Page 151 - South America

Downtown
Providing Fascinating Travel Experiences
Why visit Uruguay
To discover a huge little country
A triangle nestled at the southern tip of Brazil, as if stuck under Argentina's wing: between these two giants, Uruguay seems tiny. Yet he has built a huge identity for itself. There are no high mountains or an electric metropolis: the smooth lines of its hills, the appeal of its pampas, its coastline for surfers and its amiable temperament form a seductive whole. Uruguayans are its real wealth: passionate about theater and football, generous like their gargan- tuan parrilladas (meat plates), warm and always ready to share a “mate”, the national drink, they seem to ignore stress.
To unwind in Montevideo
Lying opposite the skyscrapers of Buenos Aires, Montevideo has built on Spanish, Italian and Art Deco influences. It is a city of nonchalance, joyful and ranked among the safest in the world. We get lost in the narrow streets of the old town, we scour the abundant markets, we stroll in the evening air on the long rambla, we remake the world for hours in the literary cafes and we give in to the charm of this provincial capital.
To visit Colonia de Sacramento
Despite the many conflicts that have directly affected it, the city has escaped destruction and has preserved, over the centuries, a unique heritage, earning a place on the Unesco World Heritage list in 1995. Today, the city is a hotspot for tourism in Uruguay. Located on the northern shore of the Rio de la Plata, it is possible to get there by air or by river, from Buenos Aires in Argentina. From there you take the ferry across the river that serves as the natural border between two South American countries, Argentina and Uruguay. In fact, you only need to take this boat to find yourself, an hour later, from one country to another.
To follow the shadow of the Gaucho
Uruguayans have fun remembering that their country has 11 million cattle for 3.5 million inhabitants: As soon as you turn your back on the ocean, the gentle folds of the Pampas begin. The endless countryside in which horses gallop is the world of proud gauchos. A virgin land of buildings and traffic, the reign of clear nights that men in black felt hats and rare words walk endlessly, to the rhythm of cattle. From one estancia to another, they invite you to experience their world on horseback or in jeep, to share this breath of immensity for a while. To party in Punta del Este
After the explorers of the 16th century, it was the wealthy Argentines who discovered, at the end of the 1940s, this Monaco at the end of the world, and made it one of the most glamorous spots in Latin America. Since then, the seaside city has continued to expand, taking on the air of little Miami to become the meeting place for the international jet set. Golf courses, yacht clubs, luxury hotels and fiesta on all floors. The truly rich prefer, thirty minutes away, the charm of the discreet José Ignacio village, its minimalist chic houses and its hippie-smart parties. Going up the coast, the Cabo Polonio reserve reveals its funny blunt rocks and its colony of sea lions. Then the natural lagoons of the province of Rocha reserve other delights, a palm grove, endless expanses of fine sand, virgin beaches and wind: a surfer's paradise.
Why Uruguay?
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