Private Journeys

Self-drive Uruguay: Classic highlights

13 days from £2,890pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Argentina / Uruguay

  • URU_Colonia_BZR_staff (14)

Overview & Highlights

Self-drive in friendly Uruguay, a peaceful little country wedged between Brazil and Argentina. The well-paved, empty roads are a pleasure to drive and you stop off along its unspoilt coast and inland at welcoming ranches and wine lodges.

Uruguay, wedged between the behemoths of Brazil and Argentina, is a holiday destination offering a real sense of breathing space. It's the size of England but with a population of just 3.5 million, not much greater than that of Wales. The gently rolling countryside is dreamily bucolic -  the famous beef cattle graze nonchalantly accompanied by a multitude of birds, whose song at sunrise is as enchanting as the unspoilt little towns and increasingly chic range of hotels and restaurants.

Getting around is most satisfyingly achieved with the freedom of your own hire car. Our self-drive holiday explores the UNESCO jewel of Colonia, Carmelo’s vineyards, Montevideo’s art-deco streets, the little-visited interior of Uruguay and the beaches of José Ignacio. There’s about 850km of driving over nine days and you’ll have the support of pre-booked accommodation allowing you to explore at your leisure.

Read More
  • Buenos Aires: Walking tour of Montserrat and San Telmo
  • Colonia: Guided walking tour with traditional cheese and wine tasting
  • Montevideo: Guided walking tour with market barbecue lunch
  • Countryside ranch: Self-guided walks

THE UK’S NO. 1 SPECIALIST IN TRAVEL TO LATIN AMERICA

Kathryn

Kathryn Rhodes

Travel Expert

Talk to our experts

Things to do

We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.

Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • Our most memorable moments were the views in Rio, the Iguassu Falls, the initial impressions of La Paz, Copacabana and Puno (especially the hotel in Puno with its views of…

    MH, Sherborne
  • Sunrise over the Galapagos from top deck on my first morning on the boat, utterly stunning!

    MG, Leyland
  • An amazing mix of experiences right from the start - sites/sights/sounds/climates/flora/fauna/city/country & so on!

    DR, Baldock
  • We enjoyed all our excursions. Rio was a great start. The views from the Sugar Loaf were quite spectacular. Likewise the trips at both sides of the Iguazu Falls provided…

    JR, Swansea
  • The Jungle was just fabulous, didn't quite know what to expect but it exceeded expectations!...Having travelled with you before and receiving excellent treatment & value we returned and you once…

    GH, Morpeth
  • “One of my favourite moments on the trip was in Trinidad, listening to the music and dancing with the locals – with the tour leader’s guidance or walking around Havana,…

    KSM, Luxembourg
0 1 2 3 4 5

Our Expert's Opinion

With well-marked roads in excellent condition and considerate local drivers, Uruguay is one of the best South American countries for hiring a car. This freedom allows you to explore the country's landscapes and local culture authentically. This holiday is a must for those seeking genuine experiences and the chance to immerse themselves in a country full of off-the-beaten-track moments. Drawing from my in-depth knowledge of Uruguay, I have included all the must-see highlights in this trip, including a tour of vibrant Buenos Aires, the exploration of the old charm of Montevideo and Colonia, and the discovery of the lesser-known charms of this country.

Kathryn
Kathryn Rhodes Travel Expert Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

Inspired by this trip

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Maggie in LATAM
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Ben
    Ben Line - Travel Expert

    Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

  • Heloise
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

0 1 2 3 4 5