Uruguay: Travel guide to the overlooked country

Uruguay: Travel guide to the overlooked country – from Montevideo to Punta del Este is written by Josephine Neckelmann

A neglected country

After living in Uruguay for two months, I would like to share some tips you should consider before you go yourself.

Although Uruguay is located in the butter hole between the two popular travel destinations Brazil og Argentina, few people go to the small South American country, also called the Switzerland of South America.

The country, which is only half the size of Italy, has a population of just under four million. Remarkably, almost half of the country's population lives in the capital, Montevideo.

The primary reason is simply that the city offers the most flexibility and job opportunities for locals.

Uruguay is, like Denmark, a very flat country, and has neither wild nature nor large mountains. But even though the country is almost four times larger than Denmark, it has fewer cities. The five largest cities after the capital Montevideo only have a population of between 70.000 and 110.000 inhabitants.

Uruguay has a special demographic. Because you would think that the high population density in Montevideo would really bring a lot of life to the streets. But that is actually not the case – quite the opposite. It is a fairly peaceful city.

How Uruguay stands out

Only a short four-hour ferry ride separates the Argentine and Uruguayan capitals, yet Buenos Aires, known for its culturally rich and vibrant city life, stands in stark contrast to the calm and quiet of Montevideo.

If you spend some time talking to the locals and people on the streets of Montevideo, you will quickly experience a collective optimism and a conscious choice of the quiet everyday life in Uruguay. Many often refer to Buenos Aires as a chaotic and noisy city, and therefore prefer the more peaceful streets of Montevideo.

They themselves describe Montevideo as laid-back and relaxing, but also as more secure and progressive compared to the rest of the continent. Many South Americans move to Uruguay to get better rights, less political unrest and not least for the high level of security. Uruguay is known as a stable small country on a large continent. Therefore, the calm lifestyle here is clearly cherished.

Of course, you still need to be aware of your movements and behavior – both as a local and a tourist. The empty streets of Montevideo can sometimes seem a bit unsafe, although they are not necessarily so, and it is still a country with challenges.

Despite the empty streets, Uruguayans know how to show up for traditions! If you go to the market on the weekend, or if you are lucky enough to experience one of their parades in Barrio Sur in Montevideo, you will truly experience the well-known South American culture with many locals gathered to celebrate.

Colors, feathers, drums, dancing, singing, open barbecues and kisses on the cheek fill the streets where the festivities take place. But if you walk just one street away from the parade, it's completely empty again.

You quickly discover that all Uruguayans walk around with a teacup in their hand. And it's not just any teacup. It's a maté cup, filled with maté tea. It's their eternal companion, whether it's for a family birthday, work or a museum visit.

M is a local plant that resembles green tea and has as much caffeine as coffee, and it is an integral part of the culture here.

There is maté in hand and quiet weekends.

Uruguayans have a very laid-back approach to life, so it's no surprise that buying and selling marijuana is legal in the country, and you can smell the sweet smoke in many places.

Spend a week or two in Uruguay

If I were to put together the best trip to Uruguay for you, I would do it like this:

The trip starts in Montevideo, where I think it's important to be there on the weekend.

In the Barrio Sur neighborhood, you can experience a fantastic vegetable market on Saturdays, which stretches over half a kilometer. Primarily selling fruit and vegetables, cheese and meat, but there are also several stands with a lot of different knick-knacks, clothes and shoes.

On Sundays, it is open again, with the Feria de Tristan Narvaja market open. It is located in the Cordón neighborhood.

You can spend many hours here, as the market seems endless. Here you can find everything from a pile of thousands of different glasses sold by an old local, to a well-organized stand from the newest vintage-shop in town. It's also definitely the place to try some delicious local barbecue.

If the weather permits – and it certainly does in the summer months – you should go down to the beach in Montevideo. The water is not clear and crystal clear, but the sand is clean and white, and there is always a good atmosphere among the visitors.

You might also be lucky enough to catch one football match, because the locals are naturally just as enthusiastic about the ball game as they are on the rest of the continent.

When the weekend is over, the remaining time can be spent visiting the old town, among other things. Old CityUnlike the rest of the city, there is something unique and beautiful about the architecture here. Uruguay's capital looks very similar in most places, so it is exciting to move into the cobblestone streets, where there is a different charm.

In the old town you will find small markets that are open most days of the week. They sell both souvenirs and many homemade jewelry. For those who think it is fun to go to thrift stores and vintagestores, it's also the place to do it.

At the end of the old town, right down to the harbor, is the indoor food market Mercado del Puerto. Here you can get a good grill, which is the national dish of Uruguay. It is a special grill where every kind of meat you can imagine is roasted. It is highly recommended.

An important thing to check off on your trip to Montevideo is a walk on La Rambla, facing the sea.

It is a very popular place for locals to exercise, hang out with their maté and enjoy the beautiful sunset together.

Punta del Este and Colonia del Sacramento

Further east lies the beach town of Punta del Este. Known as South America’s answer to Ibiza or Saint-Tropez, the city is just a two-hour drive along the coast of Uruguay from Montevideo, so it’s definitely worth a visit.

The city attracts the rich, the young and the famous thanks to its beautiful beaches, great surf, luxurious villas along the water and, not least, its festive nightlife. There is also a very laid-back energy here, where the sunny days flow together, so it is also for families and ordinary mortals.

Punta del Este literally means the eastern point, and the city boasts that there is a beach for everyone – whether you like waves or flat water, and love crowds or more deserted beaches.

Punta del Este is a small town with a permanent population of only about 20.000. But as soon as the summer months begin, the number grows to almost 100.000, many of whom are Argentines and Brazilians.

Uruguay has beautiful beaches with warm water all the way to the south, and it is of course always popular.

I would also recommend a trip to Colonia del Sacramento, in the western part of the country.

Colonia, as the city is colloquially called, is an old Portuguese colonial city, and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is one of the best-preserved historic cities in South America, and its old quarter with its cobblestone streets and colorful buildings attracts tourists from all over the world.

It is easy to get to Argentina from here, as it is right next to a direct fast ferry to Buenos Aires, where you can also take a day trip to and from Colonia del Sacramento.

In the eastern part you will find several unique small coastal towns like Aguas Dulces, the sweet waters. And inland the rural culture flourishes with lots of cattle, and good opportunities for farm stays and to stay in a traditional manor house, a stayThere are many different options for live in different ways in Uruguay.

Uruguay – an overlooked country

There are many ways to visit Uruguay, and thus also many ways to experience the country.

I don't think you should hold back from visiting this overlooked country, which with its peaceful nature, fantastic beaches and tranquility can definitely do something. Even though the parties are probably bigger in the neighboring countries Argentina og Brazil.

The world is full of different cultures and people, and I always recommend trying the unknown. And for the vast majority, that is Uruguay.

Have a good trip to Montevideo and to Uruguay.

Travel to Montevideo and Uruguay – here's where you should go:

• The Old Town Old City, Montevideo
• Rodo Park, Montevideo
• Feria de Tristan Narvaja, Montevideo
• Mercado del Puerto, Montevideo
• La Rambla, Montevideo
• Punta del Este
• Colonia del Sacramento
• Sweet waters