If looking for relaxation Piriapolis will be the preferred
choice all year round. This is a seaside resort that is similar to Punta
del Este, but has only recently become a popular destination for overseas
tourists. Another advantage of Piriapolis is that it is much closer to
Montevideo and accommodation and activities are much cheaper than Punta
del Este.
Most tourists choose to visit the beautiful beaches, but
there is a lot more to offer such as lively nightclubs, the casino, horse
racing, museums, wildlife parks, thermal baths, as well as stunning restaurants.
Tourists ought to go on a professional tour of Piriapolis
that includes visits to the port, the breathtaking waterfalls in Minas,
as well as the various museums and famous landmarks.
A very popular tourist spot in Uruguay is Colonia del
Sacramento. This is a colonial town that has not really had any changes
and development since it was colonised back in 1680 by the Portuguese.
Colonia includes many fine restaurants, museums and craft shops, as well
as the huge harbour that divides Uruguay from neighbouring Argentina.
This small town is especially appreciated by tourists
because of its stone houses and streets that are kept in the same way
as they were 300 years ago. Even today the locals don’t see any
need to modernise the town and try to live in the same way as in the colonial
days, although the town is now one of Uruguay’s main tourist attractions.
“Tourists who prefer some adventure enjoy Colonia,
as the town resembles an antique Uruguay and I am often told that there
isn’t really any place like it around the world. It sort of makes
visitors feel that they are living in the past for a day or two,"
Rodrigo says.
Alex describes why he enjoyed Colonia: “Well what
can I say, it is definitely the most interesting place I have ever been,
especially because people actually still live in the town. It’s
more like a place set up for a movie that tries to retell the past. Spending
the weekend in Colonia was truly amazing”.