Overview of Uruguay

I have to admit, before I traveled to South America, I had no idea about anything in Uruguay. I only knew that they once won the FIFA World Cup, that its capital is Montevideo, and where it is located. Looking back, my knowledge about Uruguay at that time was really sad, and I think that this small South American country deserves more attention.

If you want to travel to Uruguay, it is enough to do a coastal tour as there is not much to see for tourists in the inland. For backpackers, I would also recommend planning no more than one and a half weeks if you want to cover everything quickly. For me, Colonia del Sacramento with its old town was one of the highlights, although you can see everything there within hours. Larger cities like Montevideo or Punta del Este are also tourist magnets, even though they are more than just expensive. In these two places, I would not plan more than one night each. You can spend your time in Montevideo in the city center or on the beach and enjoy the local food. One thing you should not miss in Punta del Este is the nearby Casapueblo in Punta Ballena. For me, Cabo Polonio is also important, and I think you have to visit it when you travel to Uruguay. Punta del Diablo is also beautiful to see, but two nights are more than enough. If you travel from the west to the east or vice versa, you also have the opportunity to spend individual nights in smaller towns like La Paloma or La Pedrera. However, like all coastal towns in Uruguay, these are better suited for relaxing, surfing, or swimming than for exploring or an action-packed vacation. Unlike Chile or Argentina, there are far fewer tourist attractions or tours here. However, since Uruguay is very expensive and even seemed more expensive than Germany to me, you should consider whether the individual bus rides between the places are worth the money or if you would rather stay longer in one place and then travel a longer distance to the next stop.

In terms of culture and language, Uruguay seemed very similar to Argentina to me. Uruguayans have almost the same dialect as Argentinians, the traditional food is very similar, and you see someone walking around with a thermos and mate everywhere. The only big difference that quickly stands out is the fact that the purchase, consumption, and cultivation of cannabis are legal. You can find grow shops everywhere, the smell can be smelled on the streets at any time of the day or night, and you see people of all ages with a joint in their hand. In supermarkets, you can find various products or even mate yerba that contains cannabis, and its leaf is depicted on all kinds of items. However, you should know that there are only 16 pharmacies in the whole of Uruguay that sell cannabis, and otherwise, you have to grow the plant yourself to obtain it legally.

What I also noticed are some questionable business practices in Montevideo that you definitely wouldn't find in Germany:

Overall, I really enjoyed my almost two-week stay in Uruguay, and I would recommend everyone to visit this country, at least if you are already in South America.