100% customisable travel idea
Road Trip through Pampas, Vineyards and Beaches The Best of Uruguay
Argentina - Buenos Aires - Uruguay - Montevideo - Colonia del Sacramento - Carmelo - Pueblo Eden - José Ignacio
100% customisable travel idea
Argentina - Buenos Aires - Uruguay - Montevideo - Colonia del Sacramento - Carmelo - Pueblo Eden - José Ignacio
100% customisable for you
Take your private transfer to the historic San Telmo district and check in for two nights at a hotel set around the Belgrano Passage, a former covered shopping arcade that is part of the capital’s history. The establishment has preserved the best of its historic architecture - beautiful high ceilings, parquet floors, columns - combined with Argentine contemporary art: paintings, sculptures and even a mural of Carlos Gardel, the local tango hero, found on the rooftop terrace. This spot is also perfect at the end of the day to relax with a drink or a book, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. At the restaurant, they serve a delightful fusion cuisine that sees Argentine, Peruvian and Japanese dishes sit side by side on the same menu.
It’s time to get on porteña time. In the morning, people take their time over a cortado (hazelnut) or a café con leche (crème). Recoleta is chic, a lovely place for a stroll; Plaza de Mayo, the capital’s social and political epicentre, is where people get involved. There’s a buzz of activity on Calle Florida, where white-collar workers walk briskly; it’s trendy and artsy at the terraces and in front of designer shop windows in Palermo; modern in Puerto Madero, the city’s youngest neighbourhood and a symbol of the Argentine movida, where lofts with large picture windows stand alongside trendy bars.
Things to see and do -: Stroll (at least in part) along Avenida 9 de Julio, with its impressive scale; take a mandatory coffee and medialunas (croissant) break at Gran Café Tortoni, nothing short of an institution; discover La Boca, a small, colorful barrio with a fascinating history; wander the paths of the cemetery in the elegant Recoleta district, both legendary and mystical; delve into old San Telmo, with its rich architecture, numerous antique shops, and lively Sunday market; savour Argentine beef at one of the capital’s best parrillas; join an Argentine wine tasting; relax in Palermo’s many parks, true urban lungs; experience the vibrant nightlife in the lively streets of Palermo Hollywood; visit the rich Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes.
Not to be missed - A tour of Buenos Aires’ milongas, where Porteños of all ages gather around the tango. There are all kinds of milongas, from the most traditional to the most modern, from the most touristy to the most intimate. Your Concierge will point you towards those that are truly worth seeing and form part of the culture and daily life of the capital’s residents.
Then you have a private transfer to the pier, then a quick boat crossing of the RÃo de la Plata to the small town of Colonia del Sacramento (about an hour away). A new private transfer takes you to the city centre, where you settle in for two nights, far from the hustle and bustle of the Argentine capital. Your hotel, ideally located just steps from the main square, will delight history enthusiasts and travellers seeking tranquillity. Organised around a charming Andalusian courtyard, the colonial-style building stands at the heart of a historic architectural complex. The furniture is vintage, set on thick floors with exposed stone and beams above, and there are windows with shutters. A certain rustic, yet charming quality.
Founded by the Portuguese in 1680 and long contested, Colonia is the oldest city in Uruguay. Its historic districts are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. The rival Iberian brothers each left their mark here: winding cobblestone streets in the Portuguese part, and a Spanish grid layout. All of this is imbued with a nostalgic, evocative charm - noble and shaded by lush vegetation. The Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament dates from the early 19th century and exudes immaculate elegance.
On your itinerary - A private tour of Colonia. Accompanied by a guide, you explore the charming seaside town with its well-preserved urban landscape on foot. The city reveals its treasures and highlights as you stroll: Portón de Campo, the old city gate, the Street of Sighs, the Viceroy’s House, the Iglesia Matriz, the bullring, the Citadel Gate, a wealth of museums - the Azulejo, Palaeontologya and Indigenous Museums, and Nacarello House, to name but a few.
Already booked - A table for you at one of the city’s top-notch restaurants, set in a 1920s building perched on the heights, just slightly outside the city centre. Settle on the terrace or in an indoor lounge to enjoy produce from the organic garden, depending on the season. A premium establishment that reimagines Uruguayan cuisine with simplicity and respect for the produce.
Pick up your rental car and drive to Carmelo (an hour away). Settle in for the night in a charming posada, built in the same style as the adjoining bodega. Behind the coral-red stones and walls, a handful of rooms are hidden - just four in total, so privacy is assured. They enjoy a calming view of the bodega and the surrounding vineyards. Everywhere, the décor is superb, contemporary and harmonious, highlighting beautiful materials and a play of textures.
Things to see and do - Canoeing on the RÃo de la Plata; saddling up and riding through the area on horseback, gaucho style; learning to play polo; teeing off on one of the many local golf courses.
Not to be missed - A visit to the vineyards. The local vineyards, planted by Spanish settlers in the 17th century, were for a long time limited to Moscatel. But in the second half of the 19th century, Tannat was introduced and is still the country’s signature grape variety, thriving in Uruguay’s sunshine and fertile soils. By visiting the region’s bodegas, you can taste the bouquet and admire the colour of this wine, which is quite different from its French ancestor. You can start with the vineyard where you are staying - the accommodation lends bicycles - but you can also venture out to the neighbouring estates.
Drive to Montevideo (3 hours and 30 minutes away) and check in for two nights at a beautifully restored former colonial house. This elegant little accommodation venue with its welcoming staff immerses guests in the country’s history and culture. Each room is inspired by the life of a local personality (athlete, painter, musician, actor, etc.), with decor that blends the old world and the new. The tea room also serves as the breakfast area, and at the end of the day, guests gather in the library to enjoy a drink on the rooftop terrace - with a full view of the city below.
You have two days to get a feel for Uruguay’s capital. Considerably smaller and calmer than its Argentine neighbour, Montevideo offers travellers a more human-scale setting. A gentle way of life and a serene atmosphere - people love it for its long avenues, parks perfect for strolling, and its eclectic architecture, from modern buildings to Art Nouveau and even a few colonial structures.
On your itinerary - A private visit to see Montevideo’s highlights. Accompanied by a guide, you set out to discover the main sites of the capital: the cathedral, the Torres GarcÃa and Gurvich museums, the Citadel Gate, and Constitution Square, before finishing at the port market. This place offers an unrivalled selection of all kinds of meats for hungry travellers. The dishes are cooked in front of guests, seated at the counters like true Uruguayans. A place with a unique atmosphere.
Things to see and do - Admire the rose garden in the botanical garden of Prado Park, where the season shapes the display; pay tribute to Centenario Stadium, which hosted the first World Cup in 1930.
Optional - Lunch at a traditional restaurant in Mercado del Puerto.
Optional - Before leaving Montevideo, meet a candombe drum maker, an artisan of the traditional Uruguayan festival music.
Drive to Pueblo Eden (2 hours and 15 minutes). On the way, feel free to stop off for lunch at the restaurant at the viewpoint overlooking the Salto del Penitente waterfall.
On arrival, settle in for two nights at an authentic estancia, set in the heart of a stunning wine region. And guests can fully enjoy it from the terraces of the bungalows, which house rooms that blend rustic elegance, comfort and privacy. These places promise a return to simple pleasures: a horseback ride or a walk, a good book by the pool... The restaurant’s cuisine is authentic, the service highly attentive, the escape is total.
Drive to José Ignacio (1 hour and 40 minutes away) and check in for three nights just a few minutes from the town centre. Your accommodation venue feels as if it has always been there, seamlessly blending into its surroundings. Its walls, in harmony with the natural surroundings, also match the thatched roofs covering some of the buildings, such as the reception or the small hut where massages are given outdoors. Tastefully decorated, the comfortable bungalows and rooms each have their own character. They open onto either the pleasant garden or the dunes and the ocean, just a few steps away. You also enjoy direct access to Playa Brava. Outside, the cross-shaped pool is enhanced by décor, wooden deckchairs and plant-covered pergolas where you can read in the shade.
Things to see and do - Explore the Cabo Polonio eco reserve, just under a two-hour drive away from José Ignacio, one of the most beautiful natural sites in the country. This small fishing village has become a popular spot for lovers of pristine nature. An extraordinary landscape, far from civilisation, where wild sandy beaches, colourful houses, small restaurants and a remarkable lighthouse reveal themselves in succession. The thousands of seals that gather along the coast form one of the largest sea lion populations in the world. Spend a few hours on site exploring the different beaches, climb to the top of the lighthouse, watch the sea lions, and then perhaps continue on to other seaside resorts near to Polonio: La Pedrera, La Aguada, as well as La Paloma.
On your evening itinerary - A table booked at one of José Ignacio’s excellent restaurants. Set on the dune facing the Atlantic Ocean, this is the kind of accommodation venue you only share with those closest to you. Because it has something ideal about it - the location, the building, the welcome, the cuisine. You’ll find fish and seafood, of course, but also meat you’ll rarely find outside of South America.
Optional -- An exploratory walk in José Ignacio, the Saint-Tropez of South America, in the company of a private guide.
Drive to Montevideo airport (2 hours and 15 minutes), return the vehicle, and take your international flight home. Night spent on the plane, arrival the next day.
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
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