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Uruguay General Tips


Tips and photos for Uruguay vacations and tourism, posted by real travelers and Uruguay locals.
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Maldonado: hills and beaches
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  • andal13
  • By andal13 on November 8, 2003
  • Uruguay Page by andal13
  • Casapueblo - Uruguay
    Casapueblo
    by andal13
    Another of the 19 departaments, Maldonado is one of the most famous places outside the country, because here it is the most fancy, glamorous, beautiful spa in South America: Punta del Este. But Maldonado has an awesome coast, with beaches by Río de la Plata and beaches by Atlantic Ocean, among soft hills. If you like glamour, papparazzi, top-models, fancy discotheques, five star hotels, casinos... and beautiful beaches, do not miss Punta del Este; if you prefer wild beaches, almost empty, and rocky points, do not miss José Ignacio; if you like a familiar spa, with attractions for the kids, do not miss Piriápolis... Everything for everybody!

    Otro de los 19 departamentos, Maldonado es uno de los sitios más famosos fuera del país porque aquí se encuentra el balneario más lujoso, glamoroso, hermoso de Sudamérica: Punta del Este. Pero Maldonado tiene una costa impresionante, con playas sobre el Rñio de la Plata y playas sobre el Océano Atlántico, entre suaves serranías.
    Si les gusta el glamur, los papparazzi, las modelos famosas, las discotecas de lujo, los hoteles de cinco estrellas, los casinos, no se pueden perder Punta del Este; si prefieren las playas salvajes, casi vacías, y las puntas rocosas, no se pierdan José Ignacio; si les gustan los balnearios con ambiente familiar, con atracciones para los niños, no se pierdan Piriápolis... ¡De todo y para todos!

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    Rocha: where homeland sun is born
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  • andal13
  • By andal13 on November 8, 2003
  • Uruguay Page by andal13
  • Punta del Diablo (and me!) - Uruguay
    Punta del Diablo (and me!)
    by andal13
    Between you and me, Rocha is my favourite departament... situated at the East, by the Atlantic Ocean, the most beautiful and wild beaches are there... and there are lagoons, fishermen's towns, palm groves, golden dunes, wild life, no watches, no smog, no stress...

    Entre tú y yo, Rocha es mi departamento favorito... situado al Este, sobre el Océano Atlántico, las playas más hermosas y salvajes están allí... y hay lagunas, pueblitos de pescadores, palmares, dunas doradas, vida silvestre, sin relojes, sin smog, sin estrés...

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    Canelones: the patchwork
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  • andal13
  • Updated By andal13 on November 8, 2003
  • Uruguay Page by andal13
  • Parque del Plata - Uruguay
    Parque del Plata
    by andal13
    Canelones, other one of the 19 departaments, close to Montevideo, is a patchwork: farms, vineyards, little towns, beaches... it all depends which road you choose! Of course, its most popular place is its "Costa de Oro" ("Golden Coast"), where there are a lot of nice beaches: El Pinar, Atlántida, Parque del Plata, La Floresta, Costa Azul, Pinamar...

    Canelones, otro de los 19 departamentos, vecino a Montevideo, es una labor de retazos: granjas, viñedos, pueblitos, playas... todo depende de la ruta que elijan! Por supuesto, su zona más popular es su "Costa de Oro", en donde se suceden muchas playas lindas: El Pinar, Atlántida, Parque del Plata, La Floresta, Costa Azul, Pinamar...

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    Colonia: a turbulent past and a quiet present
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  • andal13
  • By andal13 on November 8, 2003
  • Uruguay Page by andal13
  • Street lamp (Colonia del Sacramento) - Uruguay
    Street lamp (Colonia del
    Sacramento)
    by andal13
    Colonia is other one of the 19 departaments of Uruguay; it is situated just in the "corner" where River Uruguay meets Río de la Plata. A nice landscape, historical towns (like beautiful Colonia del Sacramento, ancient town where bloody fights had place), calm beaches, cozy villages (like the Swiss colonies), make Colonia a "must see"destination.

    Colonia es otro de los 19 departamentos en los que se divide Uruguay; está situado justo en la "esquina" en donde el río Uruguay se encuentra con el Río de la Plata.
    Un lindo paisaje, lugares históricos (como la hermosa Colonia del Sacramento, que fuera otrora campo de luchas sangrientas), playas tranquilas, pueblitos acogedores (como las colonias de los suizos), hacen de Colonia un destino imperdible.

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    Montevideo: a city with a view
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  • andal13
  • Updated By andal13 on November 8, 2003
  • Uruguay Page by andal13
  • Sea front - Uruguay
    Sea front
    by andal13
    Montevideo is one of the 19 Uruguayan departamentes; the city also called Montevideo is the capital and main city of Uruguay; anyway, it is not a big city (only 1:500.000 inhabitants) and it still has a "small town taste"; the people, still have a time for a cup of coffe (or a mate) and a chat. It is situated by Río de la Plata ("a river as wide as a sea"), and its wooded streets, small buildings, houses with garden, beautiful sea front, give Montevideo a special charm.

    Montevideo es uno de los 19 departamentos en que se divide Uruguay; la ciudad también llamada Montevideo es la capital de Uruguay y la ciudad más importante; de todos modos, no es una ciudad grande (sólo 1:500.000 habitantes) y aún tiene un cierto "sabor pueblerino"; la gente todavía tiene tiempo para un café (o un mate) y una charla. Situada sobre el Río de la Plata ("un río ancho como mar"), sus calles arboladas, sus edificios bajos, sus casas enjardinadas, su hermosa rambla (costanera), le dan a Montevideo un encanto especial.

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    Tacuarembó: the hearth of the country
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  • andal13
  • By andal13 on November 8, 2003
  • Uruguay Page by andal13
  • Iporá (Tacuarembó) - Uruguay
    Iporá (Tacuarembó)
    by andal13
    Tacuarembó is the biggest departament of Uruguay, and it is situated just in the middle. A beautiful countryside, strange shape hills, fertile valleys, wandering streams, picturesque villages, an awesome ferns grotto... Tacuarembó is the home land of tango singer Carlos Gardel.

    Tacuarembó es el departamento más grande del Uruguay, y está situado justo en el centro. Un hermoso campo, cerros con formas extrañas, valles fértiles, arroyos sinuosos, pueblos pintorescos, una impresionante gruta de helechos... Tacuarembó es la tierra natal del cantante de tango Carlos Gardel.

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    History
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  • Marie-France
  • Updated By Marie-France on October 13, 2005
  • Uruguay Page by Marie-France
  • Old wall and gate, leading into the old town - Uruguay
    Old wall and gate, leading
    into the old town
    by Marie-France
    Here is what I wrote in my travel journal:

    "When I think of how I would describe Colonia, I can't help making a parrallel with Quebec city, only on a much smaller scale. Colonia was founded in 1680, and the Portuguese and Spanish fought over it during the 18th century (Spanish finally won it in 1777) and the historical buildings date from that period. It's also on a river (Rio de la Plata) and had fortifications."

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    Architecture
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  • Marie-France
  • By Marie-France on October 13, 2005
  • Uruguay Page by Marie-France
  • The oldest house in Colonia - Uruguay
    The oldest house in Colonia
    by Marie-France, 3 more photos
    Here is another passage from my travel journal:

    "Some ruins remain. Some houses are made of stone and crumbling along the edges in a rather charming way. Some of the old buildings have been transformed into museums, restaurants and shops. The new buildings have adobe walls painted in pastel colours. "

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    Beautiful virgin beaches....
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  • Paloma12
  • Updated By Paloma12 on March 20, 2005
  • Uruguay Page by Paloma12
  • The fingers on the beach in Punta del Este - Uruguay
    The fingers on the beach in
    Punta del Este
    by Paloma12
    You can' t miss the summer in Uruguay!
    Punta del Este and all the beaches of the department of Rocha are a MUST SEE!!!

    There is nothing more important when you are away from home than being around nice and friendly people....
    Living in Uruguay for one year was the most beautiful time of my life and I want to thank everybody I met there for being the way they are. I' ve never experienced anything comparable...

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    Getting there...
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  • Elmsaafir
  • By Elmsaafir on December 28, 2002
  • Uruguay Page by Elmsaafir
  • Uruguay General Tips
    by Elmsaafir
    When I travelled to South America, I looked at flying into Montevideo. It was cheaper, though, to fly into Buenos Aires. I spent most of my time in Argentina and Bolivia, but since Uruguay is only a short boat ride from BA, I did take a quick trip there. If you're going to spend time there, don't overlook the fact that it might cost you less to fly into Argentina, and then take the Buquebus across the Rio Plata into Uruguay.

    It was perhaps the most relaxing part of my trip. Just spent two days wandering about Colonia, and rejuvenated myself after a few weeks of overnight bus rides and constant movement.

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    More Uruguay Tips
    Overview
     
    Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 46 - Photos: 62
    Things To Do
    Tips: 137 - Photos: 250
    Nightlife
    Tips: 15 - Photos: 10
    Transportation
    Tips: 31 - Photos: 22
    Restaurants
    Tips: 37 - Photos: 40
    Shopping
    Tips: 5 - Photos: 9
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 40 - Photos: 44
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 3 - Photos: 4
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 8 - Photos: 4
    Local Customs
    Tips: 34 - Photos: 38
    Packing Lists
    Tips: 2 - Photos: 0
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 6 - Photos: 6
    General Tips
    Tips: 61 - Photos: 57

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