Uruguay tours – Private city tours of Montevideo, Colonia & Punta del Este
When you want to experience the best of Uruguay’s most emblematic cities—with a guide genuinely excited to personalise the tour just for you.
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Clients sometimes ask me this when I am suggesting they spend their New Years Eve eating left-overs and watching the fireworks from our building rooftop.
For a city that is a major tourist destination Montevideo can appear to have a pretty lame attitude to serving its guests over the holidays.
The biggest irony for me is that during Easter (known as Tourism Week in Uruguay), one of the holidays where we receive waves of tourists from all over Latin America, there will be a huge sign across the front door of the government-run tourist information centre saying “Closed for Tourism Week”. This year I’ll take a picture 🙂
After all this time living here, the conclusion that I have come to, is that the majority of Uruguayans are just not that materialistic. They would rather spend time with their family and friends than make a bit of extra money for working a holiday. Hence restaurants close because they just can’t get the staff.
On one hand, being involved in the travel trade, it’s really frustrating.
On the other hand, I can’t help thinking, a nation that prioritises its leisure time over making a buck is not so bad.
Why Uruguayans celebrate Tourism Week – and not Easter Just another insight into this remarkable society.
Montevideo over New Year? Check out these things to do, and others things that you should be aware of to make sure your Christmas and New Year in Montevideo is not ambushed by the holidays!
Cover photo: Closed by Bryan Mills
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Uruguay tours – Private city tours of Montevideo, Colonia & Punta del Este
When you want to experience the best of Uruguay’s most emblematic cities—with a guide genuinely excited to personalise the tour just for you.
Montevideo tours – Tango, Football & the Carnival Whisperers
Your private Montevideo cultural tour and gateway to carnival, an authentic tango joint or a soccer match with a great local guide.
Cabaña Verónica – Great steak & Uruguayan asado
The Port Market—Disneyland for carnivores—is not to be missed but avoid tourist traps! At Verónica’s, you’re guaranteed great steak & Uruguayan asado.
Trekking in Uruguay – El Gavilán, Valle del Lunarejo nature reserve
Trekking, horseback riding, nature photography, birding in one of the most outstanding protected areas in Uruguay, Valle del Lunarejo.
Varela Zarranz – Uruguay wine history & sparkling wines
One of Uruguay’s oldest wineries, Varela Zarranz is just 50 min from the capital. Winner of 150+ awards, it’s famous for its sparkling wines.
Índica Beer – Great little Montevideo bar & brewery
Índica Beer is a friendly welcoming Montevideo bar and brewery making some of the best craft beer—particularly IPAs and German-style lager.
Uruguay Citizenship – It’s been 23 years but I’m finally applying!
It’s been a long time coming, and I’m so excited to finally be starting the process of applying for Uruguay citizenship.
How to get from the Montevideo airport to the city
The Montevideo international airport is 15 miles from the city centre. You can take a taxi, shuttle or bus. The most common way is private transfer.
Bodega Cerro Chapeu – Uruguayan wine legends
Led by a “winemaker legend”, Cerro Chapeu is a must-do Uruguayan wine destination. In the wild middle of nowhere, it is a shock to discover such an exciting, modern winery, say experts.
Caballos de Luz – Horseback riding in Uruguay sierras
This ‘million star’ B&B in the hills minutes from the coast offers exciting horseback riding & delicious vegetarian food.
Afro-Uruguayans play a huge part in Uruguay’s cultural identity. Are they really just 8% of the population? The new census may correct the stats.
Latin America is associated with Catholicism. As ever Uruguay is the outlier—with complete separation of church and state for over 100 years.
Beaches, classic car races and a bargain therapy session. We were delighted to get this email from one reader after his vacations in Uruguay.
Montevideo is often overshadowed by Buenos Aires. Three well-travelled bloggers tell what made them fall in love with South America’s off-the-radar capital.
Some beaches are just so darn popular. Tips for when & how to get best rates on hotels and rentals in Uruguay.
Between Christmas & New Year, Montevideans leave town in droves. So what to do you do? There’s still the beaches, tango, fireworks and… water fights!
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8 Responses
We will be in Montevideo 30th Dec – 3rd of Jan before moving on up coast tti beach. Will everything be closed in Montevideo? Even on 2nd of Jan for example? Maybe we should adjust dates and move on to beach earlier?
Hi Talchinsky, things are definitely getting better in Montevideo with more restaurants opening up during the holidays. There have always been things to do, check out our article about what to do over the holidays in Montevideo for some great ideas. You could also go check out a carnival rehearsal. Do check out Montevideo but make sure you have a plan based on this info and of course the Guru’Guay Guide to Montevideo – second edition out in the next few days!! Best, Karen PS, we have availability at Casa Sarandi for those dates!
Montevideo is one of the dream destinations for us. We finally decided to go and booked a flight to arrive early morning on December 24 to celebrate our 20th anniversary on the 25th. Looks like we’ve made a major mistake.
That said, I love your web site.
Hi Lauris… oh dear… well I am sure you will have a great time all the same! La Estacada which is a rustic restaurant with outdoor tables close to the lighthouse in Punta Carretas will probably be open on the 25th. Have a lovely anniversary! — Karen
Thanks for the information about La Estacada. I will keep that in mind, although I hear that taxis will not be available either. Meanwhile, I plan to carry along a couple of boxes of crackers and look forward to another unusual adventure!
If you read above, you’ll see taxis are available again from 4am, so you will find taxis. It’s also a very nice walk from most neighbourhoods along the rambla to get there. You’ll want to reserve though. Have a lovely anniversary! And happy Christmas!
Yes, you got the right idea as to what is behind this. In my experience, the same is true in France, another country with huge inflows of tourists, and where they have no problem shutting an entire town down on Sundays, even at peak tourism season, so the workers can have their day of rest. In fact, it was not until recently that France passed a law “allowing” stores to open on Sunday, and only in tourist locations and just during high season. You are looking at countries with very powerful unions, as opposed to most Anglo-Saxon economies, where workers unions are seen as a scourge.
Good point, Cesar. Unions are certainly strong here, as is pro-worker legislation.