Uruguay is a year-round travel destination. The seasons are opposite of the Northern hemisphere with the summer season occurring December-March.

Late February-March is a great time to visit the beaches when there are fewer tourists. Hotel prices start to rise in December when the Argentinian and Brazilian holiday season gets underway.

Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay. The vibrant city is home to several music-filled festivals and features an eclectic mix of art deco buildings and modern skyscrapers.

In Western Uruguay lies Colonia del Sacramento, a gorgeously picturesque town founded in 1680. Its well-preserved historic district has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and showcases a unique blend of Portuguese, Spanish, and post-colonial architecture. Colonia is also an easy day trip from Buenos Aires if you do not have the time for more and just want a quick flavor of what Uruguay has to offer.

In southeastern Uruguay, Punta del Este is South America's playground of the rich & famous - the "St Tropez" of South America. It offers all the excitement of any world class beach destination: surfing, sunbathing, watersports, celebrity-spotting, and the opportunity to dance until dawn in booming nightclubs after the sun goes down.

A few hours up the Atlantic coast from Punta del Este sits Cabo Polonio. This rugged spot is home to a small fishing community as well as the second largest colony of sea lions in Uruguay. Another hour up the western coast brings visitors to Punta del Diablo, an extremely popular summer beach destination for Argentinians and Uruguayans.

In the northwest lies Salto, the second largest city in Uruguay. Here visitors come for the tranquil pace of life and easy access to hot springs and outdoor recreation.

Carnaval: Celebrated at the end of the summer in February, the city of Montevideo comes alive with song and dance.

Semana Santa: This full week is celebrated with demonstrations of gaucho culture (with plenty of asado to go around!)

Festival del Tango: For Around 10 days in October, tango dancers fill the streets of Montevideo in celebration of the striking dance style.

A trip to Uruguay would be incomplete without tasting the country’s famed asado culture that offers succulent meats barbecued to perfection.

The country is also well known for its red wine made from the Tannat grape. We recommend sipping the varietal onsite at a vineyard in the countryside. In the capital city Montevideo, try a medio y medio: a popular cocktail made from a mix of white and sparkling wine.

When you’re ready for a healthy dose of caffeine, sip on traditional herbal maté tea.

For dessert, try the Chajá. Named after a bird indigenous to the area, the postre (dessert) is a sweet pastry composed of meringue, sponge cake, cream, and various fruits.

Expert Travel Advisor Michael Rathauser lived many years in Uruguay and shares some of his top recommendations for visitors:

• If you are in Uruguay during their summer, you need to go and visit Punta del Este. It's a phenomenal and vibrant beach resort with miles and miles of beach and plenty of exceptional bars, restaurants, and nightclubs to keep you busy. Punta is built on a Peninsula that makes it so that you can always watch the sunset (from the calm waters along Mansa Beach) and sunrise (from the more surf-friendly Brava Beach) every day!
• Additionally, no summer trip to Punta del Este these days is complete without a visit to the nearby town of Jose Ignacio. Previously a fisherman's village, Jose Ignacio has been converted into a very chic and charming beach town filled with extraordinary restaurants and some of the most exclusive resorts in the country - if not the continent. Another must-do in Punta is a visit to Casapueblo for afternoon tea and sunset views.
• Pro tip: While parking can be a challenge in peak season in Punta del Este, I do recommend a car to get around to all the beaches/locations (including a jaunt to the very special Jose Ignacio town about 30km away).
• You can't leave Uruguay without trying a "Chivito." Despite the name, this heart-attack inducing, monster-sized sandwich is a delicious combination of thin slices of steak cooked in bacon, and then served in a hamburger bun with eggs, mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, bacon, 1000 island dressing, olives, and pickles. There is nothing better than a Chivito and a local beer at 4AM in the morning after a night out!
  If you are in Montevideo, stop by Chiviteria Marcos or Bar Arocena for one.
  If you are in Punta del Este, try the more upscale Muelle 3 for both a Chivito and a great view.

Critically Acclaimed & Notable Films

• A Twelve-Year Night (2018): A drama following future president José Mujica’s 12 years of imprisonment during the dictatorship.
• Whisky (2004): A renowned comedy-drama set in a Montevideo sock factory and a Piriápolis hotel.
• The Pope's Toilet (2007): Dramatizes the struggle of a small town preparing for Pope John Paul II's visit.

Additional Films

• Bad Day to Go Fishing (2009): A drama following a washed-up wrestler in a small town.
• The Last Train (2002): A comedy-drama about residents attempting to stop the sale of a historic train.
• 25 Watts (2001): A cult classic comedy following a day in the life of young adults in Montevideo.