Best month to visit

The best weather is January to March.  If you want the worst weather then come in July or August. We spent three months here before deciding. Some folk come for only a week or two and I think it is hard to find out all you need to know in a couple of weeks,

There are English speaker lunches in Punta del Este - once a month, Piriapolis - not sure how often, Atlantida - twice a month and several times a week in Montevideo.  It is worth trying to get to several of these.

Then you should check out places like Colonia and small towns around there and some of the towns further north of there  if you want small town living. The coast towards Rocha is very nice and there are some expats up in Rivera. In places like Durazno and Tacuarembo  you are less likely to find English speakers.

Much of the coast is very quiet  except for mid December to the end of February so if you come in the high season it will be very different to most of the year.

Hi coalbuddy,

I have created a new thread with your post on the Uruguay forum in order to help you to talk freely to other members.

Thanks

Priscilla

March - June, Oct-Nov. Those months would avoid the depths of winter and the crowds of summer.

Morell makes a good point about visiting, but we had two weeks to come and check out Uruguay and buy a house (but we already had chosen Punta del Este as the destination). Been here going on five years now.

morell wrote:

check out places like Colonia...and some of the towns further north of there if you want small town living.

By all means, check out Colonia -- full name:  Colonia del Sacramento -- the old Portuguese fortress town just south of Uruguay's chief agricultural belt.

This is small town (27,000) living, but not just any small town.

It's a coastal community whose "centro" is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site with remarkable historical features.

It's just a 45-minute boat ride* from one of the major metropolitan centers of Latin America -- Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Colonia even has a casino.

And it's pollution levels are low, low, low.

Daily high temps range from 59-71 F. most of the year, warmer in the summer, so it's comfortable.  Keep in mind that in the July-August winter period, Colonia typically gets only half as much daily sunshine as during December-January high season.

And don't forget your camera.

cccmedia in Quito, Ecuador

*Since BA-Colonia is an international "paseo," you'll need to leave extra time for customs, security and paperwork...so bring a book, or your Kindle if that's you're planned route to Colonia.