Discover Uruguay | Trip Itinerary

This itinerary is designed to begin in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, which can be easily reached by hydrofoil from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Alternate itineraries can be arranged for arrivals to Montevideo airport or pier

This is a recommended, custom itinerary which can be modified The itinerary can be modified to  add additional days or tours, different hotels, etc.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO COLONIA DEL SACRAMENTO, URUGUAY
Arrival to “Colonia Del Sacramento” by hydrofoil from Buenos Aires, where you are met and transferred to the Plaza Mayor Hotel located in the Old town of the City.
Colonia is an old Portuguese city form the seventeenth century that has been declared a Patrimony of Mankind by UNESCO.

Enjoy a walking city tour along the cobbled streets of the old town.  You’ll visit old buildings and forts; the Spanish and Portuguese Museums and the most important tourist spots of the town.

DAY 2: COLONIA – MONTEVIDEO
After breakfast, guests will be transported to the bus station to board regular bus to Montevideo. (alternate private transportation can be arranged for an additional charge). On arrival you will be met by our local representative and transferred to the My Suites Hotel; a 4 star/superior, located in the charming Punta Carretas neighborhood of the city (or similar). After checking in, you begin your tour of Montevideo with lunch at one of the typical “parillas” in the lively Port Market.

Afternoon city tour of Montevideo. This three hour tour will show guests the most important and tourist spots of Montevideo and also visit some the most “characteristic” places in town that will give visitors the feeling of the Uruguayan life and culture. They will be able to walk around the "Old City" and enjoy the European architecture of the buildings, visit the Gaucho Museum, the colorful street markets (depending of the day – street markets are available to visit during Saturdays and Sundays). The tour includes the classical visit to the traditional Port Market, where they may see some “Candombe” performances and visit the famous art galleries (if it’s of their interest) after visiting the different craft shops of the area. A visit to the residential neighborhood of Carrasco, Punta Gorda and Pocitos and the joy of the lovely “Rambla” along the coastline of the city will complete the landscape of this great city. It is possible to adjust this city tour to the personal interest of clients and include other visits which may be more specific.(B, L)

DAY 3: MONTEVIDEO – WINES & VINEYARDS – VALIZAS, PROVINCE OF ROCHA
During the morning, guests will enjoy a wine tour to the best vineyards of Montevideo with tasting included. After a delicious lunch at one of the vineyards, we will continue our trip to the small town of Valizas located in the Province of Rocha. This area has been declared Natural Animal Reserve since 1996. We will enjoy dinner and stay at a small charming posada in town (please note this accommodation may vary according to the season). Dinner and accommodation at Posada Valizas (or similar). (B, L, D)

DAY 4: TREKKING FROM VALIZAS TO CABO POLONIO, INCREDIBLE SAND DUNES AND SEA LIONS
After breakfast, a local guide will meet us at the Posada to start an unforgettable tour to “Cabo Polonio” Village. After a short walk around the town, we will start the trekking along the coastline that will take us towards the incredible shifting sand dunes. We will trek up the “Buena Vista Hill” from where a fantastic view of the ocean can be appreciated, to continue down towards Cabo Polonio.  Cabo Polonia boasts Uruguay’s largest biosphere reserve, with endless white sandy beaches, sea lions, lagoons, palm trees and more than 220 species of birds.  (4 hours trek).

Alternately we can shorten the trek to two hours, with more of the distance covered by 4WD—or eliminate the trek along the sand dunes completely, although this is a very special activity!

After a delicious seafood lunch at a local seaside restaurant, we will visit the light house and sea lions reserve (one of the biggest ones in the world!). Afternoon 4x4 truck drive towards the main entrance of Cabo Polonio where a private transfer will drive guests back to the Posada where we will enjoy dinner and spend the night (please note this accommodation may vary according to the season). (B, L, D)

DAY 5: THE OMBU FOREST & PALM GROVES
After breakfast, we will visit the “Forest of Ombu”, a tree that curiously rarely grows in groups of more than 2 or 3 but in this area has extended into a big line of forest, possibly the only one in the world. Each tree has its own wonderful shape with thick, twisting roots spreading out over the ground, some of which are over 500 years and have a diameter of 2 meters (6 feet). After lunch, we will have the opportunity to visit the extensive “Palm Groves of Rocha”. Despite a number of stories, no one knows how the palm trees got here (some of which are more than 300 years old); they are not native but they give the landscape a very exotic look. Dinner and accommodation at Estancia Guardia del Monte (Please note that depending on the season, we might stay at Guardia del Monte or Charabon Estancia and the mentioned activities will be adapted to each option). (B, L, D).

DAY 6: A TRADITIONAL ESTANCIA
We wake up in Guardia Del Monte, a traditional estancia with outstanding landscape beauty and important ecosystems containing a great variety of birds and native scrublands. We will enjoy some quality bird watching along the large area of marshlands and wetlands both of which are teeming with bird life (more than 400 species in this area), otters, coypus and capybaras. 

We will be able to spot the graceful black-necked swan (largest populations in the world found here), the rare white goose, the pink flamingo (a species of flamingo with very bright pink pigment and quite common in Uruguay) and many ducks and other birds such as the largest bird in South America - the ‘ostrich-like’ “ñandú” (American rhea). After a typical “asado lunch” we will enjoy some horseback riding to explore the estancia surroundings. Dinner and accommodation at Guardia del Monte (Please note that depending on the season, we might stay at Guardia del Monte or Charabon Estancia and the available activities will be adapted to the area). (B, L, D)

DAY 7: PUNTA DEL ESTE
After breakfast, drive towards the exclusive area of “Punta del Este” where we will visit the charming Jose Ignacio town with its rocky beaches and light house, drive across different small villages that follow one another along the coastline and visit the lively La Barra where we will cross the famous undulated bridge just before arriving to the Brava Beach of Punta del Este. We will visit the most important attractions: “Juan Gorlero Avenue”, the yacht's port, the residential areas and the lovely Casapueblo, a strange and attractive construction designed by the renowned Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró where we will visit his museum.
After lunch, we will drive back to Montevideo. Overnight at My Suites hotel (B, L.)  
  
DAY 8: DEPARTURE
After breakfast, transfer to Montevideo Airport. (B)

B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner