. During the day, you can go horse-riding, hiking and cycling through the Uruguayan countryside. The estancias are charmingly furnished, and you’ll find no shortage of comfort and hospitality here.
Uruguay Highlight 5: In the footsteps of Francis Mallmann
If you’re a true foodie, you’ll no doubt be familiar with Chef Francis Mallmann and his successful cookbook ‘Seven Fires: Grilling the Argentine Way’. You can enjoy his unique cooking techniques not only in Argentina, but also in Uruguay. The chef, originally from Argentina, fell in love with this beautiful rural area, which has a very unique charm all of its own. That’s how he discovered the small village of Garzón and opened one of his successful restaurants there, where you can sample his delicious dishes. You can also stay overnight in this village and visit the Garzón bodega.
Fancy visiting Uruguay’s highlights for yourself?
Would you like to organise your own trip of Uruguay featuring the highlights listed above? Then do take a look at the itineraries we’ve put together for inspiration. You can book these tours directly, but we’d also be happy to put together a personalised itinerary based on your wishes and ideas – feel free to request a no-obligation travel proposal.
Do you have a question? Please feel free to get in touch with us via the contact form, call +31 73 610 62 04 or send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We’ll be happy to help.