6 Fantastic Reasons To Visit Uruguay Today

If Uruguay has entered your travel radar recently, you might be wondering if the small Latin nation is worth visiting. Here are our reasons to visit Uruguay and why you might consider a trip.

Uruguay is quite a small country compared to that of its South American neighbors and is often overlooked by many. I’ll be honest here, when I first started traveling around South America it wasn’t on my bucket list and I headed to Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia just like everyone else.

But Uruguay is a fantastic country and there are many reasons to visit Uruguay.

I finally made it to Uruguay and boy, am I glad that I did. Yes, Uruguay doesn’t have Iguazu Falls, a Machu Picchu or an Ipanema Beach but it’s a perfect destination in its own right and you’re about to find out all the fantastic reasons to visit Uruguay or why it belongs on your travel bucket list.

*This ‘ reasons to visit Uruguay’ guide might contain affiliate links meaning I might make a small profit if you choose to book at no extra cost to you. This helps me to keep providing you with top quality content for free.

Reasons to Visit Uruguay

1. Wild, Beautiful and Uncrowded Beaches

Uruguay has miles upon miles of gorgeous, rugged coastline and long, golden beaches beckoning to be discovered.

The Atlantic waters are warm enough to swim in and there is space for everyone. Grab a towel, a great read, and spend a day on the beach!

My favourite beaches are Barra de Valizas, Jose Ignacio, and Cabo Polonio, which is so isolated you have to take a 4×4 from just outside the National Park that it lies in.

Cabo Polonio and Jose Ignacio are also famous for their lighthouses, which make great subject matter for photos.

Uruguay’s beaches are best visited in the summer months when things are busier but never too crowded.

Read our Ultimate 2 Week Coastal Uruguay Itinerary to make the most out of the country’s beaches.

2. The People are Friendly

While there are friendly people pretty much everywhere, Uruguayans are the most friendly, kind, and hospitable people you’ll come across in South America. They are approachable and love a good conversation.

I ended up making friends with locals, always sparking up conversations on buses. For me, it’s always the people that add that extra something to the destination and Uruguay doesn’t disappoint.

Many people in Uruguay, especially younger generations speak a good level of English too.

3. Uruguay isn’t Touristy

Most of Uruguay’s tourism is domestic or comes from Argentina during the summer months of January and February. During this time the beaches will be really busy and you have to book your accommodation in advance, especially in the smaller beach towns.

Outside of these months, however, if you don’t like crowds this is a reason to visit Uruguay alone. As most international travelers head to Uruguay’s larger neighbours Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay is left totally untrampled and a sublime place to travel if you want to get away from the crowds.

While you’ll need to keep an eye on seasonal destinations like Cabo Polonio and Jose Ignacio outside of the summer months, cities like Montevideo and Punta del Este will always be lively.

You can meet real locals who have spent their whole lives living in sleepy fishing villages.

For those wanting a very different, off the beaten path destination, Uruguay makes a brilliant choice.

4. Experience Colonial Grandeur in Colonia

One of the best reasons to visit Uruguay is Colonia del Sacramento, probably one of Uruguay’s best-kept secrets.

The historical center of Colonia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and walking down the cobblestone streets of this pretty town is a delight.

You’ll see old crumbling colonial cottages, a quaint lighthouse (which you can climb), cars out of 1930s America and gorgeous tree-lined streets.

Colonia really should be Number 1 on any Uruguay travel itinerary, and if you’re coming from Buenos Aires, the ferry across the Rio de la Plata takes you straight there. It’s also possible to combine your Buenos Aires itinerary with a day trip to Colonia.

Planning to visit Buenos Aires? Check out 15 Top Things To Do in Buenos Aires

5. Relaxed Vibes

Uruguay has some serious chilled out vibes that you don’t get anywhere else. I don’t mean those same chilled out vibes you get in Colombia or the Caribbean. It’s something different.

Time moves so slowly here and that’s plenty of reason to visit Uruguay! Locals sit outside their houses on the street watching the world go by, people lunch slowly and take their time doing everything. Rushing around doesn’t exist here and people still take siestas after lunch.

The atmosphere here will leave you in a chilled out daze you won’t want to leave. It’s a country that really does make slow travel easy.

Heading to Uruguay? Discover The Ultimate 2 Week Uruguay Itinerary

6. The Food and Wine

Just like Argentina, Uruguay is a meat-heavy country and if you do like steak this is the best country to visit, possibly in the whole world. There are many famous parrillas to visit in and out of Montevideo.

If you’re plant-based eating will be a little more difficult but not impossible, most places have salads and in each town, there a a handful of veggie-friendly spots.

The wine, however, is great, which I didn’t expect from Uruguay. Try the Tannat, a grape specific to this part of the world.

Do you have any comments or questions about the reason to visit Uruguay? Leave them below, I’d love to hear from you.

Make sure not to leave home without travel insurance. For the last few years, I’ve been using Safetywing Nomad Insurance for all my individual trips and digital nomad lifestyle and there’s no better company for all my insurance needs. Cover starts from as little as $42 per month. Get your quote below now.

Related posts you might like:

The Ultimate 2 Week Uruguay Itinerary

Top Things To Do in Bariloche, Argentina

Vegan Argentina | Being Vegan in Buenos Aires and beyond

A Must-Read Travel Guide to Rio de Janeiro

LIKE IT? PIN IT FOR LATER