Routes · Americas

Nairobi to Uruguay: Montevideo, Colonia and Punta del Este

Nairobi → Montevideo → Colonia del Sacramento → Punta del Este

River port, colonial quarter & Atlantic beaches Best season (general guide): Nov–Mar

Uruguay is a small, relaxed country between Argentina and Brazil, with a long coastline on the Río de la Plata and the Atlantic. This route spends seven nights in Montevideo, Colonia and Punta del Este. From Nairobi you'll connect through São Paulo or another hub.

How to pace it: Spend days one and two in Montevideo: day one, Ciudad Vieja; day two, Mercado del Puerto and the Rambla. Then spend days three and four in Colonia del Sacramento: day three, travel west to Colonia; day four, old quarter and the lighthouse. Then spend days five to seven in Punta del Este: day five, travel east to Punta del Este; day six, beaches and La Mano; day seven, Casapueblo sunset.

Start in Montevideo's Ciudad Vieja, the old town, with grand buildings and cafés. For lunch, try the Mercado del Puerto, an old market hall full of grills serving beef and sausages. The Rambla, a seafront promenade, runs for kilometres along the river, and locals walk it with their mate, the herbal drink carried in a gourd.

Take the bus west to Colonia del Sacramento, founded by the Portuguese in 1680. Its historic quarter, listed by UNESCO, has cobbled streets, old houses and a lighthouse with views over the river towards Buenos Aires.

East of Montevideo, end the trip in Punta del Este, Uruguay's best-known beach resort. La Mano, a sculpture of fingers rising from the sand, is a famous landmark. Casapueblo, a white building on a cliff, was the home and studio of the artist Carlos Páez Vilaró, and it is popular at sunset.

November to March is the warm season and the best time for the beaches. Book early for January, when Punta del Este is busiest.

In Colonia, the old quarter is best explored on foot or by bike, and the sunset over the river is a highlight. In Punta del Este, the beaches on the river side are calm, while those on the ocean side have bigger waves.

Practical notes: comfortable buses link the three towns, so you won't need a car. Dinner is eaten late in Uruguay, so plan a late lunch.

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