USEFUL DATA of Uruguay

By air

Thirteen airlines arrive in the Carrasco International Airport, located in Montevideo. All of them sell regular commercial flights and air cargo. Situated 18 kilometers to the East of the downtown area, the main air terminal in the country is equipped with basic infrastructure, various amenities and international police, migration and Customs.

In turn, 15 kilometers away from the City of Punta del Este, there lies Laguna del Sauce Airport, which features a modern structure and operates only with commercial flights.

Several private companies provide shuttles and taxis to town and to the hotels.

Taxes

Travelers must pay an airport tax of USD U$S 29 for international flights and of u$s 16 for <i>puente aéreo</i> flights (air shuttles). These taxes may be paid either in United States Dollars or in Uruguayan Pesos and they do not apply to domestic flights.

By land

Uruguay features a main paved road network with radial structure which responds to the characteristics of the territory and covers all communication needs in the inland areas.
Various private companies offer passenger transportation services that cross the border into Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay.

International Passes

Three international bridges connect the country with Argentina over the Uruguay River. They are located in the Cities of Salto, Paysandú and Fray Bentos. International passes into Brazil are located in the Cities of Artigas, Rivera, Río Branco and Chuy.

By sea

Besides the extensive sea coastline, navigation of the Río de la Plata and the Uruguay River has enabled the country to develop an intense river activity. The main port in the country is located in Montevideo, on the Río de la Plata and it welcomes ships from all over the world. It is also a leader in export, import and international trade in Uruguay. This is the first and only port terminal on the South American Atlantic Coast which operates as a free port, a regime which establishes a special Customs area with favorable regulations, accessed through private operators.

The Ports of Colonia and Nueva Palmira are also located on the Río de la Plata. These ports are part of the Paraguay – Paraná waterway, which joins the center of South America with the Atlantic Ocean. As well, 35 kilometers away from Colonia, there lies Juan Lacaze or Port Sauce, which features a cargo transportation infrastructure and a sport harbor housing a nautical club.

Likewise, the Ports of Salto, Paysandú and Fray Bentos are located on the Uruguay River. At Fray Bentos, timber and lumber represent a very important activity.

On the other hand, the company called Buquebus offers daily ferry voyages from the City of Buenos Aires to Montevideo, Punta del Este, Colonia, Piriápolis and La Paloma and back.

By Plane

Two airlines offer flights around the country. Likewise, other two international airlines sell non-stop flights to Punta del Este, and Montevideo.

By Bus

Over 80 passenger transportation companies offer various routes inside the Uruguayan territory. This is a convenient and inexpensive way of traveling inside the country. The big passenger transportation companies join the most relevant destinations, whereas the smaller and regional companies connect small districts.

To travel around the City of Montevideo there are important comfortable bus lines that cover the entire area of the city, as well as urban taxis.

By Car

The road network, which is organized as a radial structure from the capital towards the inland territories permits access by car to various tourist destinations. It has 10 toll gates with rates of around $46 (Uruguayan Pesos) for cars or pick-up trucks of up to 8 seats.

Route 1 joins Route 3 to connect the beautiful capital with Bella Unión, in the Northwestern area of the country. Route 5 crosses the territory from the District of Mendoza up to Rivera; Route 8 joins Minas and Treinta y Tres and then other routes up to the Branco River. Route 9 connects the inter-beach road with Chuy, thus becoming the main road joining the cities lying on the Atlantic coast.

It is important to point out that traffic travels on the right-hand side of the road in Uruguay and the use of seat belts is compulsory. It is also mandatory to drive with the car headlights on. Maximum speed allowed in highways is 110 km/h and on the other roads, 90 km/h.

Car Rental

There are both local and international car rental companies at the main cities in the country. They offer several categories and various car models. Beyond some specifications typical from each rental, in order to rent a car in Uruguay, the following aspects are to be considered:

• being over 23 and under 75 years old.
• having a valid driving license issued at the visitors’ native country at least two years before the date of the rental operation.
• bearing a credit card or check as a guaranty when carrying out the operation.
• bearing a valid ID or passport.

In addition to offering the traditional services, these companies may provide optional services such as drivers -some of them bilingual-, and a permit or liability insurance.