Uruguay Activities by Season and Budget

What a “$600” menu really costs

On a Uruguayan menu, “$600” is 600 pesos, roughly US$15 at about 40 UYU to the dollar. Dollars are written “U$S” or “USD”. Every cost below is in pesos, so you can budget before you land.

Free

  • Shore whale watching from July to October at Punta del Este, José Ignacio, La Paloma and Cabo Polonio, strongest in August and September.
  • Santa Teresa National Park, open Tuesday to Sunday, 08:00 to 18:00.
  • The Montevideo Rambla, a waterfront path of about 22 km for walking or cycling.
  • La Mano, the giant concrete fingers on Playa Brava in Punta del Este.
  • Teatro Solís guided tours on Wednesdays, in Spanish, English and Portuguese.

Low to mid cost

  • Cabo Polonio by 4x4 truck: UYU 470 round trip, plus UYU 350 a day if you park at the Ruta 10 terminal.
  • Santa Teresa fortress: UYU 50, free for under-12s.
  • Casapueblo in Punta Ballena: UYU 600 general entry and UYU 500 for 65 and over, with under-12s free. It opens daily at 10:00 and stays until sunset, and the sunset ceremony fills quickly, so arrive about 40 minutes early. See Casapueblo’s own site for details.
  • Teatro Solís on other days: UYU 400 for foreigners, UYU 200 for Uruguayans.

Higher cost

  • A winery visit in Canelones, with tastings and sometimes lunch. Bouza and Juanicó are separate estates, so compare them. You can search wine tours on GetYourGuide and read the inclusions.
  • A Buenos Aires ferry day. Colonia Express takes about 1 hour to Colonia, while Buquebus and its Seacat service take about 1h15. Fares vary by class and date, so check Buquebus and Colonia Express .

Paying less

Card payments at restaurants get a 9-point VAT cut, from 22% to about 13%, until April 2027. Non-residents pay no VAT on hotel stays when they show foreign ID. The government has announced a full exemption on foreign cards for this summer, so ask before ordering. Carry some pesos in cash for Cabo Polonio’s village, though the truck terminal also takes debit cards.

When to go

December to February is peak beach season, with room rates that climb and coastal booking essential. June to August is cool and windy, and many seaside restaurants and inns in Rocha and Maldonado shut. If you rent a car, tolls are cashless; foreign-plated cars can use the Pase Turista described at telepeaje.com.uy .

Tip: build the budget around two free days of coast and one paid highlight. Compare it with the Uruguay 3-day itinerary before booking.