Discover historical Montevideo in its charming Old Town and experience Uruguay’s creative side in Punta del Este by browsing the country’s first contemporary art museum and an artist’s atelier.
Note: This program is not recommended for guests who require use of a wheelchair, walker or cane.
DAY 1
After disembarking the ship in Montevideo in the late afternoon, you will proceed to the Hyatt Centric or a similar hotel located on the waterfront promenade. Other than dinner at the hotel, the remainder of the day will be at your leisure.
DAY 2
After breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will proceed to Old Town, where you will begin a lengthy guided walking tour along Montevideo’s most historical streets. Along the way, you will encounter an eclectic blend of architecture and art dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries.
In the fenced square Plaza Zabala, you will see a monument that honors the city’s founder, Bruno Mauricio de Zabala. Nearby, you will find an early 19th-century building that was the former home of General Fructuoso Rivera, Uruguay’s first president. Today, it serves as the Museum of National History.
Next you will stop at Plaza Matriz to browse through the stalls of the market and see some of the best-preserved buildings from the Spanish colonial period. You will also see the former town hall, the 18th-century neoclassical cathedral and examples of Italian-style architecture such as Club Uruguay. It was designed in 1884 with a fantastic façade by Luigi Andreoni and a marble fountain.
Nearby is the Solis Theatre, where a visit inside may be allowed. The 19th-century theatre has been beautifully restored and has become a center for artistic activities.
At the center of the Independence Square, you will view a monument of national hero General
José Gervasio Artigas and his mausoleum. You will also see the former Presidential Palace and Salvo Palace, two iconic buildings that provide great photo opportunities.
Following coffee and pastries at a nearby café, you will drive toward Punta del Este, stopping along the way at a winery for a wine tasting of three different wines and lunch. A special variety of award-winning tannat may be one of the wines. Although tannat has been historically grown in southwestern France, it has become one of the most important grapes in Uruguay. Tannat wines produced in Uruguay tend to have a lighter body and less tannin than other tannats.
Continuing on, you will check into The Grand Hotel, where you will enjoy dinner before retiring for the evening.
DAY 3
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will travel to José Ignacio, a small peninsula that juts a mile and a half into the sea, forming two long beaches. La Mansa Beach is on the western side and La Brava to the northeast. The latter is a wider stretch of sand, more remote and a paradise for surfers.
After free time to shop in a fishing village on José Ignacio, you will drive to the Museum of Contemporary Art Atchugarry, which Uruguayan artist Pablo Atchugarry privately funded through his namesake foundation. It is the country’s first museum of contemporary art. The collection includes hundreds of pieces, including works by Wifredo Lam, Vik Muniz, Louise Nevelson, Frank Stella and Joaquín Torres-García. Atchugarry’s first marble sculpture, made in 1979, is also on display. The museum was created to attract international visitors as the nation’s more traditional museums in the capital of Montevideo tend to draw mainly local audiences.
Lunch will be served at the upscale, yet rustic Narbona Restaurant. The property is so tranquil and removed from the frenzy of Punta del Este that the restaurant provides only GPS coordinates for an address. You may tour the surrounding vineyard or opt to taste the wine with your meal, which will have a strong Italian influence.
After dining, you will return to the hotel for an afternoon of leisure. Following dinner at a nearby restaurant, you will spend the evening at The Grand Hotel.
DAY 4
After breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will drive towards Punta del Este. Along the way, you will see the San Rafael, Cantagril and Beverly Hills areas, as the guide points out and describes the features of each neighborhood.
You will pass the seaside homes and lovely beaches of La Barra del Maldonado en route to Playa Brava, a beach situated on the eastern side of the peninsula. Its must-see attraction is La Mano, a sculpture by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal that depicts five human fingers emerging from the sand. You will likely see surfers riding the waves.
Your drive will continue towards Casapueblo, a nine-story Mediterranean-style villa designed by Uruguayan painter and sculptor Carlos Páez Vilaró. Besides marveling at the cliff-top views from Punta Ballena, you will enjoy an exclusive visit to the artist’s atelier and private terrace, which occupies the villa’s highest point.
The atelier is only open for special groups and is not available to the general public. On the private terrace facing the sea, which is named Terraza de Plácido Domingo in honor of the Spanish tenor who was in the villa next to Páez Vilaró, you can enjoy a glass of wine or champagne, accompanied by select cheeses and cold cuts.
Following this exclusive experience, you will drive along a picturesque coastal road and embark the cruise ship at the port.
Walking Notes: The walking tour in the old town is moderate however there are no cobbled streets to navigate. There is no elevator at Casapueblo's private atelier but approximately 50 steps.
Land Program Step by Step
The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. All program details and the timings indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Final itineraries with the most up-to-date details will be provided by the Destination Services Team once you board the ship. Please review your final itinerary carefully for any amendments.
Day 1
4:00pm Disembark the ship in Montevideo
4:30pm Transfer to the hotel
5:00pm Check into the hotel
7.45pm Dinner at a nearby restaurant
Overnight at Hyatt Centric or similar hotel
Day 2
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel
9:00am Check out of the hotel
9:30am Walk through Old Town Montevideo
12:00pm Transfer to a winery for lunch
1:00pm Lunch and tasting 3 wines at the winery
3:00pm Continue to Punta del Este
4:30pm Arrive at the hotel
7:45pm Dinner at the hotel
Overnight at The Grand Hotel or similar
Day 3
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel
9:00am Depart for La Barra
9:30am Tour José Ignacio and transfer to Narbona
11:45am Lunch at the Narbona Estate
2:00pm Proceed to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Pablo Atchugarry
2:15pm Visit the museum
4:30pm Transfer back to the hotel
5:00pm Arrive at the hotel
7:45pm Depart for dinner at a nearby restaurant
8:30pm Drive back to the hotel
9:45pm Arrive at the hotel
Overnight at The Grand Hotel or similar
Day 4
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel
9:00am Check out from the hotel
9:30am Depart to tour Punta del Este
11:45am Visit Casapueblo
1:45pm Transfer to the Punta del Este pier
2:15pm Arriveat the pier and re-embark the ship
Expected Weather
Temperatures range from 25-28 Celsius; 77-83 Fahrenheit
What to Bring
Weather-appropriate clothing, comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, camera
Local Currency
Uruguayan Peso.
Credit and debit cards are accepted everywhere and many shops also accept US dollars.
Electricity
220W. Bring a universal travel adaptor for electric devices.
Documents and Visa Requirements
A valid passport is required.
Hotels
Hyatt Centric Montevideo
Rbla. República del Perú 1479, 11300 Montevideo, Departamento de Montevideo, Uruguay
Phone: +598 2621 1234
The Grand Hotel
Rbla. Lorenzo Batlle Pacheco, 20100 Punta del Este, Departamento de Maldonado, Uruguay
Phone: +598 4249 1234
Program Includes for guests
1 night at the Hyatt Centric Montevideo or similar hotel – River View room
1 night at The Grand Hotel in Punta Del Este or similar hotel - Ocean View room
3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners (lunch and dinner include a variety of wines and one non-alcoholic beverage)
Lunches and dinners include a starter, main course and dessert
A cocktail with select cheeses and cold cuts at Casapueblo
Tours and entrances per the itinerary
Local guide throughout the program
Program Excludes for guests:
Any meals or beverages not listed above
Gratuities to drivers and guides
Hotel incidentals including room service and mini bar
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths.There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.
All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations.
Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Mid-cruise overland programs must be purchased no later than 60 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 60 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty.
