Quality of life in Uruguay

Hello and welcome to Expat.com, duende123!
Wish you success with your project
Cheers
Arlette

Greetings, duende123! 

It depends on what you mean by "nature."  If you mean city parks with some trees, Montevideo does have those.  If you mean spaces like the US national parks where you can spend days exploring, Uruguay does not have that.  But keep in mind that Argentina and Brazil are right next door, with nature in vast expanses and incredible variety. 

This Wikipedia article might help give you an idea of the public nature areas in Uruguay:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Na … in_Uruguay

Uruguayans like to make weekend runs to the coastal areas, for beaches and camping.  These range from primitive Cabo Polonia to Punta del Diablo (popular with international backpackers) to stylish and trendy Punta del Este.  For non-beach areas and a little topography, Minas is an option, especially if you don't mind seeking out your own adventures.  Here are some photos that give you an idea of that area:
http://adamleandra.blogspot.com/search?q=salus
Also check out Parque Salus. 

Establishing friendships with fellow expats and immigrants is pretty easy, as they are also looking to make new friends in their new country.  A number of Uruguayans are also keenly interested in meeting foreigners and having the chance to practice English.  But most Uruguayans do not speak English, so if you speak Spanish that will open up many more doors for getting to know your neighbors. 

A variety of things to do ... hmmm ... compared to where?  Coming from San Francisco, you might be disappointed in the cultural opportunities available even in Montevideo or Punta del Este.  (But again, Buenos Aires is just a ferry hop across the river.)  Growing up in the rural Midwestern US as I did, I'm delighted with the opportunities here.  :-) 

In answer to your last question, I moved to Montevideo from the US in 2006 and have not regretted it for an instant.  But everyone is different, and looking for different things.  Come visit for a while; see what you think.... 

Shirley

Thank you for taking time with your reply. We're thinking of going in November and check things out. I appreciate your helping with this.

Hi,comparison with the region, Uruguay has the best indices of safety in south america that data is important. About life in nature, this country also has the best international indices in caring for the environment, which will find no great extensions because it is a small country. But there are national parks such as Santa Teresa who have several acres ... Culturally there are a variety of supply in theater, art galleries and museums, but mainly in the capital

Well, living in Uruguay for already 3 years,I dont share the view
of Alvarito about life in nature. Parcs are dirty but it comes really from the mentality of the people here.
I went already in a lot of places but never seen such a lack of respect about nature and his environnment.
Montevideo could be a wonderfull place but the lack of respect of the inhabitants really shock me.

Uruguay Natural ? Well,a lot of publicity from the state but it should be more : Uruguay Basura. Basura means trash.

The best thing to be in Montevideo is to be close of Argentina and Brazil and the weather, of course, for the rest well...each one got his own opinion of being here but to a lot of expats, even spanish diplomats I know, they complain about what once was told to be the Switzerland of South-America ...Well I guess, people saying that never been in Switzerland ...

Cheers

Yes... you have politics interest.

I guues that you are a very right politic partisant from Uruguay.. or maybe from Argentina.

Good lucky my friend...but write the real tru.

Vos podés escribir perfectamente en español.. no te hagas...

Sincerely...

There's no denying that the streets of Montevideo are filled with trash (as well as dog doo-doo and graffiti), even in the more affluent neighborhoods.  There doesn't seem to be a general cultural attitude of littering being a negative thing.  People drop cigarette butts, candy wrappers, and slips of paper onto the ground without a second thought.  It doesn't seem to be maliciousness or willful negligence; just unawareness, for the most part. 

I recently visited la Sierra de las Ánimas, a hiking area near Minas which includes the second highest point in Uruguay (~500m).  It is a privately owned nature reserve, and before being allowed onto the trails visitors are given a talk about the rules for keeping the park clean, not disturbing the fauna or flora, etc.  It must work, because the place was pristine. 

from-uruguay.com/2006/04/trekking-in-la-sierra-de-las-animas.html

Shirley