Uruguay

Traveling to this Location

Description: 

Passport and visa requirements
To enter and leave the country, a passport is required that is valid for the duration of your travel to Uruguay. Visitors must also be able to verify that they have a roundtrip ticket or a ticket to their next destination. Americans are not required to obtain a travel visa if they plan to stay ninety days or less. It is the passenger's responsibility to check with local immigration offices or the Uruguayan consulate prior to departure for current entrance requirements. For more information see www.americanpassport.com or www.uriwashi.org.

Immunizations
Visitors should have routine vaccinations up to date. The following vaccinations are also recommended:

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B*
  • Typhoid

The Centers for Disease Control provides immunization information for travel in Latin America. www.cdc.gov
* If also traveling to countries where infection prevalence is intermediate or high. The prevalence of Hepatitis B in Uruguay is low at this time.
Other itinerary-based considerations: A Yellow Fever vaccination is required for some visitors who enter Uruguay from a country where Yellow Fever is present. For certain travelers whose itineraries put them at risk, a Rabies vaccination may also be recommended. The Centers for Disease Control provides immunization information for travel in Latin America. www.cdc.gov

Customs
Entry During the flight to Uruguay, a flight attendant will distribute Uruguayan entrance forms to all passengers. At Customs, travelers show their documents and are asked how many days they plan to be in Uruguay. Normally, the passport will be stamped indicating a permissible stay of 90 days, and a copy of the Customs form will be returned to the traveler.
Exit Travelers departing Uruguay by air must pay a departure tax of $17US if flying to Buenos Aires and $31US if departing for any other international destination. The tax is payable in US dollars or Uruguayan pesos. Your Customs document must be presented when exiting Uruguay.

Exchanging currency
The Uruguayan Peso (UYU) is the country’s official currency. Current exchange rate information is available on our website under "Traveler Information." Major credit cards are widely accepted at hotels and restaurants in large cities and in some smaller towns throughout Uruguay. Rates fluctuate and tend to be better at banks and currency exchange establishments (casas de cambio). Traveler’s Checks are accepted at fewer locations and consequently are not worth the hassle. ATM machines, with instructions in English, are widely available in all major cities and most towns though not necessarily 24 hours a day. Nonetheless, ATM machines are the most convenient and economical way to obtain Uruguayan pesos without having to carry around excess cash. We recommend carrying only US cash in $20US denominations to exchange as needed if a visitor’s travel to Uruguay will be two weeks or less. As in other Latin American countries, obtaining change from large-denomination bills in Uruguay can be problematic. Hotels exchange money, and most offer safekeeping for valuables. Before departure, we send booked passengers a packet of trip information that contains money tips.

Using electricity
The current in Uruguay is 220V; 50 hertz. It is best to bring adapters to fit the three plugs you may encounter: European-style with two round pins; Italian style with three round pins; or Australian/Chinese-style three rectangular prongs.

Weather

Description: 

Uruguay has a temperate climate with little seasonal variation. Summers are hot from December to March and winters mild, June to August. The most pleasant time to travel to Uruguay is late spring/early summer and late summer/early autumn, when the weather is still warm but less humid.

Summer
Hot, humid weather makes December through March the most popular time for Uruguay tours to the beaches of Punta del Este. Rainfall occurs as tropical downpours, heavy and brief. Almost every day is sunny.

Autumn
April and May are warm with cool nights. The hours of sunshine decrease with fog commonplace, coming inland from the sea and rivers. Rainfall becomes less dramatic as the season progresses, shifting from tropical storms to longer, lighter showers.

Winter
June through August is mild and damp with sunshine lasting five or six hours a day. Precipitation usually takes the form of drizzle from overcast skies. Temperatures tend to stay above freezing so frosts are unlikely and snow very rare. The season experiences a cold, sometimes strong, pampero wind from the south.

Spring
From September through November the days are warm, though the nighttime temperatures remain cool. The clouds begin to clear away, providing longer periods of sun, but fog develops quite regularly. Spring is still subject to the pampero wind which can suddenly force temperatures down.
Uruguay Weather Data
 

MONTEVIDEO

Min-Max Air Temp

Avg Rainfall

JAN62-832.9
FEB61-822.6
MAR59-783.9
APR53-713.9
MAY48-643.3
JUN43-593.2
JUL43-582.9
AUG43-593.1
SEP46-633.0
OCT49-682.6
NOV54-742.9
DEC59-793.1

*Year Round Temperatures in °F, Rainfall in Inches
 

PUNTA DEL ESTE

Min-Max Air Temp

Avg Rainfall

JAN65-773.0
FEB65-773.4
MAR64-753.1
APR59-703.3
MAY54-653.6
JUN49-593.5
JUL48-583.5
AUG48-583.7
SEP50-613.7
OCT53-653.4
NOV57-703.4
DEC62-752.6

*Year Round Temperatures in °F, Rainfall in Inches
 

COLONIA

Min-Max Air Temp

Avg Rainfall

JAN68-813.6
FEB68-794.6
MAR63-754.9
APR59-703.6
MAY54-633.1
JUN46-552.7
JUL46-552.7
AUG48-593.0
SEP52-633.2
OCT55-684.5
NOV61-724.3
DEC61-773.4

*Year Round Temperatures in °F, Rainfall in Inches
 

When to Visit

August: 

Very Good

September: 

Very Good

October: 

Excellent

November: 

Excellent

December: 

Excellent

January: 

Excellent

February: 

Excellent

March: 

Excellent

April: 

Excellent

May: 

Very Good

June: 

Very Good

July: 

Very Good

FAQ

Question: 

How do I choose an itinerary?

Answer: 

We offer both active and cultural tours highlighting the colonial towns, wine country, wildlife and pristine beaches of Uruguay. These itineraries vary in length and level of accommodation. Our Adventure Travel Coordinators would be happy to chat with you to help you find the itinerary that best meets your needs and interests.

Question: 

Can I make changes or additions to these tours?

Answer: 

Yes! We are happy to put together a custom Uruguay tour for you if our current itineraries are not quite what you are looking for. We can also add extensions onto any of our existing tours.

Question: 

What is the weather like?

Answer: 

Uruguay has a temperate climate with little seasonal variation. Summers are hot from December to March, and winters are mild, from June to August.

Question: 

When is the best time to go to Uruguay?

Answer: 

The most pleasant time to travel to Uruguay is late spring/early summer and late summer/early autumn, when the weather is still warm but less humid. The busiest times of year are December through February, when international visitors - particularly Argentineans - flock to the hot, beautiful beaches of Uruguay.

Question: 

What is a typical day like on a Uruguay tour?

Answer: 

A typical day in Uruguay will vary from tour to tour, but you can generally expect to start your excursions right after breakfast, with a full day of scheduled activities or sightseeing. A lunch break is included and you’ll retire to your accommodations in the late afternoon, with evenings free.

Question: 

How physically fit do I need to be to enjoy a trip to Uruguay?

Answer: 

Our Uruguay trips vary in level of activity, so the requirements differ based on itinerary. Please check our physical ratings for each itinerary to see what may be required of you when assessing your ability to enjoy a trip. If you have any specific questions, please contact your Adventure Travel Coordinator. We have personal experience with these activities and can help you decide whether a trip is right for you.

Question: 

How much time do we need to visit Uruguay?

Answer: 

Most of our Uruguay trips are between seven and 10 days, depending on how much of the country you would like to see.

Question: 

How far in advance should I book?

Answer: 

For the best guide availability and selection in hotels, we recommend booking three to six months in advance. December through February are especially popular times for Uruguay travel, so more advance planning is ideal. For the Christmas holiday season and the week prior to Easter, we recommend booking a year in advance.

Question: 

What are your booking and cancellation policies?

Answer: 

Click here to see our booking and cancellation policies.

Question: 

Do you use certified guides?

Answer: 

Our guides have been carefully selected for their knowledge, professionalism, experience and ability to effectively manage groups with finesse. We only hire guides who are native to the destination and licensed or certified in accordance with the government regulations of their country. All are fluent in Spanish and English. Most have advanced degrees in tourism, biology, native culture or other related field. All guides are experienced in the outdoors and trained in basic first aid.

Question: 

What kind of accommodations can I expect?

Answer: 

In major cities we offer a variety of hotels including boutique properties and larger business-style hotels. Throughout the rest of the country we work with a combination of estancias, small traditional hotels, and remote lodges. The majority of the properties are family-run or locally owned. All of our accommodations are clean and comfortable, with private bathrooms and hot water. We offer basic or luxury options in many locations, depending on taste and budget.

Question: 

Do tours include airfare?

Answer: 

Travelers are responsible for their own international airfare. Internal flights are quoted separately from our base trip costs. We will include any necessary internal flight pricing in your quote.

Question: 

How many people are on your tours?

Answer: 

 Eight travelers is the maximum for our Uruguay trips, but the majority of our departures are private.

Question: 

Will I get more information on packing, vaccines, currency, electricity, etc.?

Answer: 

After booking you will receive a link to our online trip portal, which includes all of the need-to-know information that is specific to your itinerary. This includes packing lists, restaurant recommendations, tipping guides, FAQs, vaccine recommendations and currency information. Your Adventure Travel Coordinator will also be a great resource for any other information you may need.

View our Uruguay trip and tour options below:
8 Days $3,295
Colonia, Montevideo Wine Country, Hike to Cabo Polonia, Punte Este, Guardia del Monte
Tour Historic Colonia and Montevideo, Vineyards of Montevideo, Resorts and Beach Life of Punta del Este
Historic City of Colonia, Uruguay’s viticultural traditions, Montevideo and Surrounding Vineyards
Uruguay's Capital City, Montevideo, Tour Historic City of Colonia