Must-see hotels in Uruguay

  • Termas San Nicanor

    Uruguay

    Surrounded by a pastoral landscape of cows, fields and water vaguely reminiscent of a Flemish painting, this is the most tranquil of Salto's hot-springs…

  • Guardia del Monte

    Uruguay

    Overlooking Laguna de Castillos' northern shore is this tranquil hideaway, originally established in the 18th century as a Spanish guard post to protect…

  • El Galope Horse Farm & Hostel

    Uruguay

    What do you get when you cross a tourist estancia and a hostel? Find out at this unique country retreat 115km west of Montevideo and 60km east of Colonia…

  • Estancia Panagea

    Uruguay

    For a spectacular introduction to life on the Uruguayan land, head to this 970-hectare working estancia 40km northwest of Tacuarembó. Juan Manuel, who was…

  • Tas D'Viaje Hostel

    Punta del Este

    Just one block from Playa El Emir, Punta's best – and best-located – hostel keeps improving, thanks to thoughtful owners and regular reinvestments in…

  • La Posadita de la Plaza

    Colonia del Sacramento

    At this whimsical guesthouse on Colonia's most historical square, friendly Brazilian photographer Eduardo has poured his creative genius into building a…

  • Casa Zinc

    Punta del Este

    Replete with vintage furniture, claw-foot bathtubs and checkerboard marble floors, this magical La Barra getaway features six luxurious high-ceilinged…

  • Estancia La Sirena

    Uruguay

    Surrounded by rolling open country 15km upriver from Mercedes, this estancia is one of Uruguay’s oldest and most welcoming. The spacious 1830 ranch house,…

  • Las Cumbres

    Punta del Este

    Near Punta Ballena, this understatedly luxurious hilltop paradise is eclectically decorated with treasures from the owners’ world travels. The spacious…

  • El Diablo Tranquilo

    Punta del Diablo

    Follow the devilish red glow into one of South America’s most seductive hostels, whose endless perks include inviting chill-out areas, bike and surfboard…

  • Colonia Suite

    Colonia del Sacramento

    Incorporating three spacious upstairs suites and a 'garden house' bungalow out back, this is one of Colonia's most unique lodging options, abounding in…

  • Yvytu Itaty

    Uruguay

    Pedro and Nahir Clariget's unpretentious ranch-style home, 50km southwest of Tacuarembó, offers a first hand look at real gaucho life. Guests are invited…

  • Hotel Palacio

    Montevideo

    If you can snag one of the two 6th-floor rooms at this ancient family-run hotel one block off Plaza Matriz, go for it! Both feature air-conditioning and…

  • Art Hotel Deco

    Uruguay

    Just paces from the city center, this classy boutique hotel easily outshines Salto's other downtown sleeping options. The lovingly renovated historic…

  • Casa Sarandi Guesthouse

    Montevideo

    One block south of Plaza Matriz, two attractive guest rooms in a vintage apartment share a kitchen and comfortable living room adorned with local artwork…

  • Alma Histórica

    Montevideo

    Opened in 2014, this classy Italian-run boutique hotel has themed, antique-filled guest rooms decorated in honor of famous Uruguayans (artists, writers,…

  • Le Moment

    Colonia del Sacramento

    On a clear day you can see Buenos Aires' skyscrapers glinting far across the river from this classy country getaway, 15km north of Colonia. Friendly…

  • San Pedro de Timote

    Uruguay

    The granddaddy of Uruguayan tourist estancias is San Pedro de Timote. Its remarkable setting, 14km up a dirt road from the town of Cerro Colorado, amid…

  • Cañada del Brujo

    Uruguay

    Set amid open fields in an old schoolhouse 8km from Quebrada de los Cuervos, this rustic three-room hostel invites guests to settle into the simple…

  • Ah'Lo Hostel Boutique

    Uruguay

    Carmelo's best downtown option, this combination hostel-posada delivers on its 'boutique' moniker, offering a comfortable seven-bed dorm with plush duvets…

  • Caballo Loco Hostel

    Montevideo

    This friendly hostel in a remodeled historic building enjoys an unbeatable downtown location, only steps from leafy Plaza Cagancha and the bus stops for…

  • Charco Hotel

    Colonia del Sacramento

    Colonia's chicest hotel offers an incomparable old-town location, a waterfront restaurant-bar and beautifully landscaped grounds. Seven refined rooms in…

  • Casitas de Marta y Hector

    Uruguay

    Hector and Marta, a friendly local fishing couple, rent out two sweet double rooms and a self-contained house sleeping up to seven. All come with stoves,…

  • Smart Hotel

    Montevideo

    'Smart' perfectly describes the modern lines, clean white furnishings and blond-wood decor of this well-positioned newcomer near Plaza Independencia. All…

  • Hostel Punta Ballena

    Punta del Este

    In the hills above Punta Ballena, this secluded retreat is ideal for budget-minded travelers who prefer low-key fireside camaraderie to Punta-style…

  • Sofitel Montevideo Casino Carrasco & Spa

    Montevideo

    Renovated top to bottom and reopened as a luxury hotel in 2013, Carrasco's historic casino is easily the showiest sleep in town. The monumental early-20th…

  • Hostel del Río

    Colonia del Sacramento

    Well-placed near the historic center, this hostel offers squeaky-clean four- to six-bed dorms and private rooms, along with a guest kitchen and back patio…

  • Remus-Art Hostel

    Colonia del Sacramento

    This B&B in the home of German visual artist Christiane Brockmeyer has three comfortable, colorful rooms with shared bathroom and a spacious roof terrace…

  • Las Terrazas

    Colonia del Sacramento

    This boutique hotel near picturesque Portón del Campo offers plenty of enticements: the friendly reception, the narrow, solar-heated outdoor pool and the…

  • Posada Nativos

    Punta del Diablo

    Artist Eduardo Vigliola's labor of love, this thatch-roofed boutique hotel incorporates local stone and wood details, surrounded by landscaped grounds…

  • Spléndido Hotel

    Montevideo

    The faded, funky Spléndido offers decent value for budget travelers preferring privacy over a hostel-style party vibe. The better rooms have 5m-high…

  • L'Auberge

    Punta del Este

    A venerable Punta del Este landmark, this visually striking 1940s hotel encompasses a cluster of faux-Tudor mansion houses, big grassy lawns, a 13-story…

  • El Farolito

    Uruguay

    A three-minute walk inland from La Juanita beach, this shipping-container-turned-bohemian-beach-house offers a cool home base in the José Ignacio area…

  • Don Hotel

    Montevideo

    Directly opposite Mercado del Puerto and the ferry docks, this modern boutique hotel is a study in refined black, white and silver, with Iberian…

  • Posada del Ángel

    Colonia del Sacramento

    Conveniently located midway between the ferry port and Colonia's 18th-century town gate, this little hotel has down comforters for chilly nights, plus a…

  • Narbona Wine Lodge

    Uruguay

    Part of the international Relais & Châteaux network, this exclusive lodge is housed in a winery dating back to 1909. Nicest among the five suites are two…

  • El Capullo

    Colonia del Sacramento

    Tucked off a sycamore-shaded street in a prime Barrio Histórico location, El Capullo (the cocoon) offers guests a peaceful refuge from the surrounding…

  • Posada Campotinto

    Uruguay

    This tranquil spot on the grounds of Campotinto winery makes a delightful overnight getaway just 5km north of Carmelo. Four rooms in the main casa de…

  • Cabo Polonio Hostel

    Uruguay

    The affable Gabi presides over this rustic beachfront hostel, expanded to include a larger, brighter kitchen and a brand-new ocean-view dorm. A Polonio…

  • Pancho Hostal del Cabo

    Uruguay

    Providing bare-bones dorms on two levels, Pancho’s popular hostel is impossible to miss; look for the yellow corrugated roof, labeled with giant red…

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