Uruguai — Montevidéu e Punta del,
Este.

Overview

Today is just about getting there and settling in, no sightseeing pressure attached. The JetSMART flight from Rio lands at Carrasco around 1:10pm, and once you clear immigration and collect bags, it's a short taxi or Uber ride (about 11 miles, 25 to 30 minutes depending on traffic) into Pocitos. Check-in at the Airbnb doesn't open until 4pm, so there's a gap to fill: this is a good window for a late lunch near the apartment or just dropping bags somewhere and walking the Rambla while Federico gets ready to meet you. He checks guests in personally, so you'll coordinate the exact time through the app rather than finding a lockbox. Tomorrow is a full day based right here in Pocitos, so tonight is really about food, a shower, and sleep.

Tips

Pack a light jacket for the evening, Montevideo in November runs mild but the wind off the Rio de la Plata can cut through a t-shirt once the sun drops. Keep your JetSMART boarding pass or app screenshot handy until you're through customs, since Uruguay sometimes spot-checks entry forms. No reservations are needed for today beyond the Airbnb itself, which already shows free cancellation lapsed (it was good through November 14). If you want cash on hand, Uruguayan pesos from an airport ATM beat currency exchange counters on rate, and Uber works fine in Montevideo and is usually cheaper than an airport taxi stand.

Getting Around

From Carrasco, Uber is the simplest option and usually runs less than a registered taxi for the same route. If you'd rather use a taxi, only take ones from the official stand inside the terminal, not drivers who approach you in the hall. Once you're in Pocitos, the neighborhood is flat and very walkable, and Montevideo Shopping is about five blocks from the Airbnb if you need groceries, a SIM card, or a quick meal while you wait for check-in.

Local Tips

Uruguay runs on a slower clock than Rio for business hours: many shops close for a couple of hours in the early afternoon, so don't expect every pharmacy or kiosk to be open the moment you land. Quiet hours at the Airbnb are 11pm to 7am, worth knowing if you're planning a late dinner out and a quieter return. Tap water in Montevideo is safe to drink, which saves you from hunting down bottled water on arrival night. Keep your passport on you for the first check-in; Federico may ask to see it to log the stay, standard practice for Uruguayan short-term rentals.

Overview

After yesterday's landing and the settle-in at Pocitos, today is the one full day you have to actually see Montevideo before the car and the coast take over tomorrow. There's no fixed itinerary on the books past the 8am stop at the Airbnb, so treat this as open ground: a walk through Ciudad Vieja, lunch at Mercado del Puerto, and an evening back on the Pocitos waterfront. The city rewards slow mornings and long lunches more than a packed checklist, so resist the urge to overplan it.

Start close to home. Pocitos beach and the Rambla right outside your door are worth a morning walk before the sun gets strong, then head into the old town by bus or taxi. Plaza Independencia, the Palacio Salvo, and Teatro Solís are all within a few blocks of each other, and Mercado del Puerto (the old port market, a short walk from Plaza Matriz) is the obvious lunch stop for grilled meat and a glass of Tannat. Afternoon is for wandering back toward Pocitos along the Rambla, which runs for miles along the river and makes for an easy, flat walk with plenty of benches if you want to sit and watch the water.

Tips

• Pack light layers. Late November in Montevideo runs mild, usually in the 60s to low 70s°F, but wind off the Río de la Plata can make it feel cooler on the Rambla.
• No reservations needed today. Mercado del Puerto gets busy around 1pm on weekdays, so arrive by noon if you want a seat at one of the parrilla counters rather than a table.
• Ciudad Vieja is best in the morning or late afternoon; midday sun on the plazas has little shade.
• Many small restaurants and market stalls take cash only or charge a surcharge on foreign cards. Uruguayan pesos from an ATM in Pocitos will save you a few percent over hotel exchange rates.

Getting Around

Pocitos to Ciudad Vieja is about 4 miles, roughly 20 minutes by taxi or rideshare (Uber works fine in Montevideo) and under $10 USD as of November 2025 rates. City buses (STM) run the same route for a fraction of the cost but require coins or a prepaid card, which isn't worth the hassle for a single day. Once in the old town, everything from Plaza Independencia to the port market is walkable in fifteen minutes or less. Save the taxi for the trip back if you're tired by evening.

Local Tips

Uruguayans eat dinner late, often after 9pm, so don't expect restaurants in Pocitos to be lively before 8. Mate is everywhere and totally normal to see people carrying thermoses on the street, it's not performative. Montevideo is generally calm and walkable even after dark along the Rambla, but Ciudad Vieja empties out at night and it's smarter to taxi back rather than walk once the shops close. Pack tonight: tomorrow morning you checkout from Pocitos and head to pick up the rental car before lunch at Bodega Bouza on the way to Punta del Este.

Overview

Today you leave Montevideo behind for good and head to Punta del Este, with a proper lunch stop in between. After checkout in Pocitos, it's a short walk to pick up the rental car, then a scenic inland drive to Bodega Bouza's hillside restaurant before continuing on to the coast. You'll have the afternoon to settle into the new apartment and get a first look at Punta del Este itself. Tonight's the only night here, since tomorrow you're driving back to Carrasco for the flight home, so treat this as your one real evening to enjoy the town.

Tips

• Pack a light layer for the wine country stop (the hilltop can be breezy even on a warm day) and comfortable shoes, since Bouza's terrace and vineyard views involve some walking on gravel.
• The Alamo counter at Hilton Garden Inn still shows as not booked in your plans. Call +598 2408 8588 or book at alamouruguay.com before you leave the apartment this morning, naming pickup today at 10:00 and drop-off in Carrasco around noon on the 22nd. Ask them to confirm there's no extra fee for returning at the airport instead of the original pickup point.
• Bodega Bouza lunch also needs a reservation for 2 at 12:30, call +598 94 430 999 or use bodegabouza.com. It's a popular Saturday lunch spot, so don't leave this one for the road.
• Budget around US$80 per person with wine at Las Espinas. Whoever's driving the rest of the day should skip the wine list and let the other person enjoy the Albariño or Tannat.
• Airbnb check-in in Punta del Este opens at 15:00, so there's no rush after lunch. Have your Wi-Fi and entry instructions pulled up on your phone before you arrive, since the app notification should have landed by now.

Getting Around

It's about an 8 minute walk (roughly 0.4 miles) from the Pocitos Airbnb to the Alamo counter at Hilton Garden Inn. From there, Bodega Bouza is around 1 hour 45 minutes by car, and sits conveniently on the route toward Punta del Este rather than off to the side. After lunch, it's another 35 minutes or so to central Punta del Este, and the apartment itself is walkable from the main part of town once you're parked. Navigate into Punta del Este via Av. Gorlero, then left at calle 19 and left again at calle 26; the Puerto Ventura building is mid block on the right, entrance B.

Local Tips

Uruguayan lunches run long, so don't rush the Bouza reservation. Two hours is normal here, and the kitchen won't hurry you out. Uruguay drives on the right, roads are generally well marked, and a Brazilian driver's license is accepted without an international permit. Fuel stations outside the city center can be sparse, so top up before leaving Montevideo if the tank's low. Once in Punta del Este, parking near the apartment is usually easy at this point in the season, but double check whether Puerto Ventura has a dedicated spot or if you'll need street parking nearby.