Uruguay

Uruguay is a country in the southeastern region of South America. It is bordered by Argentina to its west and Brazil to its north and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to the south and southeast.

Uruguay is the most European country in South America. This title usually goes to Argentina, and it’s true that Buenos Aires does have an elegant, old world feel. Uruguay is similar to Argentina linguistically and culturally, with a large percentage of the citizens having emigrated from Europe in the past few centuries. You can see it in the cuisine, in the plentiful bakeries and the architecture.

Almost half the people are concentrated in the metropolitan area of Montevideo, the capital. The second and third largest cities, Salto and Paysandú, are small by comparison. Facing a deep bay at the mouth of the Río de la Plata, Montevideo blends historic areas with tall office towers and well-appointed shopping centers. The old city, with its many museums, open-air markets, and restaurants, remains the heart of Montevideo, and sees thousands of international visitors each year. Popular as tourist destinations, too, are beach resorts such as Piriápolis and Punta del Este, as well as the colonial masterpiece Colonia del Sacramento.