Destination Profile
Ranging from the salt-spraying waves of Punta del Diablo on the Brazilian border to the wooded riversides of Concordia, the rolling cuchillas hills to the muddy Rio de la Plata on the edge of Argentina, Uruguay is an unexpected gem amid some of South America's largest countries. It might not be in the spotlight but venturing here means venturing to a land of chorizo-grilling BBQs and cobbled UNESCO towns that brim with Portuguese posada. Cheap flights to Uruguay from Australia will usually involve one or two stopovers along the way, and almost always land in the grand capital of Montevideo. From there, you can easily break away from the 18th-century plazas to the sleek beaches of Punta del Este and the wild Atlantic dunes of Cabo Polonio.
Crooked stone streets and pastel-painted Portuguese cottages abound in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Colonia del Sacramento.
The liberal politics and creative life of modern Uruguay can be felt in Montevideo, between the pretty squares of the Ciudad Vieja and the cozy Barrio Reus.
East of the capital is where the rugged Punta Ballena juts into the Rio de la Plata. Head there for golden beaches, intriguing European-style architecture, and whale watching.
No airlines have non-stop flights from Australia to Uruguay.
Qatar Airways is the best airline to fly between Australia and Uruguay.