Although the South American country of Uruguay is lesser known than its more famous neighbors, Brazil and Argentina, it has its own special tourist offerings, including deliciously fabulous wine tours in Carmelo – easily accessible from the UNESCO world heritage city of Colonia de Sacramento. Ideal South America’s General Manager, Donovan Hervig, visited recently to discover more treasure along the Rio de la Plata. Inspired by a Favorite Places Blog Article on Uruguay, he visited Casapueblo – the home workshop turned museum of one of the country’s most famous artists, Carlos Paez Vilaro – as part of a Punta del Este day tour from Montevideo. The beach resort area is not only one of the most popular in South America, but also offers some unique natural and cultural wonders.
Why is there an 18% discount paying with card at restaurants in Uruguay?
Yes that’s right – there is an 18% discount off your bill at all bars and restaurants in Uruguay if you pay with your card instead of cash! It is a national government sponsored initiative, to both encourage businesses to pay taxes and promote tourism. And don’t worry – the local establishment doesn’t lose out. It receives the full amount, with the receipt showing the separate line item discount. This figure goes down to 9% during the tourist offseason (May – October) – another incentive to visit from November through April. Keep this in mind when in Montevideo at its lively and traditional Port Market – one of the best places in the capital city to shop and eat.
UNESCO World Heritage City Colonia de Sacramento – Spanish vs. Portuguese
For hundreds of years Uruguay was a battleground between the Spanish and Portuguese colonial empires. The latter made Colonia its first settlement. It traded controlling hands multiple times. You can still see the actual, visible evidence of this, connecting in the very streets and alleyways of this colonial city. Especially in the old town area, you will walk over the rougher cobbled Portuguese style paths, with a mini central aqueduct, leading up to and down from the more traditional cobbed central Spanish style roads.
Carmelo Wine Tours
Located just 50 miles (1 hour driving) from lovely Colonia is one of Uruguay’s top wine regions at Carmelo – often called Uruguay’s Tuscany! The fabulous modern winery Bodega El Legado not only lets you directly sample their barrels and pour a glass yourself the traditional way, it also offers quality 4* rooms where you can stay overnight for the full countryside experience. And of course they can cook you a traditional asado (barbeque)!
The smaller, fifth generation Bodega Cordano includes a guided tour of the production areas and vineyards, along with a stop in the cellar “Almacén de la Capilla”, the vintage grocery shop founded in 1855. While the national red wine and grape, Tannat, is the star of show at both wineries, there are plenty of blends (with Merlot and Malbec grapes), along with whites and roses. You can also visit “Calera de las Huerfanas” – an archaeological site of the remains of a local estancia managed by the Jesuit Missions between 1741 and 1767, where vine cultivation started.
For more info on tours in these places, see this sample itinerary: Uruguay Tours