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Ultimate Uruguay FEATURING capital city of Montevideo jet set beach resort Punta del Este laid back Jose Ignacio village of Garzon historical San Pedro de Timote colonial city of Colonia Relais & Chateaux Wine Lodge Narbona  17 Days

Locally Hosted Independent Tour Suggested Departure Day: Friday December - April

ITINERARY (Subject to change without notice):

Day 1 – Friday – Depart USA: Depart Miami on overnight flight.

Day 2 - Saturday - Arrive Montevideo:  Meeting upon arrival Montevideo and transfer to your hotel, the lovely Alma Historica Boutique Hotel for a three night stay.

Day 3 - Sunday - Montevideo:   Full day tour of Uruguay´s capital city visiting the main points of interest such as the Independence Square, 18 de Julio Main Av,  Legislative Palace, a 1920´s lavish piece of architecture. The city features an incredible contrast between the old well-preserved buildings, with European atmosphere and the modern ones. Green parks, wide avenues, residential areas, modern shopping centers and sport clubs are of high standards and easily available. Visit lovely parks, monuments and residential areas, along the famed riverfront beaches of Montevideo. Stop at the Port Market, the most typical place in the city to enjoy an excellent barbecue lunch. In the afternoon explore the quaint charm of the Old Town, walking along its narrow streets and admiring the development of architecture and arts in the 19th and 20th centuries. Museo de Artes Decorativas, Taranco Palace or an alternative museum. Plaza Zabala, the Cabildo (former Town Hall from 1804) and Cathedral (1790-Spanish Neoclassical), Solis Theatre (1842) recently restored to its old glitter, this impressive building is today the center of Montevideo’s artistic activities. (B/L)

Day 4 - Monday - Montevideo: Full day tour to the Winery Bouza, located in the source of the Melilla Stream, at only 15 km from Montevideo. The winery is surrounded by vines and native woods. Bouza Winery was built using the basic structure of an old winery functioning in the area since 1942. It was restored maintaining the original idea. Wine varieties : Albariño (white wine), Chardonnay, Merlot, Tannat-Merlot, etc. Visit the vineyards and its installations, in addition you will have the opportunity to enjoy the Bouza family’s classic car collection which is exhibited in the museum. More than 30 perfectly restored cars and motorcycles from the 1920s and on, representative of life in Uruguay in the 1930s and forth. Don’t miss the 1929 railway carriage under restoration in the garden. Enjoy a visit to the wine cave for a wine tasting of the different varieties and lunch, with afternoon return back to Montevideo. (B/L)

Day 5 - Tuesday - Montevideo - Punta del Este: Morning drive to Punta del Este, 130 km east of Montevideo, on the Atlantic Ocean with long strings of beaches and crystalline sea. Famous all around the world as the meeting place for the jet set and incomparable nightlife during the summer season, it is sophistication, fashion, superb parties given by magnates, casinos, exquisite restaurants, mega-shows, dozens of pubs and discos and a varied cultural life and sports clubs and facilities (golf courses, polo courses, and all water sports).  Stop at Casapueblo, atelier of internationally renowned artist, Carlos Paez Vilaró, for a visit to the atelier and an educational video on his very colorful life. Then continue on to Punta de Este for lunch and an orientation tour of this resort city.  Then continue on to your hotel, the Fasano Las Piedras, for a two night stay. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the facilities of your hotel. (B/L)

Day 6 - Wednesday - Punta del Este:  Day at leisure to explore Punta del Este and its beaches on your own. (B)

Day 7 - Thursday - Punta del Este – Jose Ignacio: Morning drive to Jose Ignacio Village, located 42 km east of Punta del Este. It used to be a quiet and small town of picturesque local people, fishermen and divers, cut off from civilization by two wonderful lagoons without a bridge, supplied with rain water and by water carrier pushed by horse, lighted by lanterns and Aladdin lamps, besides its emblematic lighthouse. Today it has been discovered and has become the meeting point for regional jetsetters, stars, models and millionaires looking for a quiet and isolated vacation.  Jose Ignacio has worked hard to keep the harmony of this privileged spot by nature and preserving the beaches, rocks, dunes, lagoons, the forest. At the entrance to the village there is a big sign indicating Max Speed 35 Km “Here, only the wind runs”. Enjoy lunch (cost of lunch is not included) at La Huella, a popular spot in Jose Ignacio, then on to check in at the Bahia VIK, a truly remarkable retreat on the beach, merging exceptional design, unrivaled location, friendly and flawless service and an unparalleled collection of contemporary Uruguay and international art. (B)

Day 8 – Friday - Jose Ignacio: Day at leisure to explore Jose Ignacio on your own. (B)

Day 9 – Saturday - Jose Ignacio - Pueblo Garzon:  Morning drive to Pueblo Garzon, a scenic drive of about an hour. This small village, founded in 1892 and today home to about 600 people devoted to rural work, is centered around the symmetrical square designed with old palm trees which frame the chapel and social club. On one side of the square is Garzon Hotel & Restaurant where you will arrive on time for lunch. Afternoon at leisure to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Dinner and overnight accommodations. (B/L/D)

Day 10 – Sunday - Pueblo Garzon - Estancia San Pedro de Timote, Florida:  Morning departure for a scenic three hour journey through the countryside to San Pedro de Timote, one of the first and most important “estancias” in Uruguay founded in 1854 by Pedro Jose Jackson, for a two night stay. The great Spanish colonial main homestead was declared National Historical Monument in 1997. You can still appreciate details that remind us of the history of the place such as the Church and the wonderful Patio decorated with Spanish majolica. This Handsome Period House has been totally refurbished to reflect the most elegant Colonial Era in the country. The cuisine is a delightful symphony of flavors, aromas, and colors that emphasize the local dishes of the traditional Uruguayan cuisine. During your stay enjoy all meals and the facilities and activities as offered by the estancia, including two swimming pools, closed heated swimming pool with Jacuzzi, ping pong, tennis court, basketball and professional fronton, mountain bike, horse rides, strolls in carts, walking tours around the area, “Photographic Safaris”. (B/L/D)

Day 11 – Monday - Estancia San Pedro de Timote:  A day at leisure to relax, enjoy the estancia's facilities and activities. (B/L/D)

Day 12 – Tuesday - Estancia San Pedro de Timote - Colonia:  Morning at the estancia and after lunch, enjoy another scenic drive through the lush green countryside to Rio Ancho, a Gourmet Lodge with just three rooms located in a rural area just 10km from the Colonia de Sacramento’s Historic Center and on the banks of the Río de la Plata.  (B/L/D)

Day 13 – Wednesday – Colonia:  Today you will visit the small, charming town of Colonia, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Colonia was founded by the Portuguese in 1680, at a time when Spain and Portugal were in the midst of confrontations. For over a hundred years both Empires fought over it, until finally the Treaty of Saint Ildefonso awarded it to Spain. Today the Old City has a lot to say about its colonial past. Visit the picturesque streets of Colonia del Sacramento, the eldest city in the country. The streets of Santa Rita, San Gabriel, the Matriz  Church, San Pedro road, the Bastion del Carmen, the famous “ Calle de los Suspiros “ (Street of Sighs)  used so often as a scenery for historical films, Puerta del Campo, Plaza Mayor 25 de Mayo. The past can still be felt in the city’s cobblestone streets and stone walls. Colonia complements its archaeological values with natural beauty, the permanent company of the Uruguay River and the emblematic monuments that stand out on the horizon, such as the cathedral and the lighthouse, and very nearby, the Real de San Carlos bullring. You’ll explore the historic district and enjoy lunch in town before returning to Rio Ancho for overnight. (B/L/D)

Day 14 - Thursday - Colonia - Carmelo:  Morning pick up at Rio Ancho by your local host and transfer to Carmelo and to the charming Relais & Chateaux Narbona Wine Lodge for a visit, wine tasting, lunch and three night stay. (B)

Day 15 – Friday - Carmelo:  Spend the day exploring the vineyards of Carmelo, often referred to as the Tuscany of Uruguay. Unlike the wineries of Chile and Argentina, the wineries in Uruguay are small and family owned, with many having been in the family for generations. Visit several of the narby wineries with tasting  and pariing. (B)

Day 16 – Saturday - Carmelo: Relax and enjoy the facilities or arrange even more winery visits in the area.. (B)

Day 17 – Sunday - Depart Carmelo:  Today there are a variety of options for departure, such as small plane service to Buenos Aires where you can extend your stay or to connect to international flights, overland transfer to Colonia and hydrofoil service to Buenos Aires or overland transfer to Montevideo's international airport, a drive of three hours. (B)

PLEASE NOTE - IMPORTANT:
The following Payment, Change and Cancellation Policies are for general information only.
This is a sample program which will be customized to fit your Trip Wishes, Travel Style and Parameters.
Your personal customized program will carry Terms & Conditions specifically applicable to your program's inclusions
and will be the governing Terms & Conditions.