Uruguay holidays

Uruguay is South America's smallest Spanish-speaking country and one of its most-pleasant — a country of just 3.4 million people with the highest standard of living in Latin America, a beach coast that runs from the slow-paced Colonia del Sacramento (UNESCO Portuguese colonial old town) across the river from Buenos Aires to the Punta del Este resort coast (the "Saint-Tropez of South America") to the surfer-and-fishing-village José Ignacio (a discreetly upscale alternative). Inland: gaucho-cowboy estancias (working cattle ranches that take guests), the Garzón wine-and-olive region, and a quietly excellent food-and-wine culture that has emerged in the last decade.

A 7-10 day Uruguay trip: Montevideo (2-3 nights — the Ciudad Vieja old town, the Mercado del Puerto for the famous parrilla grill, the rambla seafront walking) → Colonia del Sacramento (1 night — UNESCO Portuguese old town, ferry across to Buenos Aires for an Argentina day-add) → Punta del Este coast (3-4 nights — beach time, the Casapueblo art-house cliff hotel of Páez Vilaró, sunset at La Mano sand-sculpture, the boutique scene of José Ignacio with the Garzón restaurant and Vik retreats) → optional gaucho estancia stay inland (1-2 nights at Estancia Vik, Estancia La Sirena or smaller working ranches).