Information about Uruguay.

Stand Januar 19, update December 21 and November 22

Food

In the larger towns there is a big supermarket where most of things you need can be bought. In the big cities there are also shopping malls with a selection of European goods. In the countryside there are only the small shops, which are also called “supermercado”. They have only a very limited offer, but mostly local fresh products. We have searched for the great open markets in vain, that seems to belong to the past.

Water

Drinking water is available at most campsites, the quality though is not always perfect. The state water supply OSE often offers in many places also good drinking water quality for free. The petrol stations always have a water connection with drinking water, which is free as well.

Diesel

The filling station network is very dense, an additional tank is definitely not necessary for Uruguay. The diesel costs the same throughout the country and seems to be organized by the socialist state. We experienced a strike of the tank truck drivers, so within a day the whole country was without diesel. Obviously, everything depends on the state organization. The quality of the diesel is well suited for modern engines. The amount of sulfur is 50ppm for the cheap variety and 10ppm for the more expensive variety.

Money

The currency, Uruguayan peso, UYU, is easy to obtain and freely convertible. The exchange rate is a bit better if you can exchange dollars in UYU at exchange offices. ATMs you can find in most towns. Credit cards are accepted actually everywhere except in the small village shops.

Overnight Places

Free camping is actually everywhere possible and at least tolerated, except where it has livestock, because then everything is fenced. iOverlander has also entered some good places in this country. Campsites are very many, but mostly extremely loud. Obviously a campsite is most of the time an open-air disco for the locals. Loud music until the morning is normal during weekend nights.

Internet

The internet coverage is exemplary, we had network access almost everywhere. Buying a prepaid SIM card is comparably easy; as always you have to show the passport. We worked with Movistar and were very satisfied. During our travel period there was an promotion running: for 250 UYU you got during 10 days 40GB.

Streets

The roads are mostly very good. The unpaved roads are getting less and less. The tourist places can usually be reached without four-wheel drive. The lonely places though can be reached only with appropriate vehicles as everywhere in the world. There are many major national roads on which fees are collected. These fees are quite significant, but therefore you do not have to pay other road taxes in general as a traveler.

Our personal highlights

1.     Laguna de Rocha (great sweet and saltwater lagoon) S34° 40.943′ W54° 17.010′
2.     Laureles-Tacarembo (Scenic Drive) S31° 21.352′ W55° 52.228′
3.     Laguna Mirim (largest lagoon very lonely) S33° 11.550′ W53° 39.591′
4.     Montevideo (old town) S34° 54.265′ W56° 12.632′
5.     Estancia (Living on an old estancia) S32° 35.841′ W56° 37.908′
6.     P. Nac. Quebrada de los Cuervos (nice hike) S32° 54.399′ W54° 26.831′
7.     Valle de Lunarejo (river landscape) S31° 11.428′ W55° 53.958′
8.     Colonia (old town) S34° 28.051′ W57° 51.016′
9.     P. Nac. De Santa Teresa (Sleepingplace at the Mirador) S34° 00.051′ W53° 32.122′
10.  Balneario second lake (idyllic place) S31° 39.766′ W55° 57.301′
Our highlights are listed on the route map as waypoints H01 – H10.

Regulations for heavy motor vehicles

On the truck an “80” sign must be attached. We never got feedback – neither at the border or at any of the police controls – that anything of our vehicle would not comply with local regulations. The police never stopped us during our stay in Uruguay. The normal police checks we always passed without problems and with extremely friendly officials.

Since 2022 you can no longer pay manually at all toll booths, you need a Telepeaje. In this way, you are conveniently automatically recorded and you no longer have to stop. You can get a Telepeaje at the manned payment points by going through a longer procedure.

Customs formalities

Border crossing from Argentina to Uruguay

Uruguay requires from travellers:

• A full vaccination against Covid19 that is not older than 9 months and not younger than 14 days.
• A PCR test that is not older than 72 hours
• A completed immigration form

We completed the PCR test at the Chivilcoy hospital upon prior appointment and registration. Unfortunately, we then had to wait over an hour for our turn because a whole group of teenagers came back from Bariloche and had to be tested, with about 20% being infected. The test was extensive (three swabs) but not uncomfortable. And it was absolutely free. We received the result about 36 hours later on the way to the border, we printed it out to be on the safe side.

At the border we had to wait about 30 minutes before we could pay the bridge toll and afterwards as well because there was insufficient capacity. We only found out at the immigration counter that we should have filled out the online form. We were able to download and fill out the “Coronavirus UY” app at the kiosk with WIFI. The customs officers were all very helpful and friendly. Globi’s control was very precise, all boxes were checked and even storage flaps were opened. Of course, Ernstli was also inspected and checked. The whole procedure in Fray Bentos took a good three hours. It is important to know that no QR code can be read at customs. Our Covid certificate was not accepted on the mobile phone. So, it is important to print out all documents, including the entry form! From December 11th, 2021, all three bridges between Uruguay and Argentina are open in both directions again.

We arrived 2019 in Montevideo by boat. Since we travelled with Globi on the cargo ship, Globi counted as our hand luggage for the customs, so the customs clearance was much easier. We were accompanied by a representative of the agency through all the offices and check-in, which of course was very pleasant.

Handling time: 1.5h
Visa cost for 2 persons YUY 0.00
Trafficer: YUY 0.00Photocopies: YUY 0.00
Roadtax Globi: YUY 0.00
Roadtax Ernstli: YUY 0.00
Insurance for all Mercosur: USD 788.00 p.a. Must be completed and confirmed before customs clearance.Further fees were not charged at customs.

Our statistics

Daily expenses for 2 persons:

Personal observations

Although Uruguay is known for having the best beef worldwide, we’ve noticed that everyone goes fishing at every opportunity. This seems to be an absolute popular sport. On holidays, the locals are very loud, music is played with the highest volume until the other morning. The noise perception is definitely distinct from the European one.