Overview
This is part 5 of a 6-part series which covers the Uruguay portion of our 54-day journey. Our trip took us through Central America and then down the west coast of South America to Antarctica before ending in Brazil.
The Complete Series can be found here:
Part I — Central America & the Panama Canal: The Journey Begins
Part II — Across Ecuador & Peru: Markets, Monasteries, and Lost Civilizations
Part III — Chile: Ten Days Along the Edge of the Andes
Part IV — Argentina, The Falkland Islands & Antarctica: To the End of the World
Part V — Uruguay Beach Resorts and Wineries
Part VI— Brazil: The Final Stretch North
Montevideo
The day begins much earlier, with the two of us watching the ship squeeze — almost surgically — into a tight docking space in Montevideo. Disembarkation is smooth, noticeably quicker than earlier legs of the trip.
Exploring the City with Hector
We board a small bus where our guide, Hector, greets us. Maybe twenty people total — just the right size for a day of wandering.
Our first stop iss the main square, where we see the President’s Palace and an elegant 1920s hotel building still carrying the grandeur of its era. A massive statue honoring Uruguay’s independence leader dominates the plaza.
Miles of Waterfront
From there, the tour stretches along miles of Montevideo’s beachfront. We haven’t realized just how much of a resort city this is. With Uruguay’s population around 3.5 million and roughly half of them living here, the density of high-rise condos and beachfront mansions suddenly made sense. The boardwalk seems to run forever, a ribbon of concrete and ocean breeze.
Monuments, Neighborhoods & City Life
We make a couple of brief stops: one at a statue honoring sailors lost at sea and another near the University of Uruguay where a monument to the pioneers stands. The drive offers a fascinating cross-section of the city – wealthy neighborhoods, middle-class districts and more modest areas – each with its own rhythm.
Uruguay Legislature
Juanicó Winery
About 50 minutes outside the city, we reach the family owned Juanicó Winery. The vast venue has thousands of acres of vines, a beautifully maintained estate, and a tour that feels both relaxed and deeply informative.
Lunch at Juanicó
Lunch turns into one of those unexpectedly lively social mosaics that makes these long voyages so much fun! Starting at Harrison’s left and circling around the table, we have Roy and Shanda, then David & Lori, followed by Sharon and Louis and finally Sonya & Scott on Nancy’s right. Roy used to own a post-production company for film & television – he has that easy, industry-honed way of telling stories. David and Lori surprised us completely – they work for the Washington Nationals (which just happens to be “our” team). They even pass around photos of the World Series ring and snapshots with manager Dusty Baker. Sharon & Louis are celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary on this trip. It turns out Sonya & Scott are in the room next to us! You never know who you’ll end up eating grilled meat with on a Tuesday in Uruguay.
Lunch itself is a feast. We taste (and drink) five different wines over various appetizers and courses of salads, grilled meats and potatoes – the kind of meal that makes you want to linger for hours. It wis one of the most beautiful wineries we’ve visit on this trip.
A Warm, Welcoming City
Another full day, another set of faces and stories added to the journey. Montevideo surprised us – in scale, in beauty, and in the easy warmth of the people we met along the way.
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Punta del Este
The day starts early – up around 6:30am! After a quick shower, Harrison is up on deck to see the harbor.
A Glamourous Seaside Resort
Punta del Este is every bit the glamourous seaside resort people say it it. A peninsula of bright beaches, sleek high-rise condos, and summer buzz that draws visitors from all over South America. It’s often compared to the Hamptons or Monaco, and we can see why – wide Atlantic beaches, a lively marina, chic restaurants and of course, the iconic La Mano (the Hand) sculpture rising from the sand. Since it is summertime here, the whole town feels alive.
Yachts
We spot a number of high-end yachts as we approach the shore.
Panoramic Views & Beachfront Energy
We begin with a panoramic tour near the lighthouse and stop by a colorfully painted Catholic church. From there, we drive past endless high-rise condos and luxurious beach homes. The beaches are already packed by 10:00am – umbrellas everywhere, families in the water, and miles of shoreline full of people enjoying the height of summer. We learn this is a common vacation spot for Argentinians and Brazilians.
A Wealthy, Polished Coastline
One thing that stands out is the sheer level of investment in the area. There’s even a Trump Tower among the many upscale condominiums. This is easily the wealthiest region we see on the entire Central and South American journey – yachts, manicured gardens, pools and elegant home everywhere you look. A beautiful (and expensive) place to wander.
Hand Statue
We stop and look at the Punta del Este’s most famous landmark, a giant sculpted hand emerging from the sand at Playa Brava – La Mano. The sculpture was made by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal during the summer of 1982 , while he was attending the first annual International Meeting of Modern Sculpture in the Open Air in Punta del Este. There were nine sculptors, and he was the youngest one. He was inspired to make a sculpture of a hand “drowning” as a warning to swimmers of the rougher waters in this area. Irarrázabal had the entire summer to complete the project, but he managed to finish in the first six days. He won first prize and his sculpture is the only one that remains from that competition.
Wealthy Neighborhoods
We drive through and see Punta del Este’s luxury residential zone—centered around neighborhoods like La Barra, Beverly Hills, and the leafy hills near Rincón del Indio with manicured streets sculpted gardens, and sleek summer homes tucked behind tall pines.
The Lionel Viera Bridge
We cross the well-known Lionel Viera Bridge (named for its builder), famous for its unusual undulating design. Built in 1963, the bridge also known as the Maldonado Bridge crosses the Maldonado Creek and connects Punta del Este to La Barra. The total length of the bridge is 490 feet and includes a 295-foot main span and two smaller spans each measuring 98 feet.
While at our stop, one of the passengers fell off the curb and hit his head on the bumper of the bus. With 3 doctors among the tour group and the help of our fabulous tour guides, an ambulance whisks him to the hospital (common protocol for a head injury). It causes a short delay for our tour, but soon we are back on the road (and he is back to the ship before we sail).
Narbona Winery
Lunch is at yet another fabulous winery, The Narbona Winery Lodge. This region of South America is truly blessed with great red wines and here in Uruguay, one of their specialty grapes is the Tannat (considered the national grape of Uruguay). We have a series of wine & cheese pairing tastings as well as some artisan breads and jams – everything produced at Narbona. By the end of our “tastings”, we are stuffed to the gills. FYI – Narbona has 3 locations in the USA (all in Florida): Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove and Boca Raton.
What Comes Next
This blog will now continue with our time in Brazil.
The Complete Series can be found here:
Part I — Central America & the Panama Canal: The Journey Begins
Part II – Across Ecuador & Peru: Markets, Monasteries, and Lost Civilizations
Part III — Chile: Ten Days Along the Edge of the Andes
Part IV — Argentina, The Falkland Islands & Antarctica: To the End of the World
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