Uruguay

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Contents 1 Basic Facts 2 Border Crossing Information 2.1 Entry Requirements 2.1.1 Necessary documents 2.1.2 Costs 2.1.3 Procedure 2.2 Exit Requirements 2.2.1 Necessary documents 2.2.2 Costs 2.2.3 Procedure 2.3 Individual Experiences 3 Roads and Driving 3.1 Gas Prices 4 Camping and Hotels

[edit] Basic Facts

• Population: 3,477,779
• Capital: Montevideo
• Fun Facts: Uruguay is the second smallest country in South America, larger only than Suriname. Uruguay is politically and socially the most stable country in South America with the most egalitarian distribution of wealth. 94% of all households are above the poverty line - for comparison: Paraguay: 64%, Brazil: 61%. Uruguay also has the lowest corruption level of all of South America. Uruguay has some great old vehicles left over from the economic boom during the first half of the century but then cars became prohibitively expensive since the economic crisis and the ensuing military dictatorship of the 1970s so the mechanics became wizards at keeping them running and if you keep you eyes peeled you are guaranteed to see some real beauties.

[edit] Border Crossing Information

[edit] Entry Requirements

[edit] Necessary documents

• Title
• Vehicle registration
• Drivers license
• Stamped passport

[edit] Costs

There is no charge to temporarily import your vehicle into Uruguay.

[edit] Procedure

Get your passport stamped at immigration then head to aduana to show the agent your documents, you can ask for up to 1 year.

The process in Uruguay is very straightforward - no photocopies are needed. They do not ask to see your vehicle.

[edit] Exit Requirements

[edit] Necessary documents

No documents are needed.

[edit] Costs

There is no charge to leave Uruguay with your vehicle.

[edit] Procedure

All you have to do to cancel your temporary car permit in Uruguay is to hand it in to aduana at the border. They do not ask to see your vehicle.

[edit] Individual Experiences

We crossed from Santana do Livramento, Brazil to Rivera, Uruguay. Aduana is closed on Sundays so we had to spend an extra night in the town before we could get our car papers for Uruguay. Generally a simple crossing though we did have to run around and locate the Policia Federal in Santana do Livramento so we could get our passports stamped and hand in our car documents.

[edit] Roads and Driving

Generally the road conditions are pretty good in Uruguay, drivers are friendly and stick to the speed limits. There are only a few toll roads, these are between 10 - 50 pesos (USD $0.50 - $2.50).

[edit] Gas Prices

Gas prices in Uruguay are fairly expensive - expect to pay around 29 pesos/liter (USD $1.30) for super - 95% octane and 31 pesos/liter (USD $1.45) for premium - 97% octane

[edit] Camping and Hotels

Camping in Uruguay is very common and because of this Uruguay has fantastic camping facilities, lots of campgrounds have a small shop where you can buy all the basics, most have decent bathroom facilities and a lot of them have hot water showers.

Check out this camping website

Termas by the Argentinian Border

Termas de Guaviyu: tons of camping space, Wifi by the stores, great hot spring fed swimming pools, huge parillas, grocery store, great place to relax. Uruguay peso $70/night/person. A great deal.

Central Uruguay

In Depto de Treintay Tres: Quebrada de los Cuervos has cold water showers, nice bathrooms, big campsites with firepits, and fun hiking down in to the canyon. $25/camping, $35/person entry fee (Uruguayan pesos). If you have a good map of uruugya, Quebrada de los Cuervos is between routes 98 and 8 just north of the city of Treinta y Tres. Some signs mark the way - it is about 20 miles down a dirt road. Worth the stop if you have time.

Atlantic Coast

La Paloma: Complejo Turistico La Aguada on ruta 15 at Avenida de los Argentinos. Shady campsites, parillas, wifi by the main office, electrical plugins, 2 blocks from the ocean. $80/person/night (in Uruguayan pesos).

Punta del Este: Camping San Rafael (website) has great bathrooms, hot water in the evenings, parillas, electric plugins, very nice site just across the Punete Leonel Viera. If heading east along the coast to Punta del Este, take an immediate right after the distinctive bridge shaped like waves (rather than bearing left to head in to the city of Punta del Este). The campsite is on the right less than a mile from the bridge. About US$8/person, depending on the size of the group, plus US$2/vehicle.

Piriapolis: AEBU Apart hotel and camping (email at piriapoli@aebu.org.uy). Shady campsites 3 blocks from the ocean, with small parillas and electric plug in. About US$7/person. On Misiones at J. Alvarez.

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