Essential Uruguay - Wine & Culinary Tour
8 days / 7 nights
Overview
During these eight days in Uruguay, you will experience the country’s highlights, sampling Uruguayan wine at one of the country’s many wineries and get a taste of sophisticated beach life on the Uruguayan Riviera. You’ll also explore the capital of Montevideo as well as historic Colonia del Sacramento, take a horseback excursion through a picturesque, wildlife-rich estancia and ride the dunes of the Atlantic coast. The trip includes a visit to Punta del Este, the glamourous resort of Uruguay and you will stay a state-of-the-art hotel, Playa Vik. Olive oil is on the menu on your way to Garzon with a behind-the-scenes look at the Colinas de Garzon olive oil plant. You will pair the award-winning olive oils with local cheeses and varietals from Uruguay wineries. At nearby Estancia Anastasio, a private cooking class will leave you with your own recipes and techniques to take home from your Uruguay wine tour.
Memorable Moments
- Explore UNESCO World Heritage village of Colonia del Sacramento, a quintessential town rooted in Spanish and Portuguese influence.
- Get acquainted with the Tannat, Uruguay’s signature grape, while touring Uruguay wineries;
- Marvel at Casapueblo, a gleaming white building that looks like it belongs in Santorini.
- Stay at the ultimate coastal retreat, Playa Vik, the perfect spot from which to explore the seaside town of Jose Ignacio;
- Learn all the secrets of the extra virgin olive oil and explore the olive plantations and boutique production plant;
- Pair award-winning olive oils with local cheeses and varietals from Uruguay wineries;
- At Estancia Anastasio choose between biking, horseback riding, canoeing, stand-up paddle, yoga and cooking classes;
- Enjoy a typical “asado” the traditional process of grilling steak and meat over wood fires in Uruguay.
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1 – Colonia del Sacramento & Carmelo
Day 2 – Carmelo – Finca Narbona Winery Tour
Day 3 – Montevideo – Introductory Tour of the City
Day 4 – Montevideo – Overview of the City
Day 5 – Punta del Este & Jose Ignacio
Day 6 – Jose Ignacio - Colinas de Garzon – Wine and olive oil tastings
Day 7 – Jose Ignacio – Anastasio & Garzon Lagoons
Day 8 – Jose Ignacio – Departure
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Full Itinerary
Upon arrival in Colonia port, your bilingual guide will lead you through the charming Historic Center of Colonia, and She will share its history, its relationship with the Spanish and the Portuguese and the distinctive architecture that reflects the city`s dual character. Among the main sites of interest, you will visit San Francisco’s Convent, Plaza Mayor, The Street of sighs and The Tile Museum. Climb “El Faro”, the light House, for views over the city. Have a glass of “Medio y medio”, a mix of sparkling and red or white wines – Uruguay’s version of Prosecco (it’s delicious!).
In the afternoon, transfer to the Carmelo Resort & Spa A Hyatt Hotel, located in the outskirts of the small town of Carmelo in the vineyard area, just one hour north of Colonia del Sacramento.
Meals: Dinner.
Accommodations: Carmelo Resort & Spa Hyatt Hotel
Notes:
Colonia is bathed by the waters of de la Plata River, only one hour from the city of Buenos Aires. High-speed ferries leave daily from Buenos Aires to Colonia. The duration of the ferry trip is 50 minutes.
Morning at leisure to enjoy your resort.
In the afternoon, visit Narbona Wine Lodge, based on the site of one of Uruguay’s first wineries. Get acquainted with the Tannat, Uruguay’s signature grape, while touring Uruguay wineries nearby. Of course, you’ll get to enjoy the fruits of Finca Narbona’s vineyards and artisan cheese production, too. The winery has recently signed an agreement with EnoRolland; the expert advice of the consultant oenologist Michel Rolland was a decisive turning point in the quality of their wines.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodations: Carmelo Resort & Spa Hyatt Hotel
After breakfast, you will be picked up and enjoy a private transfer to Montevideo. You will be taken to the lively Port Market to (Mercado del Puerto) and enjoy a typical Uruguayan parrilla (bbq). After lunch, enjoy a walking tour of the old city (the colonial historic neighborhood) and wander along “La Rambla” the coastal promenade.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodations: Sofitel Montevideo
Following breakfast, join us in a panoramic city tour of the neighborhoods of Montevideo and its most important attractions. Continue to Juanico Winery, 40 minutes north of Montevideo, for a tour with a wine tasting and a delicious lunch. Afternoon at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodations: Sofitel Montevideo
Early in the morning, depart to Punta del Este, one of the most famous beach resorts of South America. On the way to Punta, we will visit Piriapolis. The city was founded by Francisco Piria, who was an alchemist; this is why there are many symbols of alchemy, can still be seen throughout the small city. You will be able to enjoy beautiful panoramic views from the San Antonio Hill. Continue to Casapueblo a gleaming white building that looks like it belongs in Santorini. Designed by Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró, it’s located on the side of a cliff in Punta Ballena. Once in Punta del Este discover the Mansa and Brava beaches, the residential neighborhoods such as Beverly Hills, San Rafael and Cantegril Golf. Then cross the unique undulated bridge that connects the city center with the boho-chic area of La Barra.
Stroll along main avenue Juan Gorlero, visit the yacht port and enjoy an almost infinite number of luxury boutique stores, cafes and bars. Pose in front of La Mano en la Arena (“the hand in the sand”), a picturesque location that will make you a hit on Instagram! In the late afternoon, we will continue to your hotel, Playa VIK located in José Ignacio.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodations: Playa Vik, Jose Ignacio
Following breakfast, we will visit Colinas de Garzon, where the best olive oil of Uruguay is produced. For those who enjoy the taste of new experiences, spectacular views, top quality wines and olive oils, this will be a wonderful visit. You will be able to learn all the secrets of the extra virgin olive oil and explore the olive plantations and boutique production plant. You will then enjoy a tasting of the fine wines and olive oils of Colinas de Garzon, served with selected home-made cheeses. Between the months of March and June, guests can also learn to and participate in the harvest.
Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the village of José Ignacio with its selection of excellent restaurants, small boutiques and beautiful beaches.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodations: Playa Vik, Jose Ignacio
After breakfast, transfer to Estancia Anastasio, a small secret paradise in the natural Reserve of the Anastasio & Garzon Lagoons. The visit starts with a welcome drink at the charming construction, formerly house to local fishermen, which has been converted into a small cozy restaurant. You will be able to choose between two of the different proposed activities: biking, horseback riding, canoeing, Stand-up paddle, cooking classes and yoga. You will be fascinated by the landscape that surrounds you! Enjoy a typical Uruguayan barbecue for lunch. Choose another activity in the afternoon and have a typical “merienda” including a mate tasting, Uruguayan typical delicacies. Transfer back to Jose Ignacio.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodations: Playa Vik, Jose Ignacio
At selected time, we will transfer you back to Punta del Este Airport or Montevideo Airport to take your international flight.
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FAQ
The best time to visit Uruguay is October through March with sunny days and mild temperatures. The largest crowds by far appear in summer (mid-December to mid-February in beach resorts like Punta del Este and Jose Ignacio). That is when most families take their vacations and go to the beach. The period between Christmas and New Year is also a very busy time of year and you should expect to pay more for hotels and other services due to high demand.
Weather is great through the year. Average temperatures are 62°F (17°C) in spring, 73°F (23°C) in summer, 64°F (18°C) in autumn, and 53°F (12°C) in winter.
Uruguay is three hours behind GMT (two hours ahead of EST). They do not observe daylight-savings time during the months of April through October, when Uruguay is only one hour ahead of EST.
Included meals are mentioned in the itinerary. In major cities where there is a wide variety of restaurants, we usually do not include meals, to allow our travelers the flexibility of choosing their own food preferences. Special diets should be requested on the Ideas South America booking form.
Beef is central to the Uruguayan diet and their barbecue is world-famous. Seafood and fish is excellent on the coast. For vegetarians, pasta dishes and pizza are fairly abundant. Desserts with dulce de leche (milk caramel) are a staple for most Uruguayans. Beverages like grappa con miel (grappa with honey) and mate (infusion of dried leaves and twigs of the yerba mate plant) are traditional drinks found in many areas of Uruguay.
For those who follow a special diet (such as kosher or vegan) or travel with dietary restrictions, it is certainly possible to enjoy much of the local food in Uruguay. Contact us and we will plan your trip in order to meet your dietary requirements accordingly.
The tap water is safe to drink in most parts of the country. To be sure, ask your guide or the hotel staff. The safest choice is to purchase bottled water, and bottled water is readily available and should be used in remote rural areas.
This depends on the age of your child/children. Some of our horseback riding tours might not be suitable for very young children but would be great for families with teenagers. Please check with us as to which tours would be a good fit for your family or customize a trip based on your family’s interests. We realize that you know your kids best so we will be happy to answer all of your questions and try to give you the most accurate idea of what to expect.
Tour rates do not include international flights. We find that it is usually less expensive for travelers to book these separately, and this also allows you the flexibility to choose the schedule and routing that is most convenient for you. Alternatively, we can help you arrange these flights.
If you are planning to travel to Uruguay during the last ten days of December, we recommend to book your trip 12-15 months in advance. If you can travel during November or the first two-thirds of December—before holiday airfares and hotel rates go into effect—can be a serene and just plain lovely time In Uruguay.
For last minute bookings, it helps to be flexible and organized. Your first choice tour and/or hotels may not be available for your selected dates, but we can probably recommend some other similar options that would be equally interesting! Many lodges will not hold spaces less than 30 days before departure so for last minute bookings, you may be asked to send your registration form and trip payment in right away to secure your spaces.
We offer special trip discounts periodically throughout the year. Check out our Offers page for the latest offers and on-going discounts.
Yes. Most tours can be arranged on alternative departure dates for a minimum of two travelers as long as lodges/ hotels are available.
According to the US State Department, there is no evidence of terrorist organizations or violent groups in Uruguay that specifically target U.S. visitors. However, street crime is relatively common in the major cities and travelers should take common sense precautions. Don’t walk alone or at night and don’t carry large amounts of valuables with you. All hotels have safes where you can store your belongings. Check out the US State Department travel advisories for the latest information.
No immunizations are currently required for visiting Uruguay. Hepatitis A and Typhoid are recommended. For the most current information, please consult your doctor and/or check out the Center for Disease Control web-site at www.cdc.gov.
All travelers entering Uruguay will need a passport, valid for at least 6 months after they depart the country. Citizens from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most Western European countries do not need a visa for tourist stays up to 3 months. Other nationalities should check with the nearest Uruguay Consulate to determine entry requirements.
Uruguay is most often combined with Argentina, with arrival or departure overland via Colonia. It is also often combined with Brazil, but there are also direct non-stop flights with Chile.