The big tourist companies that operate around the world, mostly focus their interest in countries that offer places with natural resources that highlight the beauty of the landscapes, standing out those who have paradisiacal beaches, mountains, lakes, parks with immense and diverse natural reserves. But, there are other factors that are part of this wonderful world, such as roads, accommodation, culture and security, among others.
In this way, Uruguay, officially called the Eastern Republic of Uruguay, is a South American country located in the eastern part of this continent, which borders the northeast with Brazil, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, west and southwest with Argentina, specifically with the provinces of: Entre Ríos, Corrientes, Buenos Aires and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.
This wonderful country has an area of 176 215 km², which makes it the second smallest country in South America, after Suriname; and owns by the South zone coasts in the Atlantic Ocean, with about 138,000 km2 of jurisdictional waters, where some of the most beautiful beaches are located like those of Punta del Este, which are recognized by many tourists from all over the world.
In terms of population, it is ranked tenth among the 13 South American countries, according to data provided by the last INE census carried out in 2011, with 3,286,314 inhabitants, which characterize it as a small country with few inhabitants.
It should be noted that the Uruguayan surface has a large number of beautiful streams, rivers, waterfalls and lagoons, which fill the landscape with life, giving it a remarkable freshness and beauty, within a dense hydrographic network divided by slight undulations; which make this small and great country, a natural environment appropriate for tourism and ecological activities, during short tours and good weather, allowing the visitor to know many places during their stay, on trips that take you through a green backwater between the Uruguay River and the Río de la Plata, as well as the Atlantic Ocean.
In this way, tourists who dare to know this small country, can enjoy the most beautiful spas, among which Punta del Este, which has been considered the most important in Latin America and is located in the 650 kilometres of coastline that Uruguay has.
In addition, lovers of nature, can make wonderful tours for tourist stays in the countryside, or if they are lovers of culture and history, can visit cities such as “Colonia del Sacramento”, that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, or spend a few days in the capital Montevideo, which is a city full of life where you breathe culture and history. Also, it has a thermal region that stands out for its tranquillity and beauty.
To all these advantages and reasons, we add indicators that place Uruguay as one of the safest countries in South America to visit, starting with being considered one of the countries with the best quality of life, with a high level of safety and security healthiness and a high literacy rate.
Likewise, its territory has 98% of potable water networks, which allows it to offer better tourist services, because we must bear in mind that tourist activities not only depend on natural beauties, but also on the existence of good transport services, roads in good condition, water, electricity and internet services, among other elements that allow the development of tourism.
As if that were not enough, the United Nations has affirmed that Uruguay is the country in Latin America with the highest level of literacy, and according to a study carried out by the “Transparency International Organization”, this country has been considered as the one that possesses lower perception of Corruption in Latin America, and ranks number 23 worldwide, which increases its security rate.
In addition to these data, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has notified that it is the third country in Latin America, after Chile and Argentina, with the highest Human Development Index (HDI). All these data are essential to undertake tourism projects and develop the industry that currently works, to offer better services that attract more tourists and increase revenues.
Therefore, visitors can enjoy a good holiday in a safe country, with tourist culture, and especially wonderful places, which make that despite being small on the surface, it has great tourist destinations among which the following stand out:
Montevideo: is the capital of Uruguay and the most populated city in the country, which has been considered on several occasions as the city of Latin America with the best quality of life, standing out for its safety, health, beautiful architecture, many historical and cultural sites, plus kilometres of beautiful beaches that stretch along the Rio de la Plata.
Among the most visited places are the Pedestrian Sarandí, where there are many shops and art galleries, the picturesque Old Town, the luxurious Pocitos and Carrasco neighbourhoods, the 18 de Julio Avenue, where famous monuments and historic buildings are located, and the emblematic Rambla de Montevideo that has the most beautiful beaches that are along the coast of the Río de la Plata.
Punta del Este: It has been considered as one of the most important spas in South America, with a spectacular nightlife, wonderful beaches, exclusive restaurants, luxury hotels, which boast all their advantages to offer glamorous and expensive tourist offers, which makes it a creditor of innumerable visits by the international jet-set, which have it as one of their preferred holiday destinations.
In its kilometres of coasts, you can observe and enjoy the best beaches of Uruguay, locating there two beaches, “La Mansa” on the west side, and “La Brava” on the east side. The first is characterized by having a gentle swell bordered by the Rio de la Plata, while the second has large waves, which come from the Atlantic Ocean. In these beaches are located many hostels which offer wonderful deals with different types of services, such as renting sports equipment for diving, water skiing, among other activities.
La Paloma: This spa and port is located in the department of Rocha, and has 22 kilometres of wonderful beaches, in addition to be there the “Laguna de Rocha”, which is a large area of water of more than 70 square kilometres, declared “Biosphere Reserve”, where a large number of native and migratory birds live. One of the most beautiful beaches is “La Balconada”, which stands out for its crystal clear waters and spectacular sunsets.
Colonia Sacramento: this is a magical city which was built on the banks of the Río de la Plata, and is listed as one of the best tourist sites in all of Uruguay. Ideal for those who love history, since there is located a historic centre of great value, which has been declared by UNESCO as “World Heritage”. One of the most beautiful walks that can be done, include the stone streets with colourful colonial architecture, the picturesque “Calle de los Suspiros” and the imposing lighthouse of Colonia.
Cabo Polonio: It is a national park whose interior is a spa that has a rustic farmhouse with sand streets, wooden houses and a hundred-year-old lighthouse that allows to appreciate from the height the splendid surrounding landscape, which gives it a magical touch and bohemian to travel. It is located in the department of Rocha and has three small islands inhabited by hundreds of sea lions, a set of spectacular beaches where sand dunes stand out.
Atlántida: It is a beautiful spa town, better known as the Capital of the Gold Coast, located on the banks of the Río de la Plata, which stands out for the imposing beauty of its beaches and its large green spaces, in addition to having the advantage of being located very close to the capital Montevideo.
Punta del Diablo: It is a small town of fishermen and artisans, in which stand out along the coastal edge, the picturesque ranchos with thatched roofs. It is usually a quiet little town, but when summer comes it is transformed into a lively resort, often visited by surfers, because it has very appropriate waves for the practice of this sport, in addition to its nightlife is very attractive.
It also has a reserve of beaches, native forest and gardens called “Santa Teresa National Park” and “Laguna Negra”, which is an extensive mirror of shallow water, with varied vegetation that serves as a habitat for a great biodiversity of birds.
Piriápolis: It is a spa town that is surrounded by the waters of the Río de la Plata, and is recognized as the first spa that was built in Uruguay, and that has also managed to preserve to this day, several of the elegant buildings that were built at the beginning of the 20th century. In this city they extend for 25 kilometres of beaches, that go from the Spa Solís to Punta Negra.
Paysandú: It is one of the most important cities in Uruguay, hosting a wide range of services and tourist attractions, among which are the wonderful beaches on the coast of the Uruguay River, imposing historical monuments, a beautiful marina, besides being the meeting of some famous festivals such as “The Week of Beer”.
It also has one of the greatest health tourism offers, due to the existence of the thermal waters that emanate from the immense Guaraní Aquifer, within which are the Termas de Guaviyú and the Almirón Thermal Baths.
Salto: this city is the second in number of inhabitants in the country, and is located on the north coast of the Uruguay River, becoming famous for having a wide range of thermal resorts, among which are: The Springs of Salto Grande, the Termas de Arapey and the Termas del Daymán, which has the highest temperature waters in the country.
ALFA