Vineyard Tours and Blissful Beach Days: A Tailor-Made Uruguay Holiday

When you arrive, pick up your rental car and drive to Colonia del Sacramento, a two-and-a-half-hour journey along the Rio de la Plata. You will start off your tailor-made Uruguay holiday with a two-night stay in a small and intimate accommodation which boasts a great location in the historic city, right on the edge of the river. With just a small handful of rooms, it has excellent personalised service and it is serene and stylish throughout with light and spacious rooms complete with exposed stone walls and sleek contemporary décor. Added to this is the wonderful views of the river, breakfasts on the terrace and delicious dinners at sunset.

Discover Colonia, the country’s oldest town and a UNESCO World Heritage site, on a guided tour which gives you an insight into the value of its historical heritage. Both solemn and intimate, the urban landscape successfully fuses several different architectural styles and you will find a mingling of Portuguese, Spanish and post-colonial influences. All of this can be discovered during a walk to the city’s port, its fort, past the Spanish and Portuguese houses in the city centre and along the Rambla bordering the old town. During this visit, you can also enjoy a cultural immersion as you taste mate, a traditional Uruguayan drink which is a daily ritual for the locals. Local techniques and practices are different from those of neighbouring Argentina and you’ll be able to learn all about it here.

For the evening, we’ve reserved a table for you in an excellent restaurant close to the historic centre. It is set in a fully restored building dating back to the 1920s which is decorated with beautiful antique furnishings. It’s lovely to sit on the terrace, or in the indoor lounge, while you taste traditional Uruguayan dishes prepared with produce from the restaurant’s own organic vegetable garden.

It takes one hour to drive to Carmelo where you will stay for the next two nights of your tailor-made Uruguay holiday in the heart of a large wine-growing property which serves as a lodge, a farm, a renowned restaurant and – it should go without saying – a wine cellar. There are just five guest rooms meaning you’ll always enjoy the utmost privacy during your stay. Inside, its vintage charm is combined with modern comforts which are guaranteed to make you feel at home. During the day, go cycling through the vineyards, swim a few leisurely lengths of the swimming pool and enjoy a refreshing drink on the terrace. Make sure you also visit the former grocery store – where the restaurant is now located – for a delightful wine and cheese tasting.

The vineyards here, which were planted by Spanish colonists, have focused on a single grape variety for a long time, Moscatel, but a new variety – the tannât from Madiran – was introduced by Basque Pascual Harriague in the late 19th century. Today, it is still one of Uruguay’s main varieties of grape and is thriving thanks to the arable land and the sunshine. Carmelo is the ideal base for visits to the bodegas where you can learn more about Uruguayan wines and their history. While you’re in the region, don’t hesitate to visit two or three different vineyards which vary in size but all are dedicated to a love of wine.

To see and do: go canoeing on the Rio de la Plata, go horse riding – gaucho style – to explore the surroundings, or try your hand at polo.

It takes three-and-a-half-hours to drive to the capital where you will stay for two nights in a superb national heritage building facing Montevideo Bay. Giving off the atmosphere of a Haussmann-style castle, it is like a Uruguayan palace which combines nostalgia for early 20th century Montevideo with the impeccable elegance of French decor. The rooms and suites are comfortable and well equipped and there is also a pool and a casino.

Optional: Dinner and a show in an intimate club where you can experience Uruguayan culture through local dances and music.

During your visit, enjoy a guided tour of the old town. As well as being the capital of Uruguay, Montevideo is its main port; facing the impressive estuary of the Rio de la Plata, an Argentinian river that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Smaller and less hectic than its Argentinian neighbour, Montevideo is a lovely place to explore on foot. Your guide will introduce you to the long avenues, lovely parks, and its mishmash of different architectural styles (Art Nouveau, colonial era etc). Along the way, you will visit the Cathedral, the Torres Garcia and the Gurvic museums, the gate of the Citadel, and the plaza Constitucion. Don’t forget the Mercado del Puerto, a former goods warehouse which has been transformed into a local market and which has been buzzing with small restaurants, parrillas (grill restaurants), art galleries and craft shops since 1960. You’ll find an unparalleled choice of meats here and the food is usually cooked in front of you and then served at the counters. We’ve organised a lunch in one of the market’s most traditional restaurants to give you the opportunity to taste some local specialties and learn about the region’s customs.

To see and do: Stroll around the port; through Plaza Independencia; and Avenida 18 de Julio; admire the dizzying eclecticism of Palacio Salvo; visit the former military fort of Fortaleza del Cerro; and wander through the Prado Park botanical garden.

It’s a two-hour drive to Pueblo Eden where you will stay for the next two nights of your tailor-made Uruguay holiday in a stylish property nestled in the heart of a 250-hectare vineyard. It has a few cabins surrounded by glass and covered with green roofs which blend in perfectly with the landscape. Each cabin boasts panoramic views over the vineyards as well as its own small private swimming pool. Inside, the style is minimalist focusing on light oak and dark stone. There is also an excellent restaurant with a delicious farm-to-table menu.

Pueblo Eden, a tiny town in the Maldonado department, has a peaceful vibe and a "tranquilo" rhythm – which is helped by the fact there is so little car traffic. Here, you can wander along the dirt roads as you please and enjoy the verdant country setting. Although isolated, the village is known for its delicious food so we recommend that you taste its culinary delights as soon as possible.

After a 50-minute drive, you will reach Jose Ignacio where you will be staying for three nights in a charming property with contemporary architecture and attentive service just a few steps from the beach. The décor of these trendy suites and bungalows gives it a very artistic vibe and each one comes with an ocean view. The hotel has a lovely restaurant and a swimming pool – perfect for a refreshing dip. This property has a truly unique atmosphere; so much so, it might make you want to extend your Uruguay holiday.

This former fishing village has become an upscale seaside resort. Here, you can explore its dirt streets, picturesque lighthouse and brightly coloured boats. However, don’t expect a “bling” atmosphere: Jose Ignacio is more hippie chic. There are lots of ways you can make the most of the serene surroundings: clear your head on a seaside walk, enjoy a sunset dinner, and laze on the hot sand.

To see and do: Visit the Atchugarry Foundation, created by the eponymous sculptor who wanted the Foundation to promote art in all its forms; explore the surrounding countryside; and admire the beautiful buildings.

Optional: Visit Jose Ignacio with a private guide or enjoy a day trip to one of the country’s most beautiful natural sites: Cabo Polonio.