Montevideo, Av. Libertador. In the back, the Parliament

About Uruguay

Uruguay is located in Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil.

Uruguay's small economy benefits from a favorable climate for agriculture and substantial hydropower production. Economic performance remains sensitive to conditions in Argentina and Brazil, largely because more than half of Uruguay's trade is conducted with its partners in Mercosur (the Southern Cone Common Market) .

Montevideo has some of the nicest beaches of South America

There's no country like Uruguay say the Uruguayans, justifiably proud of their small country. Uruguay had to fight the Spanish for their Independence and then turn around and wrest control of their country again from Argentina and Brazil.

Ecological formation at 46 kms. from Trinidad

Since then they've racked up a notable list of firsts: first country in South America to have universal suffrage with voting obligatory; first country in the world to have a minimum wage scale for agricultural workers; the only country in South America never to have slavery; the first country to enforce an eight hour work day; the country with the best health record on the continent and the most advanced social security system in the Americas.

Punta del Este

Uruguay has a lot to offer visitors. Most people know of the beaches of which Punta Del Este is probably the most famous. As Uruguay is bounded on three sides by water there is much to choose from. The Costa de Oro the Golden Coast which follows the curve of Rio de la Plata offers many fine resort areas. The Ocean Coasts facing the Atlantic and Other Coasts along the Rio de la Plata and other rivers offer more choices. If you're looking for more than beach activities Piriapolis combines a beach resort and health spas reminiscent of some of Europe's most famous spas.

Montevideo, General Artigas statue at the Plaza Independencia

You'll probably spend some time in cosmopolitan Montevideo where you'll see the Plaza del Entrevero and enjoy visits to the Virtual Museum of Arts el Pais which offers a high tech approach to museum visiting. You'll want a list of things to see and do but make sure you tour the Museum of American Art, located in an historic estancia in Maldonado.

For the environmentally minded traveler there are a number of Ecological Tours after which you might enjoy a restful soak in one of four thermal Hot Springs perhaps at Guaviyu which offers complete entertainment facilities for the whole family.

Whether you're soaking up the rays at a beach resort sampling the Gaucho way of life or sampling Urugauyan cuisine, enjoy Uruguay!

Parliament in Montevideo