Uruguay in a motorhome: fifteen days of routes, hot springs and unforgettable encounters

The adventure began long before traveling the Uruguayan routes.

It started in Buenos Aires, when we boarded our motorhome on the ferry that crosses the Río de la Plata heading to Colonia del Sacramento. Watching the vehicle that would be our home for the next two weeks enter the ship was already part of the experience.

As we moved away from the Argentine coast, we felt that mix of expectation and freedom that usually accompanies the beginning of the best trips.

A few hours later we arrived in Colonia del Sacramento, one of the most charming cities in the country. Its cobbled streets, its old buildings and the sunsets over the Río de la Plata create an atmosphere that seems suspended in time.

Walking through its historic neighborhood, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is like walking through centuries of history in an environment of serene beauty.

Colonia del Sacramento is one of the gateways to Uruguay and was the starting point of a fifteen-day tour that would take us to discover historic cities, hot springs, coastal towns and some of the most peaceful landscapes in South America.

Although Uruguay is a relatively small country in size, it offers an enormous diversity of experiences. And traveling it in a motorhome allows you to discover it at a different pace, without rigid schedules or strict itineraries, letting each day naturally find its own path.

Our tour began in the west of the country, following the region that accompanies the border with Argentina. There appear extensive fields, small towns and cities where life seems to pass with a serenity that invites you to slow down from the first moment.

One of the great pleasures of the trip were the coastal hot springs, since Pablo and I really enjoyed the hot spring pools.

The Daymán Hot Springs and the Chapicuy Hot Springs gave us days of absolute rest. Surrounded by nature, its warm waters offer a perfect break for those traveling long distances. In that area of ​​the country we find a more rural, greener and deeply welcoming Uruguay.

After driving many kilometers we arrived at the Peace Border, made up of the twin cities of  Rivera  (Uruguay) and  Santana do Livramento  (Brazil), which are directly connected and separated by an imaginary line or milestones in the middle of the street. 

We also visited Chuy or Chui, another of the most important border cities located in the far east, where the famous main avenue divides both countries (Uruguay on one side and Brazil on the other) and in that place we took the opportunity to do some shopping.

The trip then continued towards the Atlantic coast and its incredible landscapes despite the weather conditions that were not the best, considering that we were in the month of August.

And even though it was very cold and raining, we thought we would welcome the bad weather and so we were happy to arrive in Punta del Este, where we enjoyed the view of its wide beaches, its sculptures facing the sea and its cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Further east we discover places like José Ignacio, Atlántida, Rocha and La Paloma, where the ocean appears wilder and more natural, far from the rhythm of the big cities.

However, if something remained etched in our memory above the landscapes, it was the people.

The Uruguayans made us feel at home from the first day. In each town we find genuine kindness, spontaneous conversations and a permanent willingness to help or recommend a special place. It was not a forced cordiality; It was simple, authentic hospitality that appeared again and again throughout the tour.

Traveling in a motorhome allowed us to fully enjoy that closeness. We slept by the sea, woke up in front of rural landscapes and had the freedom to modify the route when a place emerged that deserved a longer stop.

As the days passed, we understood that the true charm of Uruguay is not in the great monuments or spectacular attractions. It is in its small towns, in its quiet sunsets, in its serene routes and, above all, in the human quality of those who live there.

Fifteen days later, we began our return. We crossed the Río de la Plata again by ferry, this time heading to Buenos Aires.

As we watched the Uruguayan coast move away, we felt that Uruguay is much more than a tourist destination.