Highlights

Colonia, Montevideo Wine Country, Hike to Cabo Polonia, Punte Este, Guardia del Monte ,

Physical Rating:

Moderate
i

This Trip is Rated: Moderate

Our moderate trips require an average level of fitness. Itineraries may include walks or short hikes of up to two to three hours with little elevation gain, sustained walking at higher altitudes, and/or other similar level physical activities. Many activities are optional.

How We Rate Our Trips

Easy: Our easy tours generally require fairly little exertion. Each day will involve walking, sightseeing and general travel-related activities such as getting in/out of vans, planes, boats, and zodiacs.

Moderate: Our moderate trips require an average level of fitness. Itineraries may include walks or short hikes of up to two to three hours with little elevation gain, sustained walking at higher altitudes, and/or other similar level physical activities. Many activities are optional.

Difficult: Our difficult trips may involve hiking over uneven terrain, with some hikes including significant elevation gain or loss and at higher elevations (up to 12,000 ft). Itineraries may include three to six hour hikes and other activities such as horseback riding, mountain bicycling, rafting and kayaking, which require no previous experience. On many trips, passengers may elect to skip a day's activity, depending on logistics.

Most Difficult: Our most difficult expeditions are for the adventurer who is in good physical condition. Itineraries may involve multi-day hiking and trekking excursions over steep, rugged terrain and/or where altitude may exceed 14,000 feet. Many trips include camping in remote areas and/or high altitude sites in varying temperature and weather conditions. Trips may also involve many days of demanding Class IV-V rapids, longer sea kayaking trips, horseback riding, and/or mountain bicycling. Training for the physical demands of these tours is highly encouraged. 

Uruguay Highlights

With its scenic, rolling grasslands and pristine air, Uruguay is the perfect destination for a memorable holiday off the beaten path. During these eight days of active Uruguay tours, you will experience the country’s highlights, sampling Uruguayan wine at one of the country’s many wineries and get a taste of sophisticated beach life on the Uruguayan Riviera. You’ll also bicycle in the capital of Montevideo as well as historic Colonia del Sacramento, take a horseback excursion t... READ MORE >>
Itinerary
DAY 1: COLONIA DEL SACRAMENTO
DAY 2: MONTEVIDEO
DAY 3: WINERY & ESTANCIA GUARDIA DEL MONTE
DAY 4: A TRADITIONAL ESTANCIA
DAY 5: TREKKING FROM VALIZAS TO CABO POLONIO, SAND DUNES AND SEA LIONS
DAY 6: PUNTA DEL ESTE
DAY 7: PUNTA DEL ESTE
DAY 8: RETURN
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Most Popular Uruguay Trips & Tours

Trip Price Days Highlights
Uruguay Highlights $3,295 8 Days Colonia, Montevideo Wine Country, Hike to Cabo Polonia, Punte Este, Guardia del Monte
Uruguay Triangle Tour $2,110 6 Days Tour Historic Colonia and Montevideo, Vineyards of Montevideo, Resorts and Beach Life of Punta del Este
Western Vineyards of Uruguay $1,275 4 Days Historic City of Colonia, Uruguay’s viticultural traditions, Montevideo and Surrounding Vineyards
Itinerary
DAY 1: COLONIA DEL SACRAMENTO
On arrival in Colonia del Sacramento, you will be transferred to the Plaza Mayor Hotel (or similar), located in the city’s historic Old Town. Later you bike the riverside boulevard to the Casa de Los Limoneros for drinks in the establishment’s beautiful garden. You return to Colonia in the afternoon to spend the rest of the day and evening on your own, exploring the city’s cobblestone streets full of excellent restaurants, small bars, arts and craft shops, museums and a yacht harbor before a night at your Colonia hotel.
DAY 2: MONTEVIDEO
After breakfast, you travel by bus to Montevideo and enjoy lunch at the city’s vibrant port market. Your travel to Uruguay continues with a walking tour of Montevideo’s Ciudad Vieja (the colonial historic neighborhood) and then a visit to other neighborhoods by bicycle along the riverside boulevard. You’ll have the rest of the day and evening on your own before spending the night at the Hotel Plaza Fuerte (or similar). (B,L) 
DAY 3: WINERY & ESTANCIA GUARDIA DEL MONTE
After breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel for a short city tour and a visit to a nearby winery. Afterwards, you travel by bus to Castillos, where you will be picked up for the drive to Estancia Guardia del Monte. You spend the last hours of the day on the Castillos Lagoon before dinner and overnight at the Estancia. (B,L,D)
DAY 4: A TRADITIONAL ESTANCIA
Today is spent exploring the beautiful landscape surrounding Guardia del Monte, a traditional estancia, set in wetlands and native scrublands that is teeming with wildlife, including over 400 bird species, otters, coypus and capybaras. After breakfast you will explore the estancia on foot. The world’s largest population of black-necked swans is here as is South America’s largest bird, the ostrich-like “ñandú” (American rhea). Visitors may also see the rare white goose, the pink flamingo (a species with very bright pink pigment, quite common in Uruguay) and many ducks. After a typical “asado lunch,” you will explore the vicinity of the estancia by horseback. Enjoy dinner and another night at Guardia del Monte. Note: These accommodations and activities are season-dependent and will shift to Charabon Estancia if necessary. (B,L,D)
DAY 5: TREKKING FROM VALIZAS TO CABO POLONIO, SAND DUNES AND SEA LIONS
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the small village of Barra de Valizas, where you will be spending tonight. For today’s excursion, a local guide takes you on an unforgettable four-hour trek to Cabo Polonio village, starting with a short walk around Barra de Valizas. You then trek along the coastline towards the shifting sand dunes up to “Buena Vista Hill” for a panoramic ocean view before continuing down to Cabo Polonio. After a delicious seafood lunch at a seaside restaurant, you will visit the lighthouse and one of the world’s largest sea lion reserves. Later in the afternoon, a 4x4 vehicle will drive you towards the main entrance of Cabo Polonio to be returned to your accommodations at Posada Valizas for dinner and an overnight. (B,L,D)
DAY 6: PUNTA DEL ESTE
After breakfast, you travel by bus from Valizas to Punta del Este. In the afternoon, you will have time to enjoy the neighborhood of La Barra while on your own for the rest of the day and evening before spending the night at Hostal de la Barra (or similar). (B)
DAY 7: PUNTA DEL ESTE
After breakfast and a leisurely morning, you will enjoy an afternoon tour of Punta del Este, visiting the city’s most important attractions including “Juan Gorlero Avenue,” the yacht port, residential areas and lively La Barra. Here you will cross the famous undulated bridge before arriving at Brava Beach. Today’s Uruguay tours end with a visit to the museum at lovely Casapueblo, a quirky and attractive complex designed by renowned Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró as residence, art studio and guest quarters. You will be returned to your accommodations and enjoy an evening on your own before your final overnight in Punta del Este. (B)
DAY 8: RETURN
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Punta del Este’s bus station for your ride back to the Montevideo bus station. From there, a private transfer will take you either to the port or to the airport, ending your travel to Uruguay with Southern Explorations. (B)

Weather

When to Visit
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  • feb
  • mar
  • apr
  • may
  • jun
  • jul
  • aug
  • sep
  • oct
  • nov
  • dec

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
 

Maps

Uruguay Highlights

Pricing
Per Person
$3,295
Included in tour cost
  • Ferry ticket
  • All airport/hotel transfers
  • English-speaking certified guides
  • Entrance fees for all scheduled tours, national parks & archaeological sites
  • Southern Explorations pre-departure services
Excluded from tour cost
  • Domestic airfare within South America
  • International airfare to and from Central & South America

Uruguay Highlights

Trip Dates
Please contact us for dates! Custom tours are also available. Contact us for details.
Available
Colonia
Hotel upgrades are available, please contact us to discuss your options.
Guardia del Monte
Hotel upgrades are available, please contact us to discuss your options.
Punta del Este
Hotel upgrades are available, please contact us to discuss your options.
Montevideo
Hotel upgrades are available, please contact us to discuss your options.
Uruguay - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I choose an itinerary?
A: 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.
Q: Can I make changes or additions to these tours?
A: 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.
Q: What is the weather like?
A: Uruguay has a temperate climate with little seasonal variation. Summers are hot from December to March, and winters are mild, from June to August.
Q: When is the best time to go to Uruguay?
A: 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.
Q: What is a typical day like on a Uruguay tour?
A: 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.
Q: How physically fit do I need to be to enjoy a trip to Uruguay?
A: 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.
Q: How much time do we need to visit Uruguay?
A: Most of our Uruguay trips are between seven and 10 days, depending on how much of the country you would like to see.
Q: How far in advance should I book?
A: 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.
Q: What are your booking and cancellation policies?
A: Click here to see our booking and cancellation policies.
Q: Do you use certified guides?
A: 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.
Q: What kind of accommodations can I expect?
A: 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.
Q: Do tours include airfare?
A: 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.
Q: How many people are on your tours?
A:  Eight travelers is the maximum for our Uruguay trips, but the majority of our departures are private.
Q: Will I get more information on packing, vaccines, currency, electricity, etc.?
A: 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.