Uruguay offers visitors opportunities to experience everyday ‘not made for tourists’ moments, whether caught in a cow-and-gaucho traffic jam on a dirt road to nowhere or strolling with mate-toting locals along Montevideo’s beachfront. Uruguay is a South American country known for its verdant interior and beach-lined coast. The capital, Montevideo, revolves around Plaza Independencia, once home to a Spanish citadel. It leads to Ciudad Vieja (Old City), with art deco buildings, colonial homes and Mercado del Puerto, an old port market with many steakhouses. La Rambla, a waterfront promenade, passes fish stalls, piers and parks.

East of the capital, the upscale resort town of Punta del Este has beaches and glitzy nightclubs. Close to the border with Brazil, the former fishing village of Punta del Diablo is a surfing destination with a relaxed beach scene. Nearby Cabo Polonio National Park is inhabited by sea lions, seals and penguins. Along the Río de la Plata, Colonia del Sacramento features a picturesque Barrio Histórico (Historic Quarter), with buildings from its time as a Portuguese settlement. In the countryside, activities such as horseback riding and farm stays offer a glimpse into the local gaucho (cowboy) lifestyle.

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