Uruguay

One of the best ways to get to know a country is to spend time in the rural areas and meet some of the real people. Go for a ride, eat delicious local produce and enjoy getting to know your charming hosts at some of the estancias we have selected on our two self drive routes.

In Carmelo there are wineries and that's all.After that, you can hear the birds and soak up the sun.  Despite its growing status as a top wine destination, the dusty old town of Carmelo is virtually deserted – which makes it a perfect place to relax, with a glass always in reach.

Settled in the late 1800s by Basque immigrants who brought with them an obscure French grape called tannat, Carmelo feels delightfully frozen in time, down to the still-operational 1928 Model T – Uruguay is practically a living museum for vintage cars – parked in front of Familia Irurtia, a fourth-generation winery that's the area's largest.

For a bohemian beach vibe, you should head to exclusive Jose Ignacio, where an eclectic mix of bars and restaurants line the unpaved streets.

We can certainly recommend a visit to the capital’s historical centre and the bustling port market for some excellent food, or maybe a glass of medio y medio, the popular Uruguayan white wine/champagne beverage of choice.

With the beach on one side and the city centre on the other, it’s easy to combine a vibrant, cosmopolitan scene with some rest and relaxation in Montevideo.  Spend an evening in one of the buzzy tango bars, where history, culture and a great time meet.  Wander around the historical old city, admiring the colonial architecture and stopping off for the occasional coffee.  Or, if museums are your thing, there are plenty of those to choose from too.

Founded by the Portuguese in 1680, this sleepy riverside town is one of Uruguay's oldest – and a visit here is rather like being in a time-warp. Colonia del Sacramento is the first stop for those arriving in Uruguay by ferry from Argentina.  A 17th-century convent, lighthouse (which you can climb for great views) and drawbridge form the heart of the UNESCO-protected Barrio Historico, while vintage cars line quaint cobbled streets giving a Havana-esque ambience. Wandering the streets of Colonia del Sacremento after the day-trippers from Argentina have left is a great way to soak up the atmosphere of the place.

DiscoverUruguay's up and coming winelands. Fruity, tannin-high Tannat is Uruguay's star grape and though the wine industry is small at 70 million litres (comparable to a single mid-sizeArgentine winery's production), it's blossoming. With four key regions dotted along the coastline, you can easily sample Tannat in vineyards. Numerous producers wine and dine you in glorious settings, including BodegaBouza in Canelones, which has picked up numerous trophies for its Albarino and Tannat.