Luxurious Uruguay 12 Nights

12 Nights

Day 1 - Colonia

Your private transfer will welcome you at the port of Colonia (ferries arriving/departing to/from Buenos Aires) and transport you to the Rio Ancho Gourmet Lodge, about 10 km from the city center. Accommodation is all-inclusive, for 4 nights. Check in and spend the rest of the day at your leisure to rest or walk around.

Day 2 – Colonia and Colonia del Sacramento

You will be picked up at your hotel, to go on a Private Colonia City tour.

Among the sites you’ll be visiting, are the San Carlos Bullfight Arena, the San Benito Chapel, Horse Racetrack, the Power Plant, Dock and Colonia’s West coast and beaches, as well as the neighborhoods and shopping areas. You will then continue on to the pedestrian only city’s historic site, the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995. The walk will take you around the Old District of Colonia (known as Colonia del Sacramento), founded in 1680 by the Portuguese. You will see several points of interest like the old city gates, the “Street of Sighs”. There’ll be a stop at the Main Square, then the ruins of the San Francisco Church (the oldest ruins in Uruguay), the Lighthouse, Governor’s House, the Sacramento Basilica and other attractive sites along the way.

It’ll be an educating walk through a tranquil area, that’ll provide visitors with knowledge on the city’s history and the reason for it to be named a World Heritage Site. Upon completion of the walking part of the tour, the bus will return to Rio Ancho Lodge.

Day 3 – Colonia to Carmelo

You will be picked up from the Lodge to go on a Private Wine (& Tasting) Tour at Irurtia and Narbona Wineries in Carmelo.

THE IRURTIA WINERY was born with the arrival of Basque Don Lorenzo Irurtia to Carmelo, Uruguay during the second half of the 19th Century. His passion for good wines and his laborious dedication to the vine cultivation gave its fruits with the first harvest of 1913. Don Lorenzo found in Carmelo the opportunity to settle with his family and start his business, just like hundreds of other immigrants did, when welcomed by these lands of freedom and order. Some went into cobble stone making, and for Don Lorenzo it was the start of the vine farming, taking advantage of the wonderful possibilities given by the existing floor, quaternary rocks covered with limestone soil.

BUEMES TRAVEL DMC (Viajes Buemes S.A.) Main Office: Colonia 979 - Phone: (+598) 29021050 – Fax: (+598) 29021791 Pocitos Office: Tiburcio Gómez 1305 Piso 3 y 4 - Phone: (+598) 29021050 Carrasco Office: Av. Arocena 1596 – Phone / Fax: (+598) 26006047 Montevideo – Uruguay E-mail: [email protected] - http://www.buemesdmc.com

Time passed, and five of the eight Irurtia-Etchenique siblings Miguel, Antonio, Carmelo, Natalia and Francisca have dedicated their life’s work to the vineyard and the small winery.

NARBONA WINERY is a quaint complex, at which center is the hull of the original farm, which dates back to 1909. Here is where Juan de Narbona founded one of the first wineries in Uruguay. The hull was refurbished back in 1990 faithful to the style and traditions of times past and in 1998 the vineyards were planted. (Nowadays the winery has over 15 hectares of the Uruguayan Tannat variety, as well as Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, Viognier and Syrah. A new wine cellar was built in 2010, solely for the production of premium wines. A variety of fruit trees co-exists with the vineyards and Narbona is well known too for the manufacturing of delicious jam, jelly, syrup, olive oil, breads, pasta and cheese. This is a place were senses are awoken … amidst a collection of antiques and lovely surroundings; you’ll be delighted to smell and taste (and purchase!) their products.

Day 4 – Colonia to Montevideo

After breakfast, check out from the Rio Ancho Lodge and a private transfer will drive you to the capital city of Montevideo. On your way, you’ll stop at “La Brida” blue cheese manufacturing establishment, for great cheese tasting. La Brida is the only producer of this type of cheese in Uruguay.

After the visit to La Brida, the tour will continue on to Montevideo. We will stop at Bouza Winery for a visit, wine tasting and have a lovely 3-course lunch there as well.

BOUZA WINERY is located at only 15 km from Montevideo. The winery is part of a harmonious milieu, surrounded by vines and native woods. The diversity of the native plants and animals is influenced by the proximity of the Santa Lucia River and its outlet into the River Plate, known as the widest river in the world. The Winery was born as a family business, placing great care in all stages of the process, starting from the vineyard and ending in the glass. The property is divided into two fields, the one we will be visiting in the Melilla area and the one in Las Violetas, an area of important vine-growing tradition, 39 km from the center of Montevideo. The vineyard is of 10 hectares of Tannat, Merlot and Chardonnay plants, ages ranging between 20 and 40 years old. In addition, 13 hectares have new plantations of Tannat, Merlot, Tempranillo and Albariño, selecting high quality and low productivity clones. Bouza Winery was built utilizing the existing structure of an old winery that functioned in the area since 1942. It was restored maintaining the original idea.

Our tour will start with a visit to the vineyards and orientation of the process; we will observe the natural surroundings and the wide diversification of fauna and flora. One of the attractions here is that Bouza Winery exhibits the owner’s private collection of antique cars such as Ford T from 1926; Ford A, Citroens from 1950 and 1980, Alfa Romeo Spider 1960 and 1926 train wagons among other very interesting and well kept vehicles. We’ll visit the cave and complete the tour with a lovely 3-course lunch paired with their suggested wines. We will then transfer back to your hotel.

Check in at the chosen Montevideo hotel. Accommodation is for 3 nights, with breakfast included. Rest of the day at your leisure to rest or explore the surroundings.

Day 5 – Montevideo

After breakfast, your tour will take you on the trail of a legend, the Admiral Graf Spee.

The dramatic destiny of the legendary German battle ship “Admiral Graf Spee”, is still alive in Montevideo and we will follow its trail, visiting the most important buildings which suddenly became the centre of the world’s attention back in December of 1939. Among such buildings were the British and German embassies, the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Port Authority and the Military Hospital. There British, German and Uruguayan authorities negotiated the destiny of the ship and its crew. As the drive goes through the city, we’ll be able to appreciate the different styles of architecture, squares, parks and monuments. From the top of the “Cerro”, Montevideo’s landmark hill, we will have a splendid view of the bay and the town’s skyline, which might invite you to imagine the commotion the 72-hour-stay of the damaged German war ship caused in that typically un-crowded harbor at that time.

The human tragedy of those days emerges during the visit to the Northern Cemetery where the 40 fallen German seamen were buried. Likewise, at the British Cemetery of Montevideo, the only two graves of British victims are a silent reminder of that River Plate battle.

The last stop of the tour will be at the Naval Museum, which showcases different items salvaged from the German ship and river bottom, like a 150 mm cannon and the German ship’s telemetric equipment.

A traditional “asado” (BBQ) lunch awaits at the Mercado del Puerto (Port Market), a neat photo opportunity of the Uruguayan grills in full action. After lunch, you will be driven back to the hotel along the coastline road. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.

Day 6 – Artesana Winery and BBQ cooking demonstration

Today, you will be picked up from the hotel lobby and drive along the countryside to visit Artesana Winery for a tour, wine tasting, and a private cooking demonstration. Lunch will follow.

ARTESANA WINERY is a small-production, single vineyard estate winery located in the acclaimed Canelones wine-growing region. Uruguay produces dynamic and award winning wines of outstanding quality, and unlike Argentina and Chile, does so in small-scale, family owned wineries with a European winemaking tradition.

The coastal Atlantic climate is often compared to that of the Bordeaux region in France, producing wines with well- balanced levels of alcohol and acidity. The Tannat variety, brought from France in the 1870s, produces rich, full-bodied red wines with dark fruit and spice aromas and flavors. Artesana’s 20-acre vineyard is planted with Tannat, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel (the only Zinfandel produced in Uruguay).

The Artesana Winery activity starts with a guided visit to the vineyard and winery, and ends with a cooking demonstration, where you will be shown how to prepare a barbecue the Uruguayan way. During the event, the characteristics of each wine and how each pairs with different foods will be reviewed.

Once the cooking demo is over, you will enjoy a barbecue lunch with Artesana’s wines and later return to your Montevideo hotel along the countryside route 1.

Day 7 – Costa Llana Wildlife Reserve

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel lobby and taken to experience an encounter with wetland nature at Costa Llana Wildlife Reserve.

At approximately 40 minutes drive, and located just outside the Montevideo city limits, the Costa Llana Reserve sits where the River Plate and the Santa Lucia rivers meet. It is the only private project which combines the observation and study of wetland birds and flora, with education and recreational activities aimed at creating awareness and conserving this unique and fragile area of the Uruguayan coast. There will be an audiovisual presentation, audio for the guided tour, a labyrinth walk through the native bush, bird spotting viewpoints, beach walk, a predatory birds presentation, horse back riding, coffee, juice and snacks.

It is at Costa llana that one can observe the interconnection of land and water ecosystems formed by the sandbanks of the River Plate, the mouth of the Santa Lucia River and the Isla del Tigre (Tiger Island). The coastal forest and wetlands are vulnerable environments due to human settlement of a city expanding. Communities of paludic, uliginosa and hydrophilic varieties stand out in this area, as well as thorn's bushes (Acacia Craven) and ceibales (Erythrina crista-galli). The distribution of plant species is associated with soil salinity, with plenty plants linked to the periodical floods of the Río de la Plata. Other species, such as "Tala" (Celtis tala), "Sarandí blanco" (Phyllantus sellowianus), and "Sombra de Toro" (Iodina rhombifolia), stand out among more than 32 species of trees and bushes. In the area of the wetland itself, grasses and sedges prevail.

Birds: The area can be called home to several species of birds (mostly those related to aquatic environments and Passeriforms). The Penino beach areas and Santa Lucía wetlands comprise an important area for the conservation of birds (internationally known as Important Bird Areas, IBAs) The IBAs are priority areas for the conservation of globally threatened bird species with restricted distribution and/or significant concentrations of individuals. Among the most important species found in this reservation, are:

Gaviota Cangrejera - Larus atlanticus (VU, vulnerable) Pajonalera Pico Recto - Limnoctites rectirostris (NT - near threatened) Espartillero Enano - Spartonoica maluroides (NT - near threatened) Pajonalera Pico Curvo - Limnornis curvirostris Curutié Ocráceo - Cranioleuca sulphurifera Gavilán Langostero - Buteo swainsoni Águlia Pesacadora - Pandion haliaetus Viudita Blanca Grande - Xolmis dominicana Flamenco Austral - Phoenicopterus chilensis Petrel Gigante Común - Macronectes giganteus

Considerations: Tour operation subject to weather or flooding). Estimated tour length is 4 hours.

Day 8 – Montevideo to Punta del Este

You will be picked up from the hotel lobby after breakfast to go to the seaside resort of Punta del Este. Upon arrival, you will check in at the chosen hotel. Accommodation is for 3 nights with breakfast included.

The rest of the day is left at your leisure.

PUNTA DEL ESTE is a city and resort on the Atlantic Coast in the Maldonado Department in southeastern Uruguay, about 140 kilometers (87 mi) from Montevideo. Although the city has a year-round population of a little over 9000, the summer tourist boom adds a very large number of non-residents. The Spanish were the first Europeans to set foot at the beginning of the 16th century, in what is now Punta del Este. However, the colonization of the area actually began at the end of the 18th century due to Portuguese expansionism. BUEMES TRAVEL DMC (Viajes Buemes S.A.) Main Office: Colonia 979 - Phone: (+598) 29021050 – Fax: (+598) 29021791 Pocitos Office: Tiburcio Gómez 1305 Piso 3 y 4 - Phone: (+598) 29021050 Carrasco Office: Av. Arocena 1596 – Phone / Fax: (+598) 26006047 Montevideo – Uruguay E-mail: [email protected] - http://www.buemesdmc.com

Punta del Este and its surroundings (Maldonado and Punta Ballena) were a vast area of just sand and dunes, but in 1896 Antonio Lussich bought 4,447 acres (1,800 hectares) of uninhabited land started a botanical garden, known as the Arboretum Lussich, where he planted trees and plants from all over the world. Later the trees started to spread on their own, and now the area is full of mostly Pines, Eucalyptus, Acacias and various species of bushes.

On July 5, 1907, Punta del Este was declared a "Pueblo" (village). Its status was elevated to "Ciudad" (city) in July 2, 1957. Punta del Este hosted an American Summit in 1967 attended by U.S. President Lyndon Johnson. In September 1986, the town played host to the start of the Uruguay Round of international trade negotiations. These negotiations ultimately led to the creation of the World Trade Organization in 1994.

Punta del Este's scenic coastline is divided in two: the rough, or “Brava” side (Spanish for "fierce") and the “Mansa” side (Spanish for "tame"). The limit between the two marks the end of the Río de la Plata and the beginning of the Atlantic Ocean, and that split is signaled by the gigantic sculpture of the Mano de Punta del Este, (“mano” means hand) which the sculptor designed to warn swimmers about the danger of the rough waves and currents. Beaches on the Mansa side feature thick and golden sand; while on the Brava side the sand is white and fine. Every beach of the peninsula has public access.

A little bit further away to the East, La Barra is a popular area not only for beach going, but also for nautical sports and fishing during the day. At later hours, La Barra turns into a central attraction for the younger generations. Starting from the end of December through to the second week of January, this area is bustling with locals and tourists who gather at restaurants, bar hopping and enjoying the nightlife. Other areas close by, include the resort of El Tesoro, Montoya beach, Bikini beach and Manantiales beach.

Day 9 – Punta del Este

Today, you will be going on the Punta del Este City Tour. The tour will start by driving through the city's residential districts as it takes you to the magnificent beach areas of Playa Mansa and Playa Brava. It will then drive through the tree-lined residential districts of San Rafael, Cantegril and Beverly Hills, where you will be able to appreciate some of the beautiful mansions and well-tended private gardens. Your route will also take you by the Tudor-styled San Rafael Hotel &

Casino. Punta del Este is a quite famous South American seaside resort and the playground of the regional and international jet set as well as a world renowned site for film festivals and international conferences. Often referred to as the “St. Tropez of Uruguay”, this popular resort area, with its miles of pristine beaches, is a regional and international favourite. One interesting feature of Punta del Este is that visitors can actually see the sunrise and sunset in the same waters due to its location on a peninsula that extends into the ocean. A brief photo stop will be made at Punta Ballena for a panoramic view of the coast including Casapueblo, the Moroccan style atelier and home of renowned Uruguayan Artist Carlos Páez Vilaró (entrance fee not included).

Your drive will continue inland on Camino Lussich, in direction to Nonno Antonio. We will pass the house-museum of Antonio Lussich and the Arboretum he planted in Punta Ballena; he was one of the pioneers of this area. The Arboretum is the largest in the country and one of the most important in South America. It lies on the slope of the La Ballena hills, and contains a unique collection of over 67 species of native and exotic trees. Uruguay is being well known for eco touring and today’s tour will provide an opportunity to enjoy that, following your Guide along the footpaths of this green sanctuary.

NONNO ANTONIO. The word “nonno” stands for grandpa in Italian, and the name Nonno Antonio refers to Antonio Ferretti, an Italian from Lombardia, grandfather to Cristiano Ferretti and the founder of the artisan-like cheese making business. The Ferretti family migrated from Italy and Cristiano’s passion for cheeses back home drove him to pursue the production dream in Uruguay. Nowadays, the place has changed ownership to Marisa Carvalho, who continues the

business with equal passion, and makes every cheese with the love any mother would have for her kids. Every corner of the property is in communion with nature; her special touches and scents can be appreciated throughout.

Prepare yourself to taste – among others - Mascarpone and Gorgonzola cheeses together with home made breads, excellent olive oil and wines. To top it all off, Marisa will let you taste her delicious Tiramisu as well. After approximtely one hour visit to Nonno Antonio, we start heading back to the hotel driving along the picturesque inland and coastal roads By the tour end, you will return to your hotel.

Day 10 – Punta del Este

You will begin your Olive Oil Production Company 0’33 tour with a 90 minute sightseeing drive through the upscale resort of Punta del Este, visiting the residential areas of Cantegril, San Rafael, Parque Golf and La Barra de Maldonado, the latter known for its unique wavy bridges. You will enjoy a photo stop there. The drive will also take you past some of

Punta’s most wonderful beaches and then continue East to Jose Ignacio towards the olive oil production site of 0’33, where the soul of a premium class extra virgin olive oil is born.

A guided tour will visit the plantation, then attend a talk or presentation, tasting session of the oil with cold cuts and home made breads, local wines (refreshments for children) and access to the modern boutique.

Day 11 - Punta del Este to Rocha

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel to go to Rocha. Upon arrival you will check in at Estancia El Charabón for 3 nights, all meals included. Beverages other than water, are not included

ESTANCIA EL CHARABON is an agro tourist establishment of 950 hectares with natural woodlands and over 150 eucalyptus trees. It is located 80 km from Punta del Este (and 225 from Montevideo) and is close to the Atlantic Ocean

coast and surrounded by the hills of Rocha. (Sierras de Rocha). Visitors will surely enjoy the panoramic views surrounded by ravines, rolling meadows and natural grassland, as well as the variety of flora and fauna so characteristic of the place.

The Estancia offers optional activities among which horseback riding, photo safaris, trekking and enjoying activities such as cattle rodeo, branding, milking, etc. are complimentary. Historic tours to nearby Santa Teresa Fort, San Miguel Fort as well as trips over to seaside resorts such as La Paloma, La Pedrera or the Ombú Tree Forest tour, have a co

Day 12 – Estancia El Charabón

Day will be at your leisure to enjoy the beautiful estancia and its surroundings.

Day 13 – Rocha to Montevideo

After breakfast you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the Punta del Este and/or Carrasco International Airport. Depart Uruguay.

END OF SERVICES – See General Conditions and Responsibilities below

General conditions

 Subject to availability.  Prices are NET per person, per night.  Service taxes included; foreign passengers are tax exempt at local hotels.  What is included: all services detailed only in the confirmation.  What is not included: services not detailed in the confirmation, flight tickets and airport taxes, personal expenses, personal extras, early check in or late check out hotel charges, beverages (unless otherwise stated in the package description), tips for guides, drivers and waiters or any other service personnel (unless otherwise stated in the package description).  Prices valid according to the hotel detail. Subject to change without prior notice.  Prices may not be valid during Argentinean, Brazilian or Uruguayan holidays.  Take into account that hotel check in time is specified in the hotel price list.  In case of hotel no show or cancellation, 10% of the hotel cost will be charged to cover the VAT (foreign passengers are exempt, but the local operator isn’t)  In some hotels, triple rooms have one double bed plus a single. Consult for each case.  There is a possibility that certain tours could be modified during holiday dates.  For group reservations (5 or more rooms) there are special conditions which will be duly informed at the time of sending the quote or making the reservation.  For more information contact us at: [email protected] BUEMES TRAVEL DMC (Viajes Buemes S.A.) Main Office: Colonia 979 - Phone: (+598) 29021050 – Fax: (+598) 29021791 Pocitos Office: Tiburcio Gómez 1305 Piso 3 y 4 - Phone: (+598) 29021050 Carrasco Office: Av. Arocena 1596 – Phone / Fax: (+598) 26006047 Montevideo – Uruguay E-mail: [email protected] - http://www.buemesdmc.com

Responsibilities

 Viajes Bueme’s S.A. limits its reimbursement responsibility for services not rendered or non-fulfillment or compliance of those contracted by us.  Viajes Bueme’s S.A. is not responsible in case of injury, loss, accident, additional costs, delays or irregularities caused by air transportation, natural phenomena, illness, war, quarantine, strike, or by police interventions, Customs or any other authority.  Viajes Bueme’s S.A and/or any of its agents is not responsible for any damages, malfunctioning, loss, additional costs, additional delays or any other irregularities that might happen due to omission or negligence by the companies or individuals who grant or conduct transport, lodging or any other services related to the tour, as well as any damages resulting from natural disasters, strikes and other aspects beyond control.  Prices could change without prior notice.  Viajes Bueme’s S.A reserves the right to change any tour or excursion if deemed necessary in the name of offering an even better service to its customers.

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