Best of Uruguay in Luxury

Arrive at Colonia’s port, where a private transfer takes travelers to a 5-star boutique hotel in the historic Old Town. Later, explore Colonia del Sacramento on a private half-day walking tour. Follow a local guide through cobbled streets to Porton de Campo, Calle de los Suspiros, historic squares, and Iglesia Matriz, while learning about the town’s Portuguese and Spanish history. Enjoy a mate tasting and museum entries along the way.

Travel into the Colonia countryside and visit Bodega El Quinton, where a vineyard and olive grove tour leads to tastings of local wine and olive oil. Continue to La Vigna Cheese Farm and meet owners Agustín and Lucila, who use sustainable, organic methods to craft their cheeses. Learn about the cheese-making process from the farm’s “Cheese Architect” and sample several varieties. Add a cheese-tasting lunch at La Vigna at an extra cost.

Explore Carmelo’s family-run wineries with a local guide. Visit Bodega El Legado to walk through the vineyards, wine cellar, and production area, then taste three wines paired with cheese, salami, and olives. Continue to Bodega Cordano, a fifth-generation family winery, for a vineyard and winery tour, a stop at the historic Almacén de la Capilla, and three wine tastings with a homemade lunch.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before transferring to Puerto Camacho in the afternoon. Board a classic boat at the secluded Club del Faro marina for a 1.5-hour Rio de la Plata sunset cruise through the Delta islands. Cruise to the meeting point of the Río de la Plata and Río Uruguay, known locally as “kilometer 0,” while the captain shares stories of the Uruguayan coast and historic shipwrecks.

Transfer in the morning to Uruguay’s Durazno department and travel into the countryside to an estancia. Settle into the peaceful rural setting, where open landscapes, traditional ranch life, and accommodations create a relaxed base for exploring the area. 

Spend a full day exploring the grounds of the luxury estancia at a relaxed pace. Enjoy the open countryside, take part in available estancia activities, or simply unwind in the peaceful rural setting. Experience the landscapes and traditional atmosphere of central Uruguay.

Transfer from Durazno to Montevideo and meet a guide for a walking tour of the Old City. Explore Independence Square, Palacio Salvo, the President’s office, and the mausoleum of national hero Jose Gervasio Artigas. Stroll along Sarandí pedestrian street to Matriz Square, home to the Cathedral of Montevideo and historic Cabildo, then continue to the Port Market for an included lunch featuring traditional asado. Visit two museums of choice: MAPI, the Torres García Museum, or the Gurvich Museum, subject to opening hours. 

Explore modern Montevideo beyond the Old City walls, starting at Plaza Independencia and continuing through Plaza Fabini, Ciudad Abierta, Carrasco, and Punta Gorda. See the Palacio Legislativo, Estadio Centenario, and Monumento a la Carreta while learning about the city’s history and architecture. Visit the studio of Afro-Uruguayan drum maker and Candombe musician Lobo Nunez to learn about Uruguay’s Carnival traditions and Candombe music. In the late afternoon, meet winemaker Manuel Filgueira at boutique winery Los Nadies for a tasting of two signature wines, followed by a home-cooked dinner with the winemaker and family.

Transfer from Montevideo toward Sacromonte near Pueblo Eden, traveling through the foothills of Cerro de las Animas. Stop at Olivos de las Animas, an olive plantation where you learn about extra virgin olive oil production before enjoying a tasting and exclusive lunch at the owner’s home. Watch for native wildlife along the route, including red and blue cardinals, American rheas, and other local mammals.

Meet the guide and drive to Pueblo Eden to visit the local chapel and main square before starting an 8 km (5-mile) hike through the surrounding countryside. Follow a local trail past ranch gates, native trees, open prairies, grazing cattle and sheep, and a small stream as rolling hills shape the landscape. Finish at Vina Eden winery overlooking the vineyards.

After breakfast and checkout, meet the guide for a panoramic tour of Punta del Este and a visit to the MACA Museum of Contemporary Art. Drive through lively La Barra and cross its distinctive undulating bridge before reaching Brava Beach. Explore Juan Gorlero Avenue, the yacht port, and residential areas, then visit Casapueblo and the museum dedicated to Uruguayan artist Carlos Paez Vilaro. Continue toward José Ignacio and stop at the Atchugarry Foundation in Manantiales to explore the work of Uruguayan sculptor Pablo Atchugarry.

Enjoy lunch at La Huella before heading into the countryside for a sunset horseback ride to the lagoon. Ride across the landscape as the sky changes from orange to red, then return to the fire pits for an alfresco dinner under the stars. Learn about the preparation of a traditional Uruguayan asado and share the meal with a glass of local wine by the fire.

Meet the local guide at the traditional pulperia in Garzon and cycle through the town, stopping at the main square, chapel, and historic train station. Continue to Bodega Garzon, set on a rocky outcrop above vineyards planted in mineral-rich, well-draining soils. Enjoy a wine tasting and lunch with views across the vineyards, or join a cooking class at El Garzon, the restaurant led by Argentine chef Francis Mallmann. Transfer back to the hotel afterward.

Bike from the hotel in Jose Ignacio, or from the lighthouse for stays outside town, and explore the lighthouse and main square before following Route 10 toward Laguna Garzón. Stop at a scenic lookout and the lagoon’s circular bridge, then continue along rural trails and private estancias to Anastasio Stream. Switch to kayaks and paddle toward the lagoon, a key habitat for flamingos, swans, herons, and storks. Enjoy a traditional picnic lunch at a countryside barn before biking back to José Ignacio, with a transfer available as an alternative.

Enjoy breakfast before transferring from Jose Ignacio to Montevideo Airport for your departure flight.