Uruguay Activities
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The lack of crime and the welcoming nature of the locals make Uruguay an ideal family holiday destination. On top of this, the country has a good selection of attractions to keep the young ones occupied during their stay. Parks, zoos and museums are among the most popular places to take the kids, while the beach is the one destination that you can be sure will always put a smile on young faces.
Beaches The summer season sees the ideal weather for spending lazy days on the beach and Uruguay’s coastline has no shortage of great family-friendly sandy strips to offer. Kids will find a myriad of ways to entertain themselves with the sea and sand, while adults enjoy a spot of sunbathing or some quiet time with a good book. Punta del Este is the country’s most popular coastal city, while good beaches can also be found at Piriápolis, Solis, Atlántida and Montevideo.
Museo del Mar (Sea Museum) Situated in Punta del Este, this is a modern attraction that appeals to all members of the family but is most likely to captivate younger members. The museum houses a large selection of skeletal remains of creatures that once swam in the planet’s oceans, with notable examples including dolphins, porpoises, orca, beaked and sperm whales, sea lions and elephant seals. The four giant whale skeletons (some of which are over 15 metres long) are perhaps the highlights of the museum.
A large and impressive seashell collection with specimens from all over the world, fills a gallery of its own, while another room is dedicated to pirates and features exhibits such as blunderbusses, sabres, flags, chests and telescopes, all said to have pirate connections. Phone: +598 42 77 18 17; website: www.museodelmar.com.uy/en/index.html
Parque El Jagüel Located in Punta del Este, this park features a wooden playground and a collection of animal figures to keep very young visitors entertained for an hour or so.
Parque Rodo Montevideo’s Parque Rodo enjoys a beachside setting, giving kids and adults an alternative location to while away the hours when they’ve had their fill of sand and sea. The park has lots of large grassy areas for playing outdoor games on, plus a lake, a small zoo and an amusement centre.
Zoos
Camino Medina near San Carlos, has the Parque Municipal Zoológico Medina, a modest facility that’s the ideal place to spend a pleasant day or half-day with the kids. Indigenous animal species are well represented, while there’s a good selection of creatures from other continents also, including a significant African collection. The animal enclosures are well kept and the park in which they are located is a pleasant environment with lots of greenery and pleasant open spaces. In the city of Pan de Azúcar, meanwhile, visitors will find the Zoológico Pan de Azúcar, a zoo dedicated to presenting mainly indigenous animals in their natural environments.
South American culture is lively, vibrant and colourful and Uruguay is famous for offering all the best aspect of the Latin life, while keeping a distinct absence of the darker aspects that plague some of its neighbours. Visitors can enjoy wonderful architecture, historic landmarks, churches and museums. The capital, Montevideo and Colonia del Sacramento are the country’s chief destinations for cultural attractions.
Barrio Historico Colonia del Sacramento Step into Colonia’s historic district and you’ll feel like time has stood still, such is the ambience created by its wonderfully preserved old buildings and cobbled streets. Situated at the southwest corner of the city, the district is a charming location that captures a vivid sense of what Uruguay was like in days gone by.
Catedral Montevideo Iglesia Matriz is the official name for this famous landmark that dates back to 1804 and is in fact the oldest public building in Montevideo. Besides an impressive exterior featuring twin towers and domed bell, the cathedral is of note for the fact that inside it are the tombs of some of the country’s most distinguished public figures of the last two centuries.
Iglesia Matriz Colonia del Sacramento’s Iglesia Matriz is a wonderful old 17th century building that boasts being the oldest church in the country, having been erected between 1695 and 1699. It’s recognised as a popular Colonia landmark and is well worth a visit for its magnificent architecture.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo
The Museum of Contemporary Art has been a feature of the city of Montevideo since 1997 and is a facility dedicated to displaying the work of the country’s most celebrated contemporary artists. A separate gallery is also dedicated to the work of artists from other countries in South America. Phone: +598 2 900 6662.
The Museum of Contemporary Art has been a feature of the city of Montevideo since 1997 and is a facility dedicated to displaying the work of the country’s most celebrated contemporary artists. A separate gallery is also dedicated to the work of artists from other countries in South America. Phone: +598 2 900 6662.
Museo Municipal de Colonia del Sacramento
Housed in the former residence of Irishman Admiral William Brown, the Museo Municipal in Colonia del Sacramento is arguably the most fascinating of the city’s seven museums. The museum’s collection focuses on providing an insight into the history of Colonia and does so admirably across its three floors of displays and exhibits. There are artefacts such as agricultural tools and everyday implements dating back to the times of early settlement in the Colonia area as well as some beautiful period furniture dating back to more recent times.
Housed in the former residence of Irishman Admiral William Brown, the Museo Municipal in Colonia del Sacramento is arguably the most fascinating of the city’s seven museums. The museum’s collection focuses on providing an insight into the history of Colonia and does so admirably across its three floors of displays and exhibits. There are artefacts such as agricultural tools and everyday implements dating back to the times of early settlement in the Colonia area as well as some beautiful period furniture dating back to more recent times.
Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes "Juan Manuel Blanes"
The Municipal Museum of Fine Arts is the country’s most important art history facility and is located in the capital city of Montevideo. It’s home to an impressive collection of works by Uruguayan artists which date from as far back as the birth of the country to the present day. Styles and mediums used are many and include oil paintings, sculptures, pencil drawings and engravings. Works on display include those by José Cúneo, the great Uruguayan artists exhibited are Juan Manuel Blanes, Pedro Figari, Rafael Barradas, Pedro Figari, Carlos Gonzales and Juan Manuel Blanes. Phone: +598 2 336 2248.
Museo Torres García
Torres García is one of Uruguay’s most celebrated artists and this museum is home to the most significant collection of his work in the country. García is accredited with bringing the style of art known as constructivism to the world or ‘constructivismo’ as it is known in the artist’s native tongue. The museum features both constructivist and mural artworks by García. Phone: +598 2 9162663.
Palacio Salvo Arguably Montevideo’s most recognisable landmark, the Salvo Palace is a lofty structure that prior to the days of modern skyscrapers, was in fact South America’s tallest building. 27 storeys give the building its 95-metre height, with credit for the design going to Mario Palanti, the Italian architect who was responsible also for Palacio Barolo on Buenos Aires.
Puerta de Campo With a name translating as ‘country gate’, Puerta de Campo (also known as Puerta de la Ciudadela) in Colonia del Sacramento, is the original drawbridge to what was the old city and is now the historic district. The gate was built in 1745 and is one of the oldest sections of the city as well as one of its most famous landmarks.
Uruguayans love to eat and dining is an essential part of the country’s culture, with meal times bringing friends and family together to enjoy light-hearted banter and the exchange of accounts of happenings in one another’s lives. Lunch is the big meal of the day and the time when the most effort is given to the dining and socialising experience. It’s not uncommon for lunch breaks to last two hours, giving workers a chance to make it home to dine with their families. Come evening time, most locals are suitably satisfied from the lunchtime meal to settle for a light dinner.The country’s cuisine is influenced by its European history, with Spanish dishes and approaches to cooking having assimilated their way into the Uruguayan kitchen, as well as influences from countries such as France and Italy and Germany too. Meat features heavily in popular dishes, with beef being the most common variety used.
Creations to consider trying while holidaying in Uruguay, include: the spinach pie dish known as pascualina, the grilled steak dish known as churrasco, the meat platter known as parrillada, the breaded steak dish known as Milanesa and the fish pie dish known as empanada gallega.Italian dishes are also common in Uruguay due to the influx of Italian immigrants back in the 19th century. Pasta of every description can be found, served with all the usual sauce variations as well as the popular Caruso sauce, a domestic creation comprising onions, meat extract, double cream, ham and mushrooms.
Restaurants in Uruguay are affordable and in busy tourist destinations such as Montevideo and Punta del Este, you’ll find an abundance of establishments geared towards visitors. The quality of food at such restaurants can be high but the authenticity might be questionable as some tailoring of dishes to suit foreign palates might go on. If you want to be guaranteed that you are getting traditional Uruguayan cuisine then make the effort to wander off the beaten track a little and track down those eateries that are frequented largely by the locals. Here you’ll not only find the most authentically prepared food but also the best prices.Shopping opportunities in Uruguay are good if you enjoy browsing for locally made handicrafts. The country has a wealth of markets where you can find all manner of products from artworks to textiles to edible goods. If you are looking for souvenirs, then it’s these venues that should be your first port of call.
A wide selection of leather products can be found both at the markets and at regular retail outlets and include the obvious such as footwear and belts to table mats, wallets and purses, handbags, jackets and various items for the home.
If it’s brand names and chain stores that you are looking for, then Montevideo is the best place to head. Uruguay’s capital city is home to a collection of four shopping malls in which visitors will find popular clothing brand stores as well as electrical goods retailers and accessory shops. Prices tend to be on the high side for anything branded, especially if it’s been imported.Supermarket shopping is available at Devoto, the country’s answer to Tesco, Wal-Mart, Carrefour etc. Branches can be found in Montevideo and sell the typical range of consumer goods.
When you need a break from the sightseeing and feel like appreciating something of the country’s great natural beauty, then you’ll be wondering what the Uruguayan great outdoors has to offer. The beach is perhaps the number one location for outdoor activities, with both sand and sea presenting a wealth of opportunities to get physically active. The country has a total of nine national parks for anyone wanting to immerse themselves completely in indigenous flora and fauna.
Beach activities Uruguay’s beaches are clean and well maintained and offer visitors the chance to participate in a wealth of activities. Visitors wanting to stick to the sand, can enjoy a game of beach volleyball, Frisbee, Hacky Sack or badminton, whereas those happy to get wet, can enjoy sea kayaking, water skiing and jet skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving and more.
Fishing For the avid angler, Uruguay offers some excellent opportunities to cast a line and enjoy a little relaxation while waiting to see what bites. There are some good points along the Rio Negro (Black River) where the current is slow enough to permit the catching of indigenous species such as pejerrey, tararira, dorado, bagre and boga. Sea fishing, meanwhile, presents opportunities to catch species such as corvina blanca and negra, borriqueta, lisa, mocheulo and sargo.
Football Football is as popular in Uruguay as it is anywhere else on the continent and Uruguayans support their local teams with passion but are happy to watch pretty much anyone play, such is their love of the sport. Visitors hoping to catch some football action during their stay will find many towns and cities have their own small-league teams, while in Montevideo, there’s big-league action from Nacional and Peñarol, the country’s two most high profile teams.
Golf Uruguay’s climate encourages the flourishing of lush green scenery and this feature has been taken and used to great advantage in the landscaping of the country’s golf courses. At Montevideo, the Golf del Uruguay and Golf del Cerro courses promise some gorgeous surroundings in which to enjoy a leisurely 18-holes, while at Punta del Este, La Barra Golf Club, Cantegril Country Club del Uruguay and Club del Lago Golf offer some pretty scenic conditions also.
Surfing Appealing to North American surfing enthusiasts looking for less populated beaches at which to indulge their passion, Uruguay offers ideal surfing conditions at a variety of locations. The greatest attraction is the low key and unspoilt nature of the beaches, with even the most popular still attracting considerably fewer surfers than the over-saturated surf spots in the US. Among the destinations with the best surfing conditions are La Virgen, Jose Ignacio, Los Pesqueros, Barra del chuy and Los Botes.
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