Tucked between Brazil and Argentina, you could blink and easily miss Uruguay. It’s a tiny country — not nearly as famous as the gargantuan neighbors — and yet it’s ranked first in South America for democracy, peace, lack of corruption and press freedom. What Uruguay lacks in size it makes up for in quality of life. But even if it weren’t exceptionally liberal, inclusive and tolerant, it would still be a great place to visit, thanks to some of the loveliest beaches on the continent and a gorgeous seaside capital, Montevideo. Kids can experience gaucho life here — just as they can in Argentina – but without travelling too far.
Uruguay’s diminutive proportions work well: You can just about fit everything into one family vacation. It’s also safe, especially compared with its neighboring countries. There’s a low crime rate.
There are natural hot springs to visit, camping under huge skies in the unspoiled interior and wonderful wildlife all along the Atlantic coast.
Uruguay has beautiful beaches. The most famous are in Punta del Este, a glamorous resort destination. In Montevideo, there are tons of beautiful beaches along the Rio de la Plata. One beach not to miss is Carrasco, located in a Montevideo suburb.
Uruguay’s climate is mild. The summer is the opposite of ours — February to December — and is the high season for Uruguay, meaning there are the most travelers and the prices are at their highest. For fewer crowds and lower prices, consider going in Uruguay’s winter (our summer) or spring or fall. The temperatures are cooler and rarely fall below freezing.
A wide range of family accommodation includes luxury city center hotels, beach resorts, inns and home rentals.
In Uruguay, it’s easy to rent a car and explore. But there are also great buses within Montevideo and around the country; many offer free wi-fi on board.
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