RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Uruguay is said to be “the Switzerland of America”. They say that because of its prairies, its plains, its coasts, level of education of its population, quality of its meat, and agriculture. However, being between two big countries, especially in tourism, such as Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay can go unnoticed by many European and US-American tourists.
Like its neighbors, it has a nightlife, a gastronomic scene, mountain scenery, and beaches attractive to those who know them. Suitcase magazine, a travel specialist, made a list of five reasons why Uruguay is a destination that should be at the top of the list of countries to travel to.
1. UNSPOILED COASTLINE
Uruguay has one of the least populated coastlines in the world. Along the country’s southeastern part, the beaches start from Montevideo, the capital, to the Brazilian border. When it is not the summer season or holidays, most of the year, the coastal cities remain almost empty. So much so that, for example, the city of Punta del Este, which is the busiest during the summer, turns off its traffic lights during the winter and early spring.
The types of beach experiences vary. You can summer in hippie hideaways without electricity and water like Cabo Polonio, in trendy towns surrounded by international stars like Punta del Este, or in a fishing village turned luxury housing area like José Ignacio.
2. THERE IS A LOT OF PARTYING, TOO
Uruguay is known for being a great relaxing retreat for foreigners. However, its cities provide many night restaurants, bars, parties in clubs and beaches, and concerts. All this together is offered by Montevideo, the capital of the country and the place where almost 50% of the Uruguayan population lives.
But all that is also offered by coastal cities such as Punta del Este, La Paloma, La Pedrera, Punta del Diablo, where parties thrown by international DJs have become increasingly popular.
3. URUGUAYANS ARE FRIENDLY
South America is known for its high crime rates and the insecurity that sometimes surrounds tourists. In Uruguay, however, that happens to a much lesser degree. It is the safest country on the continent and ranks as the 35th most peaceful place in the world according to the Global Peace Index.
4. EXCELLENT QUALITY MEAT
Indeed, Argentina usually gets the attention of foreigners when talking about good meat, but Uruguayans grill their meat with the same seriousness. It is one of the world’s largest beef exporters, and its many green fields mean that its animals are grass-fed.
Barbecues in Uruguay are a classic. They are part of the country’s very identity. So much so that in 2015 the neighborhood where the country’s most important meat packing factory was located in the city of Fray Bentos, in the west of the country, received Unesco Industrial Heritage status.
5. PEACE AND TRANQUILITY
Uruguay is known for the slow pace of its citizens, in addition to the amount of nature that surrounds almost every city. For this reason, Uruguay is ideal for “mindful” travel, where tourists embark on adventures that go beyond your average wellness trip and take you to a place of inner stillness.