Despite the pandemic, there is still one week of July holidays left in which domestic tourism becomes the star due to border closures.
In times of SARS-CoV-2, international tourism is limited and that is why during these July holidays - of which there is still a week left - many inhabitants of the country are turning to domestic tourism.
As this is winter tourism, the possibility of enjoying the outdoors is more limited, while the pandemic affects the capacity of closed spaces, especially considering the outbreaks.
However, visiting different parts of Uruguay and doing domestic tourism is possible and below we share 10 destinations.
Waiter, winery and village
Francis Mallmann's restaurant and hotel is a great attraction for tourists visiting the place. Photo: Delfina Milder
Stuck in time, this is how Pueblo Garzón lives. Although there are not as many activities as other places, it is worth walking around its streets and visiting the old train station. In addition, the town has the prestigious Francis Mallman restaurant and, a few kilometers away, the Garzón Winery. A few days ago, the establishment was chosen as the second best winery to visit in the world by World's Best Winery.
Colonia del Sacramento
The hotels in the departmental capital of Colonia are open and the city allows visitors to visit and enjoy walks.
Visiting the lighthouse, walking along the coast, walking down Calle de los Suspiros or admiring the reconstruction of the Real de San Carlos are some of the possibilities that the city offers and which, as they are all outdoors, are less risky, even for families.
On the other hand, the department also offers the opportunity for gastronomic tourism, thanks to its wineries and traditional cheeses. In addition, since July 4, the Aarón de Anchorena National Park reopened with two daily guided tours at 10:00 and 14:30.
Salto and Paysandú Hot Springs
Distributed along the country's coastline, thermal water complexes are very attractive during the winter season. On this occasion, due to the health emergency, their reopening was enabled at the beginning of July. Thermal centers must follow strict safety protocols to guarantee the good health of their users. In addition, they cannot receive the traditional number of tourists that usually go during these dates.
Piriápolis and its walks
Although the classic Cerro Pan de Azúcar Breeding Station and Wildlife Reserve remains closed to the public, the coastal city of Maldonado allows for other outdoor walks.
Walking along the promenade, visiting the port or going up to Cerro San Antonio are some of the activities that can be done in the resort despite the low temperatures. There are nearby resorts to visit for those who dare to go down to the beach; as well as other mountains and hills to enjoy the views.
Montevideo from a tourist's perspective
The capital of the country from the perspective of domestic tourism is interesting for locals and inhabitants of the interior of the country.
Walking through the streets of the Old City and the Center offers a historical overview of what the colonial city was like and what it was like at the beginning of the 20th century. Fountains, squares, buildings and churches are attractive and invite you to investigate the history of the city.
Florida Murals
In the town of 25 de Agosto, the French artist Michele Dubaux, whose stage name is Léo Arti, intervened in several buildings, turning the town into an open-air gallery.
Visiting the city is a free outing that can be reached in an hour's drive from Montevideo.
Winter tip
The most touristic resort on the Uruguayan coast offers different attractions, even in the coldest months. Thanks to the city's infrastructure, it has an important gastronomic offer, a shopping center and is complemented by walks along the port or the possibility of visiting the house of Carlos Paéz Vilaró in Punta Ballena.
In addition, just a few kilometres away, there are other spas, such as José Ignacio or the Garzón stream, which can be visited without the influx of people that they have during the summer season. On the other hand, spaces such as the Las Cumbres area or the Lussich Arboretum are more enjoyable and are ideal for taking advantage of walks in the open air.
Walks in Flowers
The Tálice Ecopark and the Grutas del Palacio Geopark are two options offered by the department of Flores to visit during these winter days.
As long as there is no turning back on the confinement measures, it is planned that these two natural destinations can be visited all week.
Bouza Winery
It was chosen as one of the best vineyards in the world by the World's Best Vineyards award, ranking 26th. The establishment is located in rural Montevideo (Camino La Redención 7658) and is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Guided tours are available to visit the vineyards, winery and cellar, explaining the history of the place, as well as the process of making the different wines.
Wine Roads
The Uruguayan Wine Tourism Association (ATEU), which currently brings together 18 family wineries present in Uruguay (15 in Canelones and Montevideo, 2 in Maldonado and 1 in Colonia), created the brand “Los caminos del vino” (The Wine Roads) to promote wine tourism and convey the history of Uruguayan wines. Some of them are Pizzorno, Campotinto, Altos de la Ballena, Spinoglio, H.Stagnari, Familia Deicas, among others.
Original note: El País.
