November 2022: On a trip to South America, primarily to explore the Falkland Islands-Penguins, Sheep, Sea Lions and Battlefields-Week in the British Falkland Islands | Venture The Planet and Cueva de los Tayos in Ecuador-Expedition into Cueva de los Tayos, Where Explorers Including Neil Armstrong Have Searched for the Legendary Golden Tablets with Alien Like Symbols | Venture The Planet, I also spent a few days in Buenos Aires, Argentina. From there, I visited Uruguay—my final South American country and one of the last United Nations-recognized countries on my journey to visit every country in the world.
About Uruguay
Uruguay, a laid-back country with a rich history as a former Spanish colony, stands out as South America’s safest and most prosperous nation per capita. With a high standard of living, many of its citizens—some of Germanic descent with blond features—give the country a distinctly European feel while remaining deeply rooted in South America.
Renowned for its beef, Uruguay is a major global exporter and has also made significant strides in renewable energy and energy independence. Along the Río de la Plata, rows of offshore wind turbines stretch for miles, harnessing the wind to generate electricity. The country also boasts the lowest corruption levels in the region.
One of Uruguay’s most compelling figures is former president José Mujica. A former revolutionary, Mujica was known for his humble lifestyle and principled leadership. He famously declared his only asset to be a $1,000 Volkswagen Beetle, refused to live in the presidential mansion, and resided in a modest home. Remarkably, he donated most of his salary, earning him the nickname “the world’s poorest president.”
Location of Colonia de Sacramento, Uruguay
To reach Uruguay from Buenos Aires, I flew into the city from Santiago, Chile, then took a taxi from the airport to the ferry terminal. There, I navigated the long and tedious immigration process to exit Argentina and enter Uruguay, weaving through crowds of fellow passengers. Despite the hassle, the ferry ride itself turned out to be quite enjoyable.
The journey across the Río de la Plata took about an hour and a half. Though often called a river, it’s actually a vast estuary where the Paraná, Paraguay, and Uruguay rivers converge, depositing sediment that gives the water its distinct muddy-brown hue. The crossing took place during a thunderstorm, making the ride rough and rocky at times. Yet, the rhythmic sway of the waves—despite their occasional size—proved unexpectedly soothing, lulling me to sleep as we made our way to Uruguay.
One of the ferry boats that makes the crossing between Argentina and Uruguay everyday
View of the rough seas of the Rio de la Plata from my ferry to Coloni de Sacramento
Colonia de Sacramento
The colonial town of Colonia del Sacramento, founded in the 1600s, boasts a rich history due to its strategic location along the Río de la Plata. Over the centuries, it frequently changed hands between the Spanish and Portuguese during times of conflict, resulting in a distinctive blend of both architectural styles.
Today, this small, charming town is celebrated for its well-preserved, tranquil atmosphere, making it a popular weekend getaway for both Argentines and Uruguayans. During my ferry ride, I realized that many of my fellow passengers were Uruguayans returning home from Argentina for the weekend, adding a local flavor to the journey.
My room in the Governor’s Residence
I arrived in Colonia del Sacramento on a rainy, dark evening, feeling a bit under the weather. Despite this, I was determined not to let it spoil my visit. As is my tradition whenever I arrive in a new place, I planned to explore on foot at night. But first, I had to navigate the chaos of disembarking from the ferry. A mad exodus of passengers ensued, and I found myself swept up in the crowd, struggling to make my way to the exit.
Once I emerged, I expected to find all the taxis gone, forcing me to consider trudging the mile or so to my guesthouse in the rain. To my surprise, one taxi was waiting outside, as if it had been reserved just for me. For just $4 USD, it whisked me away, and when I handed the driver $5 and told him to keep the change, he warmly thanked me.
As soon as we left the ferry terminal, the crowds faded, and I was greeted by a sleepy little colonial town that I immediately knew I loved. My guesthouse exceeded all expectations. Housed in a historic governor’s residence from the 1800s, it was perfectly situated on a quiet street next to a picturesque square and an old church. The house was small, quaint, and impeccably preserved, retaining its original charm without being overly remodeled. Its understated authenticity made it a wonderfully atmospheric place to stay.
A sweet, elderly lady welcomed me to the Governor’s Residence guesthouse, and while checking in, I found myself struggling with the distinct Uruguayan Spanish accent, which I wasn’t accustomed to. After dropping my bags in my room, I immediately set out to explore on foot, despite the cold drizzle outside. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with Colonia’s charm, though I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness that my wife wasn’t with me to share the experience. She had just returned home for work after traveling with me to the Falkland Islands and, unfortunately, couldn’t join me for this leg of the trip.
Worried that it might be too late to find dinner by 10 p.m., I quickly remembered that late-night dining is the norm in both Argentina and Uruguay. Sure enough, I found a lively restaurant just around the corner from my guesthouse. Inside, the atmosphere was vibrant, with one table standing out in particular—a group of elderly women and one elderly man, seemingly celebrating his birthday. Their joyous toasts, complete with singing, were both entertaining and heartwarming.
I enjoyed a meal of fresh fish paired with a glass of local red wine before heading back to my room. Exhausted from the previous night’s travel from the Falkland Islands, I settled in for a much-needed rest, feeling grateful for the warmth and vibrancy of Colonia.
Lobby of the Governor’s Residence
Despite promising myself a chance to sleep in, I couldn’t resist the pull of a new morning. The moment I heard the songbirds outside, I was up and ready to explore. By 6 a.m., I was out the door, eager to take in the quiet beauty of Colonia del Sacramento. I never let a good morning go to waste when discovering a new place.
The cobblestone streets of this colonial-era town were nearly deserted, allowing me to fully absorb its serene charm. I wandered through its quaint alleyways, snapping photographs of the beautifully preserved buildings, each one steeped in history. The stillness of the early morning, paired with the soft light of dawn, made the town feel like it belonged to another time—a perfect way to begin the day.
Old church outside my bedroom window
Magical old chapel I walked into and had to myself with a pale beam of sunlight while angelic church music played somewhere in the background
Spring Flowers
Banks of the Rio Plata River
Colonial Era Fortified Walls to protect the City
The city is famous for its variety of old wooden doors
Old cobblestone streets
On the afternoon of my second day in Uruguay, I reluctantly boarded the ferry for my return journey to Buenos Aires.
Lighthouse from 1800’s I saw from my ferry as I departed back to Buenos Aries, Argentina
Feeling under the weather, I later discovered that my wife had contracted Covid, and I likely had it too. As a result, I didn’t do much during my brief stay in the Palermo District of Buenos Aires. The highlight—or rather, the most memorable part—was the terrifying taxi ride I took from the ferry port to my hotel.
The driver seemed to have no regard for safety or traffic laws. He sped through the busy streets, narrowly avoiding pedestrians and blowing through red lights at breakneck speeds. Each near-death experience was more shocking than the last, culminating in him nearly t-boning a car that suddenly cut in front of us. He slammed on the brakes, sending me lurching into the passenger seat, but he didn’t seem fazed. Without missing a beat, he continued speeding toward my hotel, only to drop me off right in the middle of a busy street. At that point, I didn’t care—I was just relieved to be out of the car and safe.
The following day, I flew to Ecuador to meet my brother and friends, where we would embark on an exciting expedition into the mysterious Cueva de los Tayos cave-Expedition into Cueva de los Tayos, Where Explorers Including Neil Armstrong Have Searched for the Legendary Golden Tablets with Alien Like Symbols | Venture The Planet.