On this 7-day Coastal Gems of Uruguay Tour, explore José Ignacio, akin to the Hamptons for New Yorkers, which offers an escape, showcasing a distinct South American bohemian charm that's truly captivating. On the second half of the tour, explore the Rocha Province, a UNESCO-recognized part of the Bañados del Este Biosphere Reserve, celebrated for its remarkable biodiversity, housing birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. This tour explores highlights such as Cabo Polonio's sand dunes and sea lion sanctuary, Cerro Verde's green turtles, and Laguna de Rocha Lagoon, where travelers engage with the fishing community and relish a meal at "Cocina de la Barra."
Highlights
Discover the Rocha Province, a UNESCO-recognized part of the Bañados del Este Biosphere Reserve
Experience the sand dunes and sea lion sanctuary of Cabo Polonio
Encounter green turtles at Cerro Verde
Engage with the fishing community at "Cocina de la Barra"
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Upon your arrival at the hotel, meet with your local guide for the following tour:
Experience the Punta Del Este City Tour with a Picnic at the Sculpture Park. Visit the fascinating "Casapueblo," a magnificent property perched on the Atlantic Ocean hillside, designed and constructed by the renowned Uruguayan artist Carlos Paez Vilaró. Explore "Mansa" beach and uncover the area's pirate legends in "Las Delicias," situated in front of "Gorritti Island." Also, have the opportunity to observe the sizeable sea lion population near the marina and port, where they gather to feed on fish provided by local fishermen.
The excursion continues to the undulating, whimsical bridge of La Barra and the charming local towns renowned for their antique shops and inviting atmosphere. The tour concludes with a visit to the Atchugarry Foundation and Sculpture Park, where you can relish a picnic lunch.
After breakfast, you are transported to Estancia Anastasio, where you embark on a cycling adventure along rustic trails, passing by private ranches until you reach the Anastasio Stream. From this point, switch to kayaking and paddle your way to the lagoon. This particular lagoon connects to the sea during the winter season, making it a haven for various bird species such as flamingos, swans, herons, storks, and more. A classic picnic lunch is served, and afterward, pedal back to Jose Ignacio. If you prefer, this tour can be modified to include horseback riding instead of cycling.
Travel to Bodega Garzón for a Tour, Lunch, and Tasting: Exploring Garzon, Often Called the "Tuscany of Uruguay"
The excursion commences with a visit to the tranquil town of Garzon, often likened to the "Uruguayan Tuscany." Here, pause at the central square, chapel, and train station. Next, proceed to Garzon Winery for a comprehensive visit that includes wine tasting and a delightful lunch. Perched atop a rocky formation, the winery provides breathtaking views of the vineyards nestled on the hillside, featuring mineral-rich, well-draining soils that contribute to the production of high-quality grapes. Following the meal, you'll be transported back to your hotel.
Transfer from Punta del Este Airport to La Pedrera. Once arrived at the entrance of Cabo Polonio Village, meet up with your local guide for the following adventure:
Get ready for a full-day exploration of the Sand Dunes of Cabo Polonio. The adventure commences in the quaint town of Valizas, where travelers will cross the stream aboard a local angler's boat, embarking on an incredible 4-hour barefoot trek across the sand dunes leading to Cabo Polonio. Along the way, relish the splendid vistas of the ocean from Buena Vista Hill before reaching the charming fishing village. Savor a seaside restaurant lunch with a view of the ocean, and ascend the lighthouse to witness one of the largest sea lion colonies in South America. In the afternoon, take a rugged 4-wheel monster truck from the village back to the entrance.
Day 5: Full-day La Coronilla to Santa Teresa National Park Hiking
Exploration of the Hiking Trail from La Coronilla to Santa Teresa National Park
The adventure commences in the charming town of La Coronilla, where the first stop is at the visitor center of the local NGO Karumbé, meaning "turtle" in the local Guaraní language. Here, a specialist will provide insights into their various conservation activities in the region and lead us on a hike to the Green Hill Protected Area. During the trek, which takes place from November to March, be on the lookout for green turtles and dolphins.
Upon reaching Santa Teresa National Park, relish a traditional local picnic lunch and delve into the history of the area, exploring the Portuguese fortress and learning about the region's local heritage.
Gather with your local guide. The adventure begins with a transfer to the natural reserve of Laguna de Rocha. This semi-freshwater lagoon, which flows into the sea, is renowned as a haven for birdlife, housing around 220 species including migratory waders, flamingos, black-necked swans, herons, and storks.
Pay a visit to the nearby fishing community and relish a meal at "Cocina de La Barra," a charming small restaurant run by the wives of the local fishermen. Following lunch, set out with a local friend, Pepe, who will guide us on a boat expedition to explore the diverse bird species residing on the lagoon.
Day 7: Last day at La Pedrera
1 Breakfast
After breakfast, from here you will be transferred to the airport, and the port, or feel free to stay an extra day or two. Transfer back to Montevideo.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 254 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 254 reviews on
1 day ago
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
1 day ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
1 day ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
6 days ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.