Uruguay is a small country in South America, located at the River Plate and Atlantic Ocean coasts, between Argentina and Brazil, respectively. The Portuguese founded the first city in 1680, Colonia del Sacramento (in front of Buenos Aires, Argentina), whose historic quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The capital city, Montevideo, located over the River Plate, was founded by the Spanish in 1724. Uruguay has more than 300 km coast (over the River Plate and the Atlantic ocean to the east (Brazil)) full of beach cities and villages through the departments of Canelones, Maldonado and Rocha.
Visiting the Atlantic ocean coast (to the east of Montevideo)
Punta del Este – Maldonado
Punta del Este is a widely recognized vacation destination worldwide, with coast to the Atlantic Ocean with all services and several attractions for tourists, including beatiful beaches (“Mansa” or quiet to the west and “Brava” brave to the east), great gastronomy, cultural a nightlife full of activities. It is located two hours by car from Montevideo.
Casapueblo sunset view in Punta Ballena (whales point) in the way to Punta del Este
Casapueblo is located 10 km before Punta del Este, going west to east. It was the atelier and house of the Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró. It has a museum of the artist’s work, rooms to rent, and a restaurant and a coffee open to the public.
Cabo Polonio – Rocha
Cabo Polonio is a fisherman’s village over the Atlantic Ocean that has grown in the last two decades into a widely chosen vacation destination for people looking for a different experience. It is located around 270 km from Montevideo to the east (4 hours by car) and around 100 km before reaching Brazil.
Visiting the River Plate coast (to the west of Montevideo)
Colonia del Sacramento – Colonia
Colonia del Sacramento is located 178 km (two hours) from Montevideo going west to Argentina, and one hour from Buenos Aires by boat. It is one of the most important tourist references in Uruguay, receiving thousands of visitors throughout the year. It has a historic neighborhood with great gastronomy options, sunsets over the river and a lighthouse from 1857 that is worth climbing.
