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Uruguay Tours and Travel

TASTE OF URUGUAY/ 8 nights, 9 days

A great tour combining different haciendas from Colonia to the eastern beaches. With this tour, guests will be able to visit Colonia del Sacramento (history and culture), Montevideo (capital city and vineyards), the National Park of Quebrada de los Cuervos where they can enjoy a great mini-trekking down a lovely gorge, ride along the hills of Lavalleja and trek up the sand dunes of Cabo Polonio Natural Reserve and visit the lighthouse and one the largest sea lions reserve in the world.

DAY 1: BUE – COLONIA (ESTANCIA LA VIGNA)
Arrival to “Colonia Del Sacramento” and transfer to the Old town of the City. Walking city tour along the cobbled streets of the old town of “Colonia Del Sacramento”; visit to the old buildings, old forts and Spanish and Portuguese Museums and the most important tourist spots of this Old Portuguese City form the XVII century that has been declared Patrimony of Mankind by the UNESCO. Transfer to the local bus station to board the regular bus to Colonia Valdense (40 minutes), where a van from “La Vigna” farm will be waiting to transport guests to La Vigna. Dinner and accommodation at the charming farm.

DAY 2: COLONIA – CHEESE FARMS OF COLONIA - MONTEVIDEO
After breakfast, guests will visit Martilu Farm, where blue cheese is locally produced. After the second world war, many Swiss immigrants established in this area of Uruguay founding “Colonia Suiza” and “Colonia Valdense” and creating an area of cheese farms, where the best cheeses of goat and ewe are produced. After lovely cheese tastings and delicious lunch at “La Vigna”, guests will continue their trip to Montevideo on the regular bus (1 ½ hour). On arrival, a private transfer will drive them to the hotel in Montevideo. Accommodation at Hotel Plaza Fuerte in the Old town of Montevideo w/ breakfast

DAY 3: MONTEVIDEO – QUEBRADA DE LOS CUERVOS NATIONAL PARK
Morning city tour of the city with lunch at the lively Port Market included. Afternoon visit of the vineyards with tasting included. Transfer to bus station and regular bus to the Province of Treinta y Tres (33) named after the 33 soldiers that fought in “Las Piedras” battle, one of the most important ones that were won for the Independence of Uruguay. On arrival a private transfer will transport guests to “Estancia Pinos de la
Quebrada”. This is a lovely estancia located next to the National Park of Quebrada de los Cuervos. Dinner and accommodation at the estancia with full board included.

DAY 4: ESTANCIA PINOS DE LA QUERBADA - QUEBRADA DE LOS CUERVOS NATIONAL PARK
Drive to the National Park and mini-trekking down the fantastic gorge that is formed at the junctions of the “Yerbal Stream” and “Olimar River”. Wildlife such as capybaras and armadillos can be seen in the area which is also great for bird watching! This lovely trip to the National Park can be done on horseback (4 hour riding tour – an additional cost may apply if tour is done riding!) or driving! Pic-nic lunch at the Park. Dinner and Accommodation at the estancia with full board included

DAY 5: ESTANCIA PINOS DE LA QUERBADA – ESTANCIA BALCON DEL ABRA
After breakfast, transfer to the bus station to board regular bus to the small town of Mariscala in the Province of Lavalleja. On arrival, guests will be driven to a small posada called Balcon del Abra, named after the “Abra Hill”. This charming farm, dedicated to the breeding of horses is located in the middle of the hills surrounded by beautiful nature. Lunch and trekking to one of the nearby hills. Guests can also relax at the natural BIOTOP pool of the posada. Dinner and accommodation at “Balcon del Abra”.

DAY 6: POSADA DE CAMPO BALCON DEL ABRA
Full day riding to the neighbor estancia. Guests will ride along the hills enjoying lovely landscape. On arrival to the estancia, lunch will be waiting for the riders! Dinner and accommodation at Balcon del Abra.

DAY 7: ESTANCIA BALCON DEL ABRA – ESTANCIA CHARABON
After breakfast, guests will be driven along the winding trails of the province of Lavalleja towards the Province of Rocha. We will make a stop at the Salamanca Grottoes to enjoy a picn nic lunch and a small trek up the strange caves. In the afternoon, guests will arrive to Estancia Guardia del Monte, a working estancia next to the “Laguna de Castillos”. “Guardia del Monte” has outstanding landscape beauty with important ecosystems like the wetlands with a great variety of birds and native scrublands. This area has been declared Natural Animal Reserve since 1996. We will have the opportunity to visit the forest of Ombúes. The Ombú curiously rarely grows in groups of more than 2 or 3, the forest of Ombúes that we visit is possibly the only one in the world. Each tree has its own wonderful shape with thick, twisting roots spreading out over the ground; some are over 500 years and have a diameter of 2 meters (6 feet). Dinner and Accommodation at Charabon with full board included.

DAY 8: ESTANCIA GUARDIA DEL MONTE
After breakfast, ride to the Palm forests; despite a number of stories, no one knows how the palm trees got here -some 300 years old; they are not native but they give the landscape a very exotic look. In the afternoon, guests will be able to enjoy some of the gaucho lifestyle and participate in the rural activities of the day or just enjoy some bird watching; this estancia has a large area of marshlands and wetlands both of which are teeming with bird life (more than 400 species in this area) making another very varied ride and giving us the chance to see the graceful black-necked swan (largest populations in the world found here), the rare white goose and many ducks and other birds such as the largest bird in South America- the ‘ostrichlike’ “ñandú” (rhea). Otters, coypus and capybaras inhabit the marshlands and streams. At several points on the trip we will see the pink flamingo – a species of flamingo with very bright pink pigment and quite common in Uruguay. Dinner and accommodation at Guardia del Monte.

DAY 9: CABO POLONIO
After breakfast, private transfer to the “Valizas Village”, where a local guide will be waiting to start an unforgettable tour to “Cabo Polonio” Village. Guests will enjoy a lovely boat tour along the Valizas Stream towards the small town of the “Rincon” where they will be guided to the private houses of some of the local craftsmen, a lovely experience to meet the locals! From this point, the trekking will start towards the incredible mobile sand dunes until the “Buena Vista Hill” is reached and a fantastic view of the ocean can be appreciated. Trekking or ride towards the village. Lunch at a seaside restaurant where local delicious and fresh sea food will be served! Visit to the light house and sea lions reserve (the biggest one in the world!) and 4x4 drive crossing the dunes and beach to the entrance of the village where guests will board the regular bus to Montevideo.

2011 Rates per person in US$ (Jan. 2-Dec. 20) : Single = $2208, double = $1869, triple = $1829

1) for a minimum of 2 pax travelling together.
2) During special dates and national holidays, special rates may apply without prior notice.
3) From 20/Dec to 4/Jan estancia La Vigna will remain closed.
4) Quoted Rooms Category: Standard
5) Meals do not include beverage or tips
6) Ferry tickets not included, they will be quoted separately.