Boutique hotels in Uruguay

Uruguay is a small country with a gentle pace, a long Atlantic coast and a Río de la Plata shoreline. Its best stays are small: design-driven beach houses around Punta del Este and José Ignacio, vineyard lodges in the south, and colonial-era guesthouses in Colonia del Sacramento.

Coast and resorts

Punta del Este is the country's best-known resort, with a high-rise center and quieter beaches east of town. La Barra and José Ignacio, a fishing village turned chic hideaway, have designer hotels on the dunes. Farther northeast, Cabo Polonio, La Pedrera, Punta del Diablo and La Paloma are quieter, rustic beach towns.

Wine and countryside

Canelones, near Montevideo, and the area around Garzón and Carmelo have vineyards with lodges. Tacuarembó is gaucho country, with estancias that welcome guests.

Cities

Montevideo has a lively old town and a long seafront promenade, while Colonia del Sacramento, a UNESCO-listed Portuguese settlement, is a short ferry ride from Buenos Aires. Piriápolis is a historic seaside resort.

When to go

Summer, from December to March, is high season on the coast. Spring and autumn are mild and quiet, and the grape harvest runs from February to March.