Possibly the Best Beach in South America

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Possibly the Best Beach in South America

August 13th, 2008 | Uruguay - Family Friendly, Uruguay - Gringo Favorite, Uruguay - Places to Stay | 1 Comment »

Punta del Este has earned itself the nickname, “The Hamptons of South America,” and not without good reason. This important resort town attracts the wealthiest of visitors, and is viewed as an exclusive vacation destination, despite the fact that all the beaches on the peninsula are actually public.

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There are two shores, Brava and Mansa, meaning courageous and mild, and the waves match the names, giving you the opportunity to swim in tranquil waters, or surf the large waves. There is also some excellent fishing in the area.

Resorts abound and two of the finest five star hotels in Punta del Read more

Getting your residency in Uruguay

August 4th, 2008 | Uruguay - Gringo Favorite, Uruguay - Relocation, Uruguay - Travel Tips | 3 Comments »

Getting into Uruguay on a tourist visa is easy, and if you plan on retiring in this beautiful South American country, I recommend getting into the country first, and then applying for your permanent residence. You can actually even purchase real estate as a tourist before becoming a resident of Uruguay.

A comprehensive description of how to go about getting your residency can be found at the United States Uruguayan embassy website. There is a section near the bottom of the page that discusses permanent residency and explains what the government requires of applicants.

Basically you need to prove that you meet the monthly income requirements, equivalent to about US $500/month, show a Read more

New Retirement Hotspot

July 30th, 2008 | Uruguay - Gringo Favorite, Uruguay - Relocation, Uruguay - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

Naturally beautiful Uruguay has been receiving more and more attention from a generation looking to retire somewhere other than Mexico or Panama. Granted, it isn’t as close, and it doesn’t offer a special retirement visa like the aforementioned countries do, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a look when deciding where to spend your golden years.

Why? A good long list of reasons actually. For one, the prices are excellent. Montevideo has actually been named by Mercer HR Consulting as the second least expensive city in the world. Uruguay is also fairly modern for South America, has excellent highways and you can even drink the water! The high season sees a lot of activity, and Read more

Make sure you come hungry…

July 26th, 2008 | Uruguay - Culture, Uruguay - Family Friendly, Uruguay - Gringo Favorite, Uruguay - Places to Eat, Uruguay - Travel Tips | No Comments »

In Uruguay, meal times have always served as a time for the family to gather together, oftentimes with everyone taking part in some aspect of preparing the meal, to enjoy quality time, as well as quality food. The main meal of Uruguay is called asado, which literally means roasted. Throughout Central and South American asados vary from country to county. In Uruguay the asado is made with a variety of meat, together with other animal parts, cooked in special ovens called parrilleros, over fire wood.

After mealtime, families may pass the hours playing truco, a traditional Uruguayan card game. Most also enjoy a cup of mate, a tea-like drink brewed from the dried leaves of the yerba mate. Read more

Money Matters

July 21st, 2008 | Uruguay - Travel Tips | No Comments »

Uruguay uses the Uruguayan peso, with 1 US dollar being equivalent to about 19 pesos. In the capital and in popular tourist destinations in the south there are a number of ATMs that accept North American or European credit cards. In smaller cities often times banks are the only way to get money.You can change your money in casas de cambio, money exchange houses, or in banks. If you are using traveler’s checks, remember to bring your passport when you want to cash them.

Traveling around Uruguay can be done on as little as US $20.00 a day for budget travelers. A budget room costs from $5-20 US dollars, and simple meal may cost as little are $2. Read more

Uruguay by Car or by Bus

July 18th, 2008 | Uruguay - Travel Tips | No Comments »

Once you’ve made it into Uruguay, the best way to get around is by renting a car. Roads throughout the country are generally pretty good, although some stretches of highway in the country and roads in smaller cities can get pretty rough. Rural roads are often unmarked, and the highways are not lit, so it is important to use caution when driving at night.

If you decide to drive keep in mind that US licenses are accepted, and seat belts and headlights must be used at all times. It is prohibited to use a cellular phone while driving. Children under 12 years of age must ride in the back seat. Traffic can get pretty heavy in the Read more

Passport? Visa? How do I get in to Uruguay?

July 14th, 2008 | Uruguay - Relocation, Uruguay - Travel Tips | No Comments »

Requirements for entry into Uruguay are quite easy to comply with for those who possess a U.S. passport. The passport must remain valid for six months beyond the time you intend to stay in the country. In addition, you must have tickets or documents that prove your return to the US, or onward travel. Upon entrance you are given the right to stay in Uruguay for 3 months, which you can then extend locally. You must also have sufficient funds for the intended time of stay.

Due to its ease of entrance, Uruguay is drawing more and more visitors as well as businessmen and women. Add to that the fact that Montevideo is the second most secure Read more

Uruguay Uncovered

July 6th, 2008 | Uruguay - Gringo Favorite | No Comments »

For years tourists have been flocking to South America for its beautiful beaches, amazing mountain ranges and lush forests and jungles. However, the country of Uruguay, being the smallest on the continent, has managed to fly under the radar. That is at least, until now.

The Uruguay Gringo is dedicated to reporting on the very best that Uruguay has to offer, opening up this small but vibrant country to other traveling gringos. From the bustling capital city of Montevideo to the hip coastal Punta del Este resort town, there is plenty to see and do.

Take the time to explore Uruguay, and enjoy the high quality of living without the massive amounts of tourists. The Read more