Uruguay is a quiet, modern country of endless plains, ideal for farming, cattlebreading and a great place to experience the horse riding culture of the Gauchos. Sophisticated cities such as and contrast with rugged Atlantic beaches, vineyards producing excellent wine, and the colonial town of Colonia del Sacramento.The pace of life is slow, ideal to enjoy the surroundings at a relaxed pace.

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Colonia & Carmelo Montevideo Posada Plaza Mayor Montevideo is Uruguay’s capital, Tourist has wide avenues, grand buildings Located in the heart of historic and European architecture ranging Colonia del Sacramento, Posasa Plaza Mayor is a converted house dating from Colonial to Art Deco. The city from 1860. Full of character, the hotel is calm and sophisticated, its people has many of the original features, friendly, with a rich cultural life including tiled floors and exposed including art galleries, theatre and brickwork. The 15 rooms all have air- conditionig and there is a charming dance. The city also has many interior garden with a small fountain. thriving markets which sell art, Alma Historica First leather goods, and local handicrafts. Located in the heart of the old city, First Campotinto The Mercado del Puerto has grills Alma Historica exudes classic style. Colonia de Sacramento lies across Posada Campotino is a small homely serving local food in an informal Its 15 elegant guestrooms are based the estuary from , guesthouse set among the vines of a setting, an excellent place for lunch. on figures from Uruguay’s history and working winery in Carmelo. There are culture, individually designed and linked by a regular ferry service. The 4 spacious bedrooms, all with air- furnished. There is a roof terrace with charming historic town was built by conditioning, and there is an outdoor Excursions available: beautiful views over the square, as Portuguese settlers in the 17th pool for relaxing. The restaurant serves •Bicycle tour of Montevideo well as a library and lounge-bar for Century and is now a UNESCO locally produced food, and guests can • Full day visit to Colonia breakfast, but no restaurant. taste wines, or explore the surrounding •Montevideo Art Tour World Heritage site, a maze of area on bicycles or on horseback. •Tour of nearby wineries cobbled streets with the original Don Boutique Tourist fortifications. Nearby Carmelo is Mercado del Puerto grill, Montevideo Don Boutique Hotel is small in size but big in style. The art deco exterior gives one of the prime wine producing way to modernist interiors, and its 21 regions of Uruguay, specialising in a rooms have all modern amenities. rare red grape called Tannat. There There is a rooftop terrace with bar are excellent wineries to visit and and plunge pool for cooling off and relaxing. Located in the heart of the taste the wines, and charming historic quarter near the port, it is the boutique hotels for overnight stays. perfect base to explore the city.

66 Country Estancias

Finca Piedra Tourist Estancia Vik Deluxe

Finca Piedra offers a taste of traditional A cross between a luxury hotel and a private URUGUAY Uruguayan coutry life, within easy reach of home, Estancia Vik brings the best of world- Colonia and Montevideo. With over 1000 class hospitality, service and interior design hectares of land, guests can ride horses, to the Estancia setting of Eastern Uruguay. walk, cycle to explore the surrounding hills The colonial-style building has numerous and also watch for bird life. There are interior patios and gardens, and modern art extensive vineyards accessible to guests, lines the walls throughout. The Estancia has and a working winery open for tastings. The its own stables for horse riding and polo, 13 guestrooms are distributed across several swimming pool and extensive wine cellar. small, characterfull buildings, all with The rooms are stylish, sophisticated and private bathroom. There are a wide range characterful, and all meals and activities are of excursions available, including horse included. The small beachfront town of Jose riding, carriage rides, and bird watching. Ignacio is a short drive away. Punta Del Este & José Ignacio Trendy, monied and fashionable , Punta del Este is a small city and PRICES FROM 4 days • 3 nights beach resort - a magnet for COLONIA & CARMELO wealthy South Americans with Campotinto £561 holiday villas hidden in the pine Pousada Plaza Mayor £284 forest along the coast. There are MONTEVIDEO Alma Historica £300 beautiful resorts and deluxe Don Boutique £231 L’Auberge Deluxe Posada del Faro Tourist hotels, large and small. The many PUNTA DEL ESTE L’Auberge £438 restaurants and cafes are ideal for Located in an upmarket residential Located in central Jose Ignacio, socialising. Along the coast, area of Punta del Este, L’Auberge is a Posada del Faro is a charming and JOSÉ IGNACIO luxury oasis in the style of a country homely guesthouse a stone’s throw Estancia Vik £840 Jose Ignacio is a small town resort, Finca Piedra £690 cottage, surrounded by gardens. The from the beach. There is a small Posada del Faro £543 with windswept sand dunes, rooms are homely, decorated with art pool in the garden, they operate Prices are per person in a Standard Room for frequented by the trendy regulars, and antiques. The hotel has a pool their own beachclub with a bar and double occupancy including accommodation and and a restaurant, and the beach is a restaurant, and there are bicycles Breakfast, tax, service charge and transfers. and with rugged Atlantic beaches *Prices for Triple room, Single Room on request. ten minute walk along quiet streets. free to borrow. Estancia Vik is on all-inclusive basis and authentic local restaurants. NATURALLY URUGUAY

Carmelo Tour Day 1 Departure in the morning from countryside on the banks of the River your hotel in Buenos Aires to the pier, to Plate to Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital, a 6 night itinerary: take the fast ferry across the River Plate vibrant city with wide squares connected to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. by tree-lined avenues, with many grand Colonia -2 night On arrival, we have a tour of the town, neoclassical buildings and art museums. Montevideo - 2 nights walking the cobbled streets and leafy Stay for two nights. Full day tour of the squares with colonial architecture. city centre and fashionable districts, Punta del Este - 2 nights Colonia was founded by the Portuguese including a walk along Rambla, the in 1680, alternating ownership with colourful street markets, and the Mercado Cross the River Plate Spain numerous times, until it was the del Puerto, at the heart of local lifestyle, southern most reach of Brasil from 1817 with bars, restaurants and outdoor tables leading to Colonia with to Independence in 1828; it is now a serving the country’s excellent wines and UNESCO World Heritage Colonial town. a great variety of grilled meats. (B) ancient cobbled streets, Overnight at a traditional hotel. (B) Days 5-6 Transport to Punta del Este, picturesque vineyards, the Day 2 Set off north for a day trip to the the trendy beach resort where South modern and artistic cities, Carmelo. Visit to the Finca Narbona America’s wealthy and celebrities take PRICES FROM 7 days • 6 nights Wine Lodge, for a tour of the vineyards, their Summer holidays. We stay for two CARMELO TOUR £1,600 and a tasting of the wine and cheese that nights at a hotel by the beach with time the trendy beach resort of Prices are per person based on two sharing a they make on the property, and lunch in at leisure to enjoy the seaside setting and standard room, with transport, transfers, guided the restaurant. Overnight in Colonia. (B,L) the cafés and restaurants of this wealthy excursions with English-speaking guide, and meals Punta del Este and wild as specified in the itinerary. city. Day 7, return to Montevideo for the *Prices for Triple room, Single Room on request. Atlantic Beaches. Days 3-4 Journey along picturesque ferry back to Buenos Aires. (B)

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