by Allan Taylor

Created on: November 09, 2008   Last Updated: June 03, 2011

Forgotten Uruguay

Nestling between the giants of Brazil and Argentina lies little Uruguay, once a political buffer state that today seems neglected by mainstream tourists.

The countryside is an extension of the Argentine pampas and is dotted with cattle and sheep. Montevideo, the main port and capital has a population about 1.4 million, which is home for about 40% of the total population of 3.5 million. It is a long established welfare state and has a high level of Government employment.

Its economy is export orientated and based mainly on agricultural products such as beef, sheep meats, wool and crops (rice, wheat, corn, citrus, wine) and fishing. Tourism is important especially in the beach resorts of the Atlantic coast. Group tours in the countryside are becoming increasingly popular and include bird-watching, wine,  fishing (dorado), and ranch visits where horse riding and trekking is enjoyed.

Compared to the huge bustling and vibrant city of Buenos Aires  just 200 kms across the estuary of the Rio Plata, Montevideo seems a sleepy city content in its isolation from the rest of the world.  This is part of Uruguay's charm. High stress living is rejected for a more simple life. Living conditions range from the elitist Atlantic beach resorts like Punta del Este enjoyed largely by comparatively wealthy Argentines, to the rustic peasantry of rural villages inhabited by flamboyant gauchos or cowboys.

The painless way to arrive in Montevideo from afar is to fly in direct from say Rio de Janeiro, Miami or even Madrid. Alternatively, you may come by international bus and arrive at the super-efficient bus terminal and shopping complex called Tres Cruces. These buses are topnotch in service like those found in most of civilized South America.

Travelers from Buenos Aires have to circumvent, or cross the River Plate or its estuary. The first bridge access to the north is across the tributary Rio Negro between the towns of Fray Bentos and Mercedes, which is the route taken by the overnight buses to Montevideo (8 hours).

More exciting it is to cross the estuary by the high speed luxury ferries, or hydrofoils, which are operated by Buquebus. They take about 45 minutes to get to the nearest Uruguayan port of Colonia from where it is a further 180 km bus journey to Montevideo, or alternatively, you can go direct to Montevideo, taking about 2 hours.

Conventional ferries operate also and take about three times as long to get there. In the summer high season Buquebus

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