Uruguay – not to be confused with an “Argentina light”

Why go to Uruguay anyway? Some describe it as a smaller, more expensive, and less interesting Argentina, and it’s generally overlooked on most South American itineraries. We arrived with no concrete plans and figured, “Why the hell not check it out?” What started as a couple days turned into a few weeks. Here are a few reasons to put it on your itinerary:

Laid back people – After leaving the craziness of Buenos Aires, you’ll find the chill and friendly people in Uruguay a welcome change.

Mate – If you think Argentines drink a lot of this herbal pick me up, you haven’t been to Uruguay. It’s like the local crack.

Parrilla – No home, restaurant, or even hostel is complete without a BBQ setup for providing some of the world’s best meats in massive quantities. Pack it in and be prepared to forgo shitting for a week.

Colonia de Sacramento – This old colonial city, just a ferry ride away from Buenos Aires is worth a few nights chill time after the hustle and bustle of the big city

Old school living – In some places, it feels like you’ve traveled back 50 years, complete with era- appropriate cars, friendly townsfolk, and a slower way of life.

Grappamiel – A sweet twist on traditional grappa with added honey. You’ll be very happy after a few glasses of this local liquor. And hopefully drunk too.

Cabo Polonio – An off-grid fishing village populated by an interesting mix of old school fisherman and aging hippies. If you can only go to one place in the country, go here.

“Ta“ – An answer to Spain’s “vale“, it’s the Uruguayan way of saying okay. Strings of this funny little word is a common ending to a conversation. Ta ta ta!

Chivitos – No words that can do this sandwich justice. The pride of Uruguay, it combines a beef patty, bacon, grilled onions, and just about every condiment that comes to mind into a greasy and crazy delicious feast. Absolutely delicious, although you may feel a little dirty after eating one.

Uruguay ended up being one of our favorite countries. Don’t be one of the foolish travelers that miss out.