Uruguay

Uruguay’s name means “river of the beautiful birds.” It has something to do with Guyana’s name: Arawak Guayana, which means “country of many waterways.”

The country is often referred to as the Switzerland of South America, not because of its physical characteristics, but because of its stable democracy and social advantages such as free education. Uruguay had one of its worst economic crises in 2002, which had a significant negative impact on safety owing to an increase in crime, and although activity levels in 2008 were back to pre-crisis levels, crime remains quite high, albeit low for the area. Uruguay, which has long been a popular destination for immigrants, has seen significant levels of emigration for almost four decades, mostly from highly skilled employees and individuals with advanced degrees (brain drain) seeking better prospects elsewhere.

Uruguay’s indigenous people have a long agricultural and civic history. In certain places, the dominating pre-20th century live stock drive methods are still used, although they are less popular tourist attractions than beautiful beaches and city centers. The country’s terrain is mostly low-lying. The country’s highest peak, Cerro Catedral, stands at 514 meters.

Uruguay’s tourist sector is a solid part of the country’s economy. Tourism is a factor they have decided to prioritize, whether it adds to the economy’s total production or offers stability in the form of employment. The tourist sector employed 10% of the country’s workforce in 2008. In 2007, approximately 1.8 million visitors visited Uruguay. The majority of visitors in Uruguay are drawn to the country’s rich culture as well as its beautiful natural features. Interacting with indigenous peoples to colonial history, as shown at Colonia del Sacrementa, are all cultural experiences available in Uruguay. Montevideo, the country’s capital, offers the widest range of cultural opportunities. Tores Garcia Museum and Estadio Sentenario, which hosted the first world cup in history, are only two examples of the cultural richness that visitors seek. However, just strolling the streets enables one to experience the city’s diverse mix of culture.

Punta del Este is a popular tourist destination in Uruguay. Punta del Este is a popular tourist resort located on a tiny peninsula along Uruguay’s southeast coast. Its beaches are classified into two categories: Mansa (meek) and Brava (brave) (ocean side). The Mansa beach is better for sunbathing, snorkeling, and other low-key recreational activities, while the Brava beach is better for daring water sport aficionados. Punta del Este is practically linked to Maldonado and stretches eastward to include La Barra and José Ignacio. It has 122 hotels, 80 restaurants, an international airport, and a 500-boat yacht harbor.

Uruguay is the second smallest sovereign country in South America (after Suriname) and the third smallest territory in the world, with 176,214 km2 (68,037 sq mi) of continental land and 142,199 km2 (54,903 sq mi) of jurisdictional water and tiny river islands (French Guiana is the smallest). With a rich coastal lowland, the scenery consists mostly of undulating plains and modest hill ranges (cuchillas). Uruguay has a coastline of 660 kilometers (410 miles).

The nation is covered by a complex fluvial network made up of four river basins or deltas: the Ro de la Plata Basin, the Uruguay River, the Laguna Mern, and the Ro Negro. The Ro Negro (‘Black River’) is the main internal river. Along the Atlantic coast, there are many lagoons.

The Cerro Catedral, in the Sierra Carapé mountain range, is the country’s highest point, reaching 514 meters (1,686 feet) above sea level. The Ro de la Plata, the estuary of the Uruguay River (which defines the country’s western boundary), is located to the southwest.

Montevideo is the southernmost capital city in the Americas and the world’s third-southest metropolis (only Canberra and Wellington are further south).

Uruguay has ten national parks: five in the east’s wetland regions, three in the central hill country, and one along the Rio Uruguay in the west.

Uruguay is the only temperate-zone nation in South America. Because there are no high mountains to serve as a shield, the terrain is flat grassland, and all places are especially susceptible to quick shifts in weather fronts and strong winds. Summer and winter are reversed in Uruguay relative to the Northern Hemisphere due to its location south of the Equator (about the same latitude as Johannesburg and Sydney). Temperatures below freezing are uncommon in the winter, though not unheard of.

Uruguayans are mostly of European heritage, with nearly 87.7% of the population reporting European ancestry according to the 2011 census. The majority of Uruguayans of European descent are descendants of 19th and 20th century immigrants from Spain and Italy (about one-quarter of the population is Italian), and to a lesser extent France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Previously, settlers had come from Argentina. African-Americans make up an even lower percentage of the population.

Between 1963 and 1985, an estimated 320,000 Uruguayans left the country. Argentina is the most common emigration destination for Uruguayans, followed by the United States, Australia, Canada, Spain, Italy, and France. In 2009, the nation experienced an overall positive inflow when comparing immigration to emigration for the first time in 44 years. In 2009, 3,825 resident permits were issued, up to 1,216 in 2005. Argentina and Brazil account for half of the new legal residents. A 2008 immigration legislation gave immigrants the same rights and privileges as citizens, with the need that they prove a monthly income of $650.

Uruguay’s population growth rate is much lower than that of other Latin American nations. Because of its low birth rate, long life expectancy, and relatively high rate of emigration among younger people, its median age is greater than the world average. A quarter of the population is under the age of 15, while approximately a sixth is beyond the age of 60.

Montevideo is the country’s sole major city, with a population of 1.9 million people, or more than half of the country’s overall population. About 30 towns house the remainder of the urban population.

Uruguay has no official religion; the state and the church are legally separated, and religious freedom is protected. According to a 2008 INE poll, Catholicism is the most popular religion in Uruguay, with 45.7 percent of the population; non-Catholic Christians account for 9.0 percent, 0.6 percent are Animists or Umbandists (an Afro-Brazilian religion), and 0.4 percent are Jewish. 30.1 percent said they believed in a deity but were not religious, while 14 percent said they were atheists or agnostics. The main religion among Montevideo’s large Armenian population is Christianity, particularly Armenian Apostolic Christianity.

Uruguay is often regarded as the most secular nation in the Americas. In comparison to other areas of the Spanish Empire, Uruguay’s secularization started with the church’s comparatively modest involvement in the colonial period. The religious authorities’ influence was limited due to the tiny number of Indians in Uruguay and their adamant opposition to proselytism.

Anti-clerical views came to Uruguay after independence, especially from France, significantly diminishing the church’s authority. Civil marriage was legalized in 1837, and public graves were taken over by the state in 1861. Divorce was legalized in 1907, and religious teaching was outlawed in public schools in 1909. With the new constitution of 1917, under the influence of Colorado reformer José Batlle y Ordóez (1903–1911), full separation of religion and state was established.

Spanish is widely spoken across the country. The pronunciation and usage of the vos pronoun instead of t is almost identical to the Spanish variant used in Argentina, commonly known as Rioplatense Spanish. However, it differs significantly from Spanish spoken in Spain in terms of pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. If you are unfamiliar with the local language, be prepared to often ask individuals you are speaking with to repeat themselves.

Despite the fact that most Uruguayans have learned English in school, they do not speak or utilize it. Some Uruguayans, however, have learned English at private institutions and are fluent in the language. There are few English speakers outside of Montevideo, Colonia, and Punta del Este. Most tourist areas (shopping malls and Punta del Este) have someone who speaks English, and expensive restaurants and those catering to visitors often have someone on staff who knows English. In reality, knowing basic Spanish is required for independent travel in Uruguay.

Portuol (or Brasilero) is a blend of Portuguese and Spanish that is often spoken along the Brazilian border.

If you wish to learn Spanish at a language school, consider the Grupo de Turismo Idiomático, a private sector initiative sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism.

Telephone

Antel, the national landline telephone monopoly, is the only supplier of landline Internet service as well as all public pay phones.

Although Antel pay phones only accept Antel’s proprietary magnetic cards, international calling cards may be used to call home by disconnecting the phone, waiting for a dial tone, then entering the proper access code. However, keep in mind that many public pay phones are in poor condition. If no touch tone is produced for each key, the phone is faulty, and you should try a another one.

The country code for Uruguay is +598. The city of Montevideo and its suburbs have phone numbers that start with a two, whereas the remainder of the nation has phone numbers that start with a four.

Antel also runs a mobile phone network and competes with two commercial firms, Movistar and Claro, in this market. All three companies have a large number of kiosks and shops throughout the nation. The GSM standard is utilized, and frequencies from both Europe (1800 MHz) and North America (1900 MHz) are utilised.

Mail

Correo Uruguay is the Uruguayan postal service. The majority of their post offices are difficult to locate and are only open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; others are only open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays.

Outside of post offices, letterboxes for depositing outgoing mail are constructed of inexpensive blue transparent plastic and are very difficult to locate. Some post offices feature three boxes: one for local mail, one for domestic mail (“interior”), and one for foreign mail (“external”) (“exterior”).

Uruguayan letterboxes are exclusively intended for indoor usage. Keep in mind that Correos licenses numerous businesses, such as pharmacies, as postal agents, and letterboxes may sometimes be located around the premises of such agents as well.

Internet

Antel is the only supplier of fixed wireless Internet service, while Dedicado is the sole provider of landline Internet service. WiFi is available in almost all good hotels, as well as numerous restaurants, cybercafés, and retail centers.

Antel WiFi hotspots are typically only available to Antel landline Internet subscribers, unless you are in a location with free service, such as Carrasco International Airport, in which case a public username and password for free access are prominently displayed and always username: antel password:wifi. Everyone may use dedicated WiFi hotspots for free.

Between 1999 and 2002, Uruguay was engulfed in a severe economic and financial crisis, mostly as a result of Argentina’s economic woes. The economy shrank by 11%, while unemployment rose to 21%. Despite the severity of trade shocks, Uruguay’s financial indicators remained more stable than those of its neighbors, owing to its strong investor reputation and investment-grade government bond rating, one of only two in South America.

The Batlle government signed a three-year $1.1 billion stand-by agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2004, committing the country to a large primary fiscal surplus, low inflation, significant reductions in external debt, and a number of structural reforms aimed at improving competitiveness and attracting foreign investment. Uruguay ended the deal in 2006 after paying off its debt early, although it kept a number of the policy promises.

Vázquez, who took office in March 2005, established the “Ministry of Social Development” and set out to reduce the country’s poverty rate by implementing a $240 million National Plan to Address the Social Emergency (PANES), which provided a monthly conditional cash transfer of $75 to over 100,000 families living in extreme poverty. In return for the benefits, recipients were expected to do community service, guarantee that their children attended school every day, and have frequent health checkups.

Uruguay was the first South American software exporter in 2005. While continuing to make payments on Uruguay’s foreign debt, the Frente Amplio administration launched an emergency plan to address the country’s severe poverty and unemployment issues. Between 2004 and 2008, the economy expanded at a 6.7 percent yearly pace. Uruguay has diversified its export markets in order to decrease its reliance on Argentina and Brazil. Poverty fell from 33% in 2002 to 21.7 percent in July 2008, with severe poverty falling from 3.3 percent to 1.7 percent.

Uruguay was the only nation in the Americas that did not officially suffer a recession between 2007 and 2009. (two consecutive downward quarters). In December 2010, unemployment hit a new low of 5.4 percent, before increasing to 6.1 percent in January 2011. While unemployment remains low, the IMF has seen an increase in inflationary pressures, and Uruguay’s GDP grew by 10.4% in the first half of 2010.

According to IMF projections, Uruguay’s real GDP is expected to increase between 8% and 8.5 percent in 2010, followed by 5% growth in 2011 and 4% growth in following years. After five consecutive quarters of steady growth, gross public sector debt decreased in the second quarter of 2010, reaching $21.885 billion US dollars, or 59.5 percent of GDP.

On December 11, 2013, Uruguay became the first nation in the world to completely legalize marijuana, making it the first country in the world to do so. On the same day, the legislation was approved by the Uruguayan senate, with 16 votes in favor and 13 votes against.

Passports (or MERCOSUR ID cards) from the following countries do not need a visa to enter: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, South Korea, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexic, Mexique, Mexique, Mexique, Mexique, Travellers from other nations should contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ local consulate office. However, Uruguay’s borders are generally open to tourists and visitors from all over the world, and getting in and out is quite simple.

Carrasco International Airport, situated 20 kilometers east of Montevideo, is the country’s biggest and major hub. Carrasco is a tiny airport, thus most visitors from outside Latin America will need to connect at least one or twice to get there.

There are flights from Carrasco to many locations in Argentina and Brazil, with Buenos Aires and So Paulo having direct connections to several important airports on other continents. Other locations in Latin America include Santiago de Chile, Asunción, Santa Cruz, Lima, and Panama. There are other flights to Miami, Madrid, and Paris.

Other airports exist in the country, but they only offer one or two flights per week to Montevideo or Buenos Aires – given the small distances and cheap and regular bus service, these airports are of minimal value for most visitors. If you’re planning a trip to western Uruguay, try flying into Buenos Aires and then proceeding by bus or boat.

Pluna, the former flag carrier, discontinued operations in 2012.

Land border crossings are available from both Argentina and Brazil. Vehicles are transported on certain boats between Buenos Aires and Colonia.

Driving on the right is the norm in Uruguay, as it is throughout the rest of South America. The roadways are in excellent condition, and the speed limit on most of them is 90 to 110 km/h, although it is not enforced.

To drive in Uruguay, you must have a “carta verde,” which may be obtained through the embassy. Alcohol contentration is limited at 0.03 percent by law (0.0 percent for trucks,taxis and bus drivers)

Buses from the Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre, So Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro operate frequently. The bus network is vast, with many routes connecting Montevideo to towns across the nation. Montevideo’s three major hubs are Terminal Tres Cruces, Agencia Central, and Terminal Ciudad Vieja. Bus travel is very safe. So Paulo, Porto Alegre (Brazil), the majority of Argentinian provinces (Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mendoza, Entre Rios), Asunción (Paraguay), and Santiago de Chile are all served by international flights. The service is catered, and the buses provide an exceptional level of service, much beyond that of the typical European bus.

Buquebus provides a boat service between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo, Uruguay. Some services continue to Punta del Este from there. There are two alternatives for the Buquebus-Ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento. One takes three hours to get there, while the other takes one hour. The three-hour ferry ticket to Montevideo costs approximately ARS147 (03/2010) while the fast ferry ticket costs about ARS190 (03/2010).

Colonia Express offers a one-hour boat ride from Buenos Aires to Colonia, followed by a bus ride to Montevideo. Ticket costs to Montevideo start at ARS149 (03/2010) and may go much lower with special online deals.

Seacat Colonia also provides a one-hour ferry service between Buenos Aires and Colonia, followed by a bus to Montevideo and Punta del Este. Tickets to Montevideo start at ARS142

There are just a few commuter rail services in and around Montevideo. There are certain tourist trains that do not run on a set timetable. You may locate them by listening for announcements at the Montevideo railway station. There is no consistent long-distance rail service. The bus is the most common mode of public transportation (local buses inside Montevideo and from Montevideo to other main cities of the country).

Uruguay has a well-developed internal bus system that is, in reality, the only method to travel between cities if you don’t own a car. Interdepartmental buses depart from the Tres Cruces station in Montevideo, which also handles international buses. The routes are often served by many firms, and the buses are regular, safe, and pleasant, with reasonable prices.

Tickets may generally be purchased online, at bus terminals, or on board the buses themselves, depending on the operator. If you purchase tickets in advance of departure, you will be assigned a reserved seat; otherwise, you may sit in seats that are not already filled (there is space to stand in the aisle). At the very least, a separate ticket salesman/inspector was on board the COT company’s buses, selling and inspecting tickets.

Taxis in Uruguay are safe and reasonably priced, costing about USD2 each kilometer. In Uruguay, all taxis have set prices and utilize meters.

The major highway runs from Montevideo to Punta Del Este (Uruguay’s biggest tourist destination), and it is double-laned on both sides. However, this is an anomaly, as most roads are single lane, therefore exercise care while driving long distances (a “long distance” in Uruguay is 500 km maximum) and attempting to pass another vehicle. Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you at all times.

Car rentals

Citizens of many countries (including the United States) just need their driver’s license, passport, and credit card to rent a vehicle in Uruguay; only residents of a few countries need an International Driver’s Permit. Imports of vehicles and fuel are both highly taxed. As a result, the majority of Uruguayans choose to purchase automobiles with fuel-efficient manual transmissions, making automatic transmission vehicles uncommon and costly. You may expect to pay about USD $50/day and up for a vehicle rental if you can drive a manual transmission, while those who can only drive automatic transmissions (mostly citizens of Canada and the United States) would pay around USD90/day and more.

Filling up the petrol tank on a typical compact car like a Chevy Aveo can set you around USD60 or more. ANCAP, the state-owned monopoly, has traditionally been Uruguay’s only gasoline retailer. (The term comes from the “National Administration” for “combustibles,” alcohol, and Portland cement.) ANCAP now competes against Petrobras and Esso. Because all gas stations are full-service, you’ll need some basic Spanish to instruct the attendant to fill it up.

Driving

Driving in Uruguay is fairly comparable to driving in Europe, except with fewer traffic signals and more roundabouts. North Americans used to crazy big-city driving (New York or Los Angeles) will find it easy to adjust. Uruguayans, like many other developing nations and portions of Europe, have a habit of splitting lanes or creating their own lane. Because manual gearboxes take longer to spin up, Uruguayans prefer to wait for the cross-traffic yellow light and then jump the green about a second ahead, which means you should never run yellow lights if you can safely stop. Many crossings are simply designated by yield signs. If you don’t see a sign, consider it a surrender. If you notice a stop sign (“Pare”), it means stop, please stop, most likely because the junction is blind and someone was murdered there.

Because Uruguay has not yet adopted sensor loops, all traffic signals are on timers and you will have to wait regardless of whether the cross-street is busy. (Some local drivers may just run the red after waiting for a few minutes if there is no cross-traffic.) Right turns on red after stopping are not permitted. While driving, headlights must be switched on at all times.

Uruguay, like most of Latin America, has a penchant for massive speed bumps at the outskirts of towns that the road goes through; this is also true for important highways. These are well marked and demand vehicles to slow down to 20 km/h or fewer; failing to do so will send one’s automobile flying.

Drivers in Uruguay are required by law to maintain both hands on the steering wheel at all times, which means they cannot use a portable mobile phone while driving.

Most intercity routes have speed limits ranging from 75 km/h to 110 km/h, with 90 km/h being the norm on most sections. Uruguay lacks long-distance highways, expressways, or motorways. Routes 1 and 5 to the west of Montevideo have been upgraded to highways for brief sections.

Keep an eye out for pedestrians and slow-moving traffic on the road, particularly in rural regions and lower-income neighborhoods. Because cars are so costly, many Uruguayans rely entirely on foot, taxi, scooter, motorbike, or bus to get about. Uruguay, like many developing nations, lacks the means to adequately repair sidewalks in impoverished areas, resulting in cracked, potholed, or worse sidewalks. As a result, even when there seems to be a sidewalk or footpath adjacent to the road, people will often be seen strolling in the roadway.

Navigation

The national roads of Uruguay are well-kept, well-designed, simple to drive, and in good shape; they are managed by the private Highway Corporation of Uruguay (CVU) under the direction of the National Highway Directorate (DNV). CVU levies a normal toll (UYU55 for a typical car) to traffic traveling in both directions at toll plazas strategically located across the nation near key river crossings (where it is difficult to find a toll-free detour). Transitions between CVU/DNV and local department highway maintenance are usually indicated with prominent signage (if the startling difference in pavement condition isn’t already apparent). The condition of roads under local care varies greatly.

The Ruta Interbalneria, which connects Montevideo with Punta Del Este, is Uruguay’s most significant long-distance highway. It is a four-lane road with a wide median. It’s worth noting that the IB was constructed as an expressway, which means that cross-traffic still crosses at-grade at junctions rather than at interchanges with overpasses and underpasses. The majority of other roadways are two-lane.

Outside of the nation, it is virtually difficult to acquire printed road maps of Uruguay. Fortunately, ANCAP offers an outstanding map bundle at all of its petrol stations, which contains three maps as of 2012. Two of the maps are big foldable sheet maps. The first is a high-level highway map that shows the whole Mercosur group on one side and Uruguay on the other. The other is a comprehensive Montevideo street map. The third map is a booklet that includes comprehensive street maps of all departmental capital cities as well as a number of other important cities, including Punta del Este.

Google Maps, Microsoft’s Bing Maps, and OpenStreetMap all offer great coverage of Montevideo, and the first two also cover the rest of the nation. Although there are now mobile applications that allow users to download OpenStreetMap data in advance to their cell phone, OpenStreetMap’s coverage in regions outside than Montevideo and Punta del Este remains limited.

Another noteworthy feature is that only internet map services properly represent the one-way streets that are prevalent in Montevideo and other Uruguayan cities and villages. Almost all Uruguayan paper road maps (including ANCAP maps and official Ministry of Tourism and Sport maps) lack arrows to indicate the direction of one-way streets.

Emergencies

Take note of the emergency phone numbers clearly displayed on the roads and remember them. Uruguay is not a hazardous nation, but since it is mainly agricultural and sparsely inhabited between cities, it may take a long time to walk to the closest pay phone if your vehicle breaks down. It is advised that you bring a mobile phone with you. Antel is the state-owned telecommunications firm that serves as the primary provider.

Hitchhiking is quite popular in rural regions, and it is as safe as it is elsewhere. Outside of Canada, Uruguay has the lowest level of violent crime in the Americas. Do not hitchhike alone if you are a woman. Play it cautious, but it’s more probable that the vehicle will crash (1 in 100 probability) than anything terrible will happen.

• Atlantic Coast (Cabo Polonio, Chuy, La Paloma, Punta del Diablo, Piriapolis, Punta del Este)
  great beach resorts fronting the Atlantic and a land crossing to Brazil.
• Rio de la Plata (Montevideo, Colonia)
  the capital city, old colonial magnificence and a ferry crossing to Argentina.
• Northern Interior (Salto, Tacuarembo)
  Gaucho culture, land crossings to Argentina and citrus growing.
• Central Interior (Durazno)
  agriculture, huge dams on the Rio Negro and land crossings to Brazil

• Montevideo
• Punta del Este
• Colonia (Colonia del Sacramento) – a well preserved old colonial town and UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Piriapolis
• Chuy – Right on the border with Brazil
• Durazno
• La Paloma
• Paysandu
• Salto

There are numerous “estancias” in tranquil and peaceful settings, surrounded by many kinds of native and migratory birds, that provide a unique chance to reconnect with nature for nature enthusiasts, birdwatchers, and those seeking a break from the fast-paced world.

Along the shore, there are much more beach homes to rent than hotel rooms. They are abundant and reasonably priced outside of peak season. It’s difficult to locate anything during the first two weeks of January; every cottage and hotel room is booked months in advance.

While there are fascinating things to visit across Uruguay, the major tourist attractions are centered around the shore. Unsurprisingly, the capital, Montevideo, has the greatest concentration of things to visit. General Jose Artigas lies in a tomb under an equestrian statue of himself in the center of Plaza Independencia, surrounded by structures distinctive to the capital such as Palacio Salvo, the ancient and new presidential residences, the city gate, and the Edificio Ciudadela.

Passing through the city gate, one arrives at Montevideo’s old town, which has many museums, ancient buildings that were formerly the homes of rich families, and the Puerto del Mercado. Other must-sees in Montevideo include the neoclassical legislative complex Palacio Legislativo, the Centenario Stadium and the accompanying football museum, and the 22-kilometer-long seaside promenade Rambla, which runs down the Atlantic coast and is home to many attractions.

A two-and-a-half-hour bus ride west will take you to Colonia del Sacramento, a Portuguese-founded city founded in 1680. While the modern part of town isn’t particularly appealing to tourists, the barrio historico can brag about being Uruguay’s only UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also a popular daytrip for tourists to Buenos Aires, since it is just one hour by catamaran from the Argentine city.

Punta del Este, a seaside resort popular with the wealthy and famous, is situated east of Montevideo, as is the Los Dedos sculpture and the Casa Pueblo resort museum. The city of Maldonado, with its José Ignacio lighthouse, is not far from Punta del Este. The city of Piriapolis, which is closer to the capital, is worth a visit, as is the Castillo de Piria.

Watching a football game between Nacional and Pearol, the two most watched football clubs in the country, is one of the greatest experiences you can have while in Uruguay.

Sunbathing, surfing, and bathing on the Atlantic coast’s beaches. Punta del Este, Piriapolis, La Paloma, La Pedrera, Cabo Polonio, Punta del Diablo, and Santa Teresa have the most significant beaches (national park and camping).

Birdwatching in one of Rocha’s tourist “estancias.”

Uruguayan cuisine is characteristic of temperate nations, with a high butter, fat, and grain content and a low spice content. Because to the large Italian immigrant population, it has a significant Italian impact. If you are from the Mediterranean, you will find it bland, but if you are from Northern Europe, Russia, or the United States, you will adjust quickly.

Prices

As of May 2014, breakfast for four people (a liter of fruit juice and two packets of biscuits) may be purchased for as low as UYU100 at a supermarket, a dish of fast food costs about the same, and dinners in sit-down restaurants typically begin at UYU300.

Specialties

There are many public markets where you may purchase a wide variety of meat. Vegetarians can find ravioli almost everywhere.

Empanadas (hand-sized meat or cheese pies) are a great portable, cheap, and tasty snack or lunch. You can readily find them at numerous corner bakeries.

Uruguay has historically been a ranching nation, with cattle outnumbering humans by more than two-to-one, and as a result, superb (and reasonably priced) steaks are available. Chivito, a heart-attack-on-a-plate sandwich (some guidebooks call it a “cholesterol bomb”) consisting of grilled tenderloin steak, tomato, lettuce, onion, eggs (hard-boiled and then sliced), ham, bacon, mozzarella cheese, mayonnaise, and fries, is a must-order. Chivito comes in two varieties. The traditional version, al pan, is served “on bread” and appears like a hamburger placed on a platter. When eaten al plato, it is similar to a hamburger but without the bread and frequently with additional veggies.

Asado is a traditional Uruguayan barbecue consisting of grilled meats (beef short ribs, sausage, blood sausage, sweetbreads, and other offal) over wood embers. Almost every Uruguayan knows how to prepare it, and many versions can be found on most restaurant menus. Try it in the “Mercado del Puerto” market in Montevideo’s harbor district for a more authentic experience. Because many of the European immigrants to the region surrounding Rio de la Plata arrived from Italy a century ago, Italian foods have a particular place in the local cuisine, sometimes with a local touch. The local cousin of the Central European schnitzel, Milanesa, is cooked with beef rather than pork and is also available as a sandwich.

Uruguay, with its extensive coastline, also has an abundance of seafood and fish. Brotola, the most frequently served fish, may be recognizable to those from North America, where it is known as hake.

Desserts include dulce de leche, a kind of caramel prepared with sweetened milk, which may be found in anything from ice cream to alfajores (dulce de leche-filled cookie sandwiches) or Ricardito, a popular Uruguayan delicacy (available in all supermarkets).

Yerba Mate is commonly consumed on the streets, but it is difficult to get in restaurants. Because everyone on the street has their own cup and thermos bottle, it is unlikely that anybody would order it at a café or restaurant if it were available. It’s possible that you’ll have to purchase a package and create your own. Drinking gourds come in a broad variety of prices, from inexpensive to super-luxe silver and horn. Yerba Mate is a popular social beverage. If you are with a group of Uruguayans, they will most likely give you some; but, be aware that it may be bitter. It will make everyone pleased if you try some.

Uruguay is increasingly becoming known for its high-quality wines, particularly those produced from the Tannat grape.

Alcohol is reasonably priced. Beer is often sold in big, 1l bottles for as little as UYU50. Pilsen and Patricia are the most widely available brands, with Zillertal a distant third. Imports are also accessible, although more Uruguayan brands are likely to exist but are difficult to locate.

Whisky is the most popular strong alcoholic beverage in Uruguay, with several well-known brands such as Johnnie Walker being produced under license. In a supermarket, a 1l bottle of the lowest brands costs just UYU250.

The Peso is Uruguay’s currency. Prices are often expressed in U$, which may be mistaken with the US$ (US dollar) sign. The currency rate was about $1 to UYU 30 in January 2016.

Prices for more expensive products and services (usually above USD100) are often stated in US dollars rather than pesos, and US money are surprisingly commonly accepted, especially at fast food restaurants. Many ATMs in Uruguay, at least in Montevideo, can dispense USD as well as UYU. Foreign tourists are often accepted at establishments that take Argentinian pesos or Brazilian reais. If you’re uncertain, verify which currency the prices are in, since all of these currencies utilize the sign “$.”

Smaller businesses typically take just cash and do not accept cards as extensively as they do in North America or Europe (efectivo). If you pay for UYU600 worth of goods with a UYU1000 bill, try to have more or less precise change since even a mid-size supermarket may have trouble handing you change.

Tiny specialty stores, small supermarkets, and small, congested shopping malls nevertheless dominate the retail sector in Uruguay, as they do in many underdeveloped nations. There are no genuine department shops in the nation that come even close to the size of those in New York or Paris. Even the retail malls along Avenida 18 de Julio in downtown Montevideo are groupings of 10-20 smaller shops rather than department stores.

There is just one genuine hypermarket in the nation, Geant (run as a joint venture between local brand Disco and French chain Geant), which is a good replica of hypermarkets abroad (down to the huge parking lot, high ceiling and wide aisles). Uruguay lacks the large box “category killer” shops for which the United States is known (and which have been copied to a lesser extent in Australia and Europe).

Ta-ta is one of the most well-known grocery chains. These tiny shops offer a broad variety of goods, from food and household supplies to clothing and even souvenirs. If you forget anything for your vacation, you’ll most likely find it there. They are usually open seven days a week.

The majority of consumer products are not produced in Uruguay. The majority of the goods in the shops were imported from China, Argentina, or Brazil. Worse, Uruguay imposes hefty import tariffs and a 22 percent value-added tax (IVA) on practically everything. As a result, imported products are priced similarly to those in Australia, Canada, and Europe. On the other side, Uruguayan items, which mostly consist of food and leather goods, may be extremely inexpensive.

Many high-quality brands known to North Americans, such as Dove soap, Colgate toothpaste, Listerine mouthwash, Del Monte canned fruit, and so on, are available in Uruguayan shops. There are other brands with recognizable logos but odd names, such as del Valle, Coca-South Cola’s American juice brand, which has a logo that looks similar to Minute Maid, Coca-North Cola’s American juice brand. Most other developed-world companies, on the other hand, do not consider Uruguay a top priority, thus their goods are scarce or nonexistent here. Locally accessible brands (which, as previously said, are mostly imported from China) are often of low quality.

Uruguayan merchants lack the negotiating strength of their North American or European counterparts since the Uruguayan market is so tiny and most Uruguayans are still very poor compared to customers abroad. Chinese manufacturers, in turn, often sell their highest-quality product lines to dominating First World markets while sending their lower-quality product lines to Uruguay and other minor developing nations. Luxury bedding in Uruguay, for example, is made up of 250+ thread count fabrics woven from cotton/polyester mixes, while luxury bedding in the United States and Europe is made up of 700+ thread count textiles woven from Egyptian or pima cotton.

Yerba mate gourds, antiques, wool fabrics, and leather products such as coats, handbags, wallets, and belts are all popular purchases. Although the pricing for textiles and leather items may seem to be excellent deals, bear in mind that local patterns are inferior to those seen abroad. Uruguay is still decades behind other nations in terms of metalworking quality, which is a significant issue given that leather products such as purses and belts include metal components such as clasps and buckles.

Uruguay is a progressive nation on social issues. Uruguay was the first country in the world to provide women the right to vote, 12 years before France. Unlike Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay, Uruguay is a secular state that has not sponsored any religion since 1917. The populace is mostly Catholic, although not very devout.

There are a few gay and lesbian clubs in Montevideo and Punta del Este, but there is no public “queer” community outside of those two towns. In Ciudad Vieja, there is just one public memorial honoring sexual variety (the old city).

It was, however, the first Latin American nation to adopt a civil union legislation, and gay and lesbian tourists find it safe and friendly. In the Spartacus Gay Travel Index, Uruguay is rated sixth. Uruguay has allowed civil unions, which confer all of the privileges of marriage, as well as homosexual and transgender marriage, which was legalized in mid-2013. Gay tourists face minimal overt prejudice even in rural regions.

Uruguayan culture is largely European, with influences from southern Europe being especially significant. The gaucho tradition has played a significant role in both Uruguayan and Argentinan art and culture.

Abstract painter and sculptor Carlos Páez Vilaró was a well-known Uruguayan artist. He took inspiration from both Timbuktu and Mykonos to construct his most well-known work: Casapueblo, a house, hotel, and atelier in Punta del Este. Casapueblo is a “livable sculpture” that attracts tourists from all over the globe. Juan Manuel Blanes, a 19th-century painter whose paintings portray historical events, was the first Uruguayan artist to achieve global reputation. Pedro Figari, a Post-Impressionist painter, gained worldwide acclaim for his pastel studies of themes in Montevideo and the countryside. The work of landscape architect Leandro Silva Delgado (es), who combines aspects of art and nature, has also gained worldwide acclaim.

Uruguay has a modest but developing film industry, and films like Whisky (2004) by Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll, Marcelo Bertalmo’s Los das con Ana (2000; “Days with Ana”), and Ana Dez’s Paisito (2008), depicting the 1973 military coup, have received worldwide acclaim.

Uruguayan folk and popular music has not just gaucho origins with Argentina, but also tango traditions. Gerardo Matos Rodrguez, a Uruguayan composer, wrote one of the most renowned tangos, “La cumparsita” (1917). The candombe is a traditional dance performed mostly by Uruguayans of African descent during Carnival, particularly Uruguayan Carnival. The guitar is the favored musical instrument, and in a famous traditional contest known as the payada, two singers take turns improvising lines to the same song, each with a guitar.

Canto popular is a kind of folk music that includes guitarists and vocalists such as Alfredo Zitarrosa, José Carbajal “El Sabalero,” Daniel Viglietti, Los Olimareos, and Numa Moraes.

Numerous radio stations and musical events reflect the popularity of rock music and Caribbean styles, together known as msica tropical (“tropical music”). Early classical music in Uruguay was heavily influenced by Spanish and Italian music, but during the twentieth century, a number of classical composers, notably Eduardo Fabini, Vicente Ascone (es), and Héctor Tosar, have used Latin American musical idioms.

Tango has also had an impact on Uruguayan culture, notably in the twentieth century, particularly in the 1930s and 1940s, with Uruguayan performers such as Julio Sosa from Las Piedras. Carlos Gardel, the renowned tango singer, changed his nationality to Uruguayan when he was 29 years old, claiming he was born in Tacuarembó, although this deception was most likely done to prevent French authorities from arresting him for failing to enlist in the French Army during World War I. Gardel was born in France and reared in Argentina. He was never a resident of Uruguay. Nonetheless, a Carlos Gardel museum was built in Valle Edén, near Tacuarembó, in 1999.

In the early 1960s, the Beatles and other British musicians introduced rock & roll to Uruguayan audiences. In Montevideo, a wave of bands emerged, including Los Shakers, Los Mockers, Los Iracundos, Los Moonlights, and Los Malditos, who were important characters in Argentina’s so-called Uruguayan Invasion. Popular Uruguayan Invasion bands sung in English.

La Vela Puerca, No Te Va Gustar, El Cuarteto de Nos, Once Tiros, La Trampa, Chalamadre, Snake, Buitres, and Cursi are some popular Uruguayan rock bands. Jorge Drexler, a Uruguayan musician and actor, received an Academy Award in 2004 for writing the song “Al otro lado del ro” from the film The Motorcycle Diaries, which recounted Che Guevara’s life.

In 2010, Uruguay was rated 37th out of 178 nations in the Reporters Without Borders global press freedom ranking. The right to free expression and access to the media is protected by the constitution, with exceptions for instigating violence or “insulting the country.” Uruguayans have access to more than 100 private daily and weekly newspapers, more than 100 radio stations, and about 20 terrestrial television channels, as well as cable television, which is widely accessible.

During the years of military dictatorship, Uruguay’s long history of journalistic freedom was severely restricted. Sanguinetti restored full press freedom on his first day in office in March 1985. As a result, Montevideo’s newspapers, which account for all of Uruguay’s major daily publications, saw a significant increase in circulation.

The official broadcasting service SODRE operates state-run radio and television. Some publications are owned by or affiliated with major political parties. El Da, established in 1886 by Colorado party leader and (later) president José Batlle y Ordóez, was the nation’s most renowned daily until its collapse in the early 1990s. El Pas, the opposing Blanco Party’s newspaper, has the highest circulation. Bsqueda is Uruguay’s most significant weekly news magazine and a key venue for political and economic debate. Although it barely sells approximately 16,000 copies each week, it has an estimated readership of more than 50,000. MercoPress is an independent news agency headquartered in Montevideo that focuses on Mercosur-related news.

Uruguayan cuisine is based on beef, and the nation is one of the world’s largest eaters of red meat per capita. Uruguay’s national cuisine is asado, a kind of barbecued beef, and other popular dishes include beef platters, chivito (steak sandwiches), macaroni, grilled kidneys, and sausages.

Local soft beverages, beer, and wine are often offered, as is clericó, a fruit juice and wine combination. Uruguay and Argentina both have a national beverage known as mate. Grappamiel, a drink mixed with alcohol and honey, is consumed on chilly autumn and winter mornings to warm the body. Locals are often seen carrying leather bags that hold a thermos of hot water, a hollowed gourd called a mate or guampa, a metal straw called a bombilla, and dried yerba mate leaves. For desserts or afternoon snacks, sweet delicacies such as crème caramel with dulce de leche and alfajores (shortbread biscuits) are popular.

Other Uruguayan dishes include morcilla dulce (a type of blood sausage cooked with ground orange fruit, orange peel, and walnuts), chorizo, milanesa (a breaded veal cutlet similar to the Austrian Wiener Schnitzel), olmpicos (club sandwiches), hngaras (spicy sausage in a hot dog roll), “tortas fritas” (similar to elephant ears and traditionally eaten during the rainy season)

In comparison to its neighbors, Uruguay has always had a relatively low rate of violent crime. As a result, Argentines and Brazilians often vacation in Uruguay because they enjoy not having to worry about getting carjacked, abducted, or killed while on vacation. Uruguay is still largely free of these kinds of crimes nowadays.

However, this does not imply that Uruguay is devoid of crime. The main distinction is that most crimes in Uruguay are either non-confrontational or do not entail the indiscriminate use of weapons. Since the severe 2001-2002 financial crisis, Montevideo’s crime rate has steadily increased, and it currently has relatively high levels of theft, burglary, and robbery comparable to those seen in large U.S. cities. Fortunately, Punta del Este and the majority of rural regions continue to have low crime rates. You will have a very secure vacation if you take simple measures in Montevideo (e.g., wear a money belt and/or hotel safe for valuables, be vigilant, and avoid apparent slums).

Cannabis is one of the most commonly used and legal substances in the nation. Uruguay is the world’s first nation to legalize the sale, cultivation, and distribution of cannabis. In terms of marijuana legality, possession for personal use is not punished if it is in small amounts (a few grams), whether Uruguayan or international. Possession of large amounts (e.g., one kilogram) is unlawful and punished by law. Remember that the new legalization of this substance for personal use (medicinal or recreational), sale, or storage of the plant (480 grams per year) is only available to Uruguayan residents aged 18 and above (natural or legal citizenship) with legal ability. Similarly to driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of marijuana is prohibited, and such a violation may result in a fine.

In case of an emergency, dial 911 or 999. 104 is the number to dial for firefighters.

Tap water is safe to drink in all major cities. The Hospital Britanico (British Hospital), SUMMUM, and BlueCross BlueShield Uruguay provide European-quality care in a clean and efficient environment. The biggest healthcare businesses in Uruguay include Asociación Espaola, Medica Uruguaya, and CASMU, all of which are of European standard. Just don’t make any bad drinking choices.

Chagas disease is one of the tropical illnesses that may be found in Uruguay. It has a limited frequency and is only found in the north of the nation. Most of the time, the sole mode of transmission is vertical (from mother to child). Because there is no vaccination for any of them, you must keep an eye out for mosquitoes. In reality, insects are uncommon in Uruguay, at least during the Southern Hemisphere winter.