best of uruguay
Why We Love This Trip
For such a small country, Uruguay really packs a punch. From arriving to Colonia as the early explorers would have, by boat, to exploring the perfectly preserved colonial town, from the very beginning, this is an exciting trip. Add to that a vibrant capital city, design and architecture, bucolic wine country, award-winning wines, the boho chic town of José Ignacio and the wild Atlantic coast and wildlife, and this trip has something for everyone.
STARTING AT
$4,325 usd
7 Days / 6 Nights
Overnight Options
Hotel Noi Blend; The Winery Hotel; The Singular Santiago
When to go
This trip is recommended any time of year.
TRIP PREVIEW
Day
01
Arrive to Uruguay across the mighty RÃo de la Plata from Buenos Aires. Meet your guide at the port in Colonia and take a tour of picture postcard colonial town which passed between Portuguese and Spanish control for many years. Highlights include the Iglesia Matriz, the oldest church in Uruguay, the view from the lighthouse and the Portón de Campo, the original gate to the city, which dates back to 1745. Admirethe handiwork, cobblestoned streets, river views and the abundant plantlife in this well-preserved town.
From here, transfer to Carmelo (approximately 1 hour)
Meals: —
Accommodation: Narbona Wine Lodge
Day
02
Visit Carmelo, one of Uruguay’s best-loved wine regions. Many of the wineries here specialize in Tannat, which is the national grape of Uruguay. Get to know the Wine Lodge Narbona, with original construction from 1909. Tannat, Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, Viognier and Syrah all share space here in the low-yield vineyards that occupy only 15 of Wine Lodge Narbona’s 50 acres. Savor other locally-made delicacies, from fine cheeses and dulce de leche, to jams from local fruit, and end your meal with a hearty bajativo (digestif) of locally-made grappa from the winery as well.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Narbona Wine Lodge
Day
03
Transfer from Carmelo to Montevideo (approximately 3.5 hours).
Montevideo is the heart and soul of Uruguay, energetic and eclectic, and as its capital city, has many historical and architectural treasures to explore. Learn about the storied history of the writers, musicians, poets and artists that call Uruguay home on a tour through the ciudad vieja (old city), a cobblestoned area where Montevideo really showcases its history. By now you will have worked up an appetite, and we stop at the Mercado del Puerto (port market) for a hearty barbecue lunch (fish and vegetarian options also available) in this must-visit spot in the old town.
Continue on to tour other parts of the city, including the nearby Palacio Salvo, and Teatro Solis, for stunning examples of different types of architecture in modern part of the city. In the late afternoon, we recommend taking a stroll on the Rambla, Montevideo’s extensive riverside walk, a vibrant part of city life.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation:
Day
04
On your second day in Montevideo, take some time out to visit two wineries close to the capital city. Our first stop is at Bodega Bouza, where in a chateau-style winery, you can learn about Uruguayan wine production on a tour through the vineyards and through their elegant wine cellar. Taste their fruity Albariño, their unusual Tempranillo Rosado and other wines in the Bouza family, and don’t miss a visit to their classic car collection. Visit their restaurant for flavor-forward Uruguayan meals sourced from local producers or wait until our second winery visit for lunch.
At Pizzorno we visit this 80-year old winery that has been in the family for four generations. Their vineyards are spread over 21 hectares in what they refer to as the region of Canelón Chico, which is just 20 km north of the capital. Here they grow Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Arinarnoa, Marselan, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Black Muscat in sandy, calcium-rich soil. Grapes are hand-harvested, and they hold a variety of tastings for different interests. Add on a winery flyover in their Pizzorno’s helicopter to get a full aerial view of the winery and surrounding region.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Sofitel Montevideo
Day
05
Drive east towards Punta del Este, with its famous hand reaching out of the sand, and keep an eye out for whales in season (July-October) as you drive along the coast. Arrive to Casapueblo for a tour of this landmark structure, an undulating building built on a cliffside in Punta Ballena, in a style similar to the stark white homes of Santorini. Walk through some of its thirteen levels and learn about the life of the late Carlos Páez Vilaró, a painter, potter, sculptor, muralist, writer, composer and builder, who built this marvel (with no blueprints) over the course of 36 years. Each of the building’s windows and balconies has a spectacular view over the Atlantic.
Continue further east to the small former fishing village of José Ignacio. José Ignacio is a fashionable, boho chic town on built on the Atlantic, where a relaxed vibe brushes shoulders with some of the best restaurants and luxurious hotels Uruguay has to offer.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Fasano
Day
06
To come to this part of Uruguay is to get to know the wild Atlantic coast. There are protected beaches with barely any waves, and some with surf-worthy waves and everything in between. Spend some time on quiet beaches today before heading to the extreme northeast of Uruguay, including a trip over the 40 square kilometers of dunes that separate the miniscule settlement of Cabo Polonio (about a 20-minute drive in 4×4) from the road. Once at Cabo Polonio walk around the settlement and spend some time in close (but not too close) proximity to one of the biggest sea lion colonies in the country. Watch them loll and play and bark on the coastline and check out the offshore islands of Las Torres, easily viewed from the village lighthouse. Keep an eye out for several different types of sea birds, and from July to October, for southern right whales swimming offshore.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Fasano
Day
07
Transfer to Punta del Este (PDP) (or Montevideo (MVD)) airport for your flight back home.
Meals: Breakfast
WHERE TO STAY
Narbona Wine Lodge
The intimate five-room hotel at Wine Lodge Narbona, a Relais & Châteaux property is steeped in rustic charm. Rooms are luminous and filled with antique touches, though the appointments are completely modern. Three of the rooms overlook the winery, and two overlook the vineyards, and all of them have King-sized beds, and a private terrace, which is the perfect place to relax with a glass of wine and a cheese tasting, all of which is produced onsite.
The pool at the lodge invites guests for a lazy afternoon splash, surrounded by gardens and paths that lead to the vineyards. Farther afield, guests can access Puerto Camacho for boat trips and a private beach, take mountain bike trips or tours of the vineyard. There is also a gym and spa services onsite.
Sofitel Montevideo
The Sofitel Montevideo Casino Carrasco & Spa is a luxury option in Montevideo, and is perfect for visitors who prefer a sophisticated, historical stay. The 100-year old classic building is entirely French in architecture, and yet Uruguayan in furnishing, with a color scheme evoking the pastel colors of the Rio de La Plata, which passes by just outside, and inspired by tango culture. The hotel has 93 rooms and 23 suites and is considered an architectural symbol of Montevideo. It has indoor and outdoor pools, a casino and a spa. The hotel is located a short drive from the airport on the rambla, or riverside walkway, one of the defining features of Montevideo. The ramblas fill up with locals in the late afternoon to take a sunset stroll and drink mate, the herb-based tea drunk through a metal straw. But you might first like to take a 20-minute drive to Montevideo’s main attractions such as the Mercado del Puerto and Teatro Solis and check out Montevideo’s charming Ciudad Vieja (old city).
Fasano
Restauranteur and hotelier Rogério Fasano, known for his luxury properties in Brazil, fell in love with the area around Punta del Este, and decided to build on 1200 acres of preserved land in La Barra, just to the northeast of the hubbub of Punta del Este. This luxury getaway overlooks the Maldonado River, and features an award-winning design by architect Isay Weinfield, which combines facades of concrete, wood and glass with terraces that are cantilevered over the unspoiled landscape. Choose from a bungalow or a deluxe room, all appointed with colors, textures and furnishings chosen to convey the vibe of the hotel, which is simultaneously sophisticated and laid back. Common areas are plentiful, or if you like your travels a little more active, borrow a kayak to paddle the river, or go horseback riding on the grounds. Beach access is close at hand, and a sunset cocktail on the beach is a great end to the daylight hours.
The combination of sophisticated and laid back extends to the restaurant, where Fasano serves haute cuisine in an informal environment, using the best Uruguayan ingredients to cook Italian food, in a nod to a country that has contributed so much to Uruguay’s history, right down to the locally-pressed olive oil on the tables.
Go private
This trip has no set dates or groups. Contact us to tailor it to your schedule and interests.