Why visit uruguay

Both Venezuela and Uruguay issued The South American continent offers beaches, farms, rain forests, mountains, and city locations. Friendly, accommodating hosts, delicious food, Maybe your friends are all strapped for cash and are unable to join you on vacation; or maybe you'd rather plan a trip without having to Rely on these Summer getaways are the perfect time to hit snooze on the work grind and relax.

Wine and travel go together like — well, frankly, the combination is iconic in and of itself, similes aside. Wine is often deeply tied to a place's This story originally appeared on FoodandWine. Over the past 17 years, Anthony Bourdain has traveled to over 50 different countries while filming A lot of historical urban sites and architecture are preserved from the colonial period of the 18th and early 19th centuries. Almost every city has a historic quarter; some are more distinctive than others, for example in Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo, but they all paint a picture of a different time.

You can even do a tour of the geographical sites and buildings that played important roles in the colonial period and the war for independence. If your vacation ideal is to get away from civilization, Uruguay is the place for you.

You can get lost in the extensive countryside, forests, and deserted beaches on your own and completely disconnect from the rest of society. If you like the sound of that, but are not ready to be completely alone, there are plenty of hostels where you can meet fellow travelers who will join you in a trip away from civilization. In the big cities, the night starts and ends late.

You can enjoy a nice dinner in a restaurant at 10 or 11 p. There is something for everyone. There are a lot of dishes that involve meat, and specifically beef. You can eat a massive steak sandwich called a chivito , beef, pork, lamb, chicken, or even fish on the grill, or milanesas meat coated in breadcrumbs and fried.

There is also plenty of seafood and great fish, with places offering paella and casseroles. The bakeries are insanely good: you can get bizcochos various sweet and savory doughy pastries , a great variety of cakes with dulce de leche and membrillo quince jam , and empanadas similar to a mini-calzone with various fillings inside. You can see it in the everyday customs and general lifestyle, and also in its shows, dances, and music. There are special events, such as carnivals and festivals, where you can see these, others that go on all year, and places that show them as a tourist attraction.

In most neighborhoods in Montevideo, comparsas practice their drumming and dancing for the competitions that go on at carnival time; they parade up and down the street and neighbors congregate around them to have fun dancing and listening to the vibrant music. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. A prime beef exporter -- and consumer at Grass-fed cattle is the norm, with an abundance of lush pastures ending up as chivito a stacked steak sandwich or pamplona fillet stuffed with cheese and red bell peppers then wrapped in bacon.

In addition, top Argentine restaurateur Francis Mallmann, recently seen in Chef's Table , runs an establishment in tiny rural village Garzon. Stunning aerials of Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu and beyond. Rio de Janeiro doesn't hold an exclusive on Carnaval. Uruguay's two-month celebration, which starts mid-January, is largely based on candombe, dance and rhythms devised by African slaves in the 19th century.

Drums played by a strong cuerda group and energetic dancing are at the heart of every street party, a more grassroots affair than its Brazilian cousin. Wine country. Fruity, tannin-high Tannat is Uruguay's star grape and though the wine industry is small at 70 million liters comparable to a single mid-size Argentine winery's production , it's blossoming.

With four key regions dotted along the coastline, you can easily sample Tannat in vineyards. Numerous producers wine and dine the public in glorious settings, including Bodega Bouza in Canelones, which has picked up numerous trophies for its Albarino and Tannat. Colonia del Sacramento. Founded by the Portuguese in , this sleepy riverside town is one of Uruguay's oldest -- travel is pure time warp in Colonia del Sacramento.

A 17th-century convent, lighthouse and drawbridge form the heart of the UNESCO-protected Barrio Historico, while vintage automobiles lining quaint cobbled streets offer up a Havana-esque ambience. While laid back towns are de rigueur in Uruguay, Carmelo takes relaxing to a heightened level of chic.