Is Uruguay Worth Visiting?
Is Uruguay worth visiting? Here’s everything you need to know!
When it comes to countries in South America, Uruguay flies under-the-radar for many travelers, especially when compared to more popular destinations like its neighbors Argentina and Brazil.
Throughout several months of traveling in South America, I met many other long-term travelers who had skipped Uruguay because they heard it was boring or not worth visiting. However, as someone who’s on a mission to visit as many countries as possible, I knew I wouldn’t be skipping Uruguay.
So is it actually worth it to go to Uruguay? Yes, it is! Here’s why…
What Is Uruguay Like?
First of all, let’s talk a little more about Uruguay and what it’s actually like there. Uruguay is the second-smallest country on the South American continent — only Suriname is slightly smaller.
It’s bordered by the two largest countries in South America, Argentina and Brazil. Uruguay also has a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. Like neighboring Argentina, Uruguay is Spanish-speaking.
Uruguay has the distinction of being one of the safest countries in Latin America after Argentina. It’s also known for being the wealthiest country in Latin America. Uruguay has even been nicknamed the “Switzerland of South America” because of its high level of democracy, security, and prosperity.
The country is quite small with a population of just 3.4 million people, and around 2 million of them live within the metropolitan area of the capital and largest city in Uruguay, Montevideo.
Aside from Montevideo, other popular destination in Uruguay include Colonia del Sacramento (a quaint colonial town easily reachable from Buenos Aires) and Punta del Este (a popular beach resort town.)
Like Argentina, beef is a big export in Uruguay, and it actually makes up half of the country’s exports. Cattle outnumber people in Uruguay four to one, and much of the country is farmland.
My Experience in Uruguay
I visited Uruguay on a long weekend trip from Buenos Aires. The town of Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay is a popular day trip from Buenos Aires because it’s less than 1.5 hours away by ferry. However, I did not want to visit Uruguay on just a day trip, so I also spent a couple of nights in Montevideo.
I think this is a good amount of time to visit Uruguay. You could add on a couple of extra days to visit Punta del Este or another destination as well. You don’t need much more time than that, though. While I think Uruguay deserves more than a one-day visit, it’s not a place I’d probably spend over a week.
That’s because at the end of the day, Uruguay is simply not the most exciting destination in South America. It’s hard to stand out when you’re surrounded by so many amazing places. Uruguay is mainly flat lowlands, so it’s lacking the dramatic beauty of Patagonia in Argentina and Chile or the Andes in Peru.
And while Uruguay has beaches, they’re certainly not on par with the beaches of Brazil or Colombia. Similarly, while Montevideo is a cool city, it can’t hold a candle to vibrant Buenos Aires.
I also found Uruguay to be the most expensive destination in South America. After coming from a month in Argentina where everything was super cheap, I was shocked by the higher prices in Uruguay. The expensive prices are another reason I wouldn’t recommend spending more than a few days here.
So Is It Really Worth It?
I realize I just said a handful of negative things about Uruguay, so you might be wondering it’s really worth visiting. But the answer is yes! Despite the drawbacks, a trip to Uruguay is worth it.
First of all, it’s so easy to get here from Buenos Aires that visiting is almost a no-brainer. I would highly recommend doing what I did and taking a weekend trip from Buenos Aires to Uruguay. Two to four nights is enough time to hit a couple of highlights in the country and get a feel for it.
There are similarities between Uruguay and Argentina (they both love soccer and steak, for example) but there are also differences. For example, Uruguay is the most secular country in South America and it’s also the least corrupt. Uruguay is considered progressive when it comes to LGBT rights and other human rights.
I enjoyed seeing some of the quirks of Uruguayan society. For instance, Uruguayans love mate, a caffeinated herbal drink that’s popular in several South American countries. But nowhere except Uruguay did I see literally every other person carrying around their mate cup and metal straw to sip on the go!
I also liked the two destinations I visited (Colonia and Montevideo) a lot. Colonia is a great little town to spend a day in, while Montevideo has enough things to do to fill a couple of days. I really liked the vibe of Montevideo, and I found the city to be full of great museums, bookstores, cafes, and eclectic shops.
My visit occurred during Uruguay’s winter (which is the Northern Hemisphere’s summer) so things were a little quieter. But I think during Uruguay’s summer, everything would be livelier.
Essential Info for Visiting Uruguay
Getting there: From Buenos Aires, there are two ferry companies you can take to Uruguay: Buquebus and Colonia Express. You’ll want to buy tickets online in advance. Going to Colonia is faster and cheaper, but there are also direct ferries available to Montevideo. Montevideo also has an international airport.
Getting around: I took buses to get around in Uruguay. For example, there’s a bus that goes directly from Colonia to Montevideo in about 2.5 hours, and you could also take a bus from Montevideo to Punta del Este, which takes about the same amount of time. You can buy tickets at the bus terminal.
Where to stay: In Colonia, Charco Hotel is a great luxury option while Posada Manuel Lobo is a nice mid-range hotel. In Montevideo, FAUNA Montevideo is a lovely hotel in the Old Town.
Other info: The currency in Uruguay is the Uruguayan peso. While you can pay with card in many places, I recommend having some cash on hand too. The official language in Uruguay is Spanish. It’s good to know some Spanish before you go, because not many people in Uruguay speak English.
Is Uruguay Worth Visiting?
So is Uruguay worth visiting? As you can tell, my answer is yes. And I highly recommend visiting Uruguay for a few days, not just on a day trip from Buenos Aires, because that’s not enough time to do it justice.
Do I think Uruguay is one of the best destinations in South America? No. It’s not going to blow your mind. There are far more amazing destinations in South America (that also offer better value for your money.) But Uruguay is a perfectly pleasant place to spend a few days on a side trip from Buenos Aires.
If given the chance, I would definitely return to Uruguay. I wouldn’t mind checking out the beaches of Punta del Este or visiting another destination. Uruguay is definitely worth the effort to visit!
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