Where to stay in Uruguay
Uruguay offers accommodation ranging from budget hotels and hostels to international chains, boutique properties and luxury resorts. Montevideo has the widest selection, while Colonia del Sacramento is known for small historic hotels and guesthouses. Rural estancias provide accommodation on working farms and country estates.
The principal beach resorts, including Punta del Este, José Ignacio, La Paloma and Punta del Diablo, become extremely busy during the summer season from December to February. Prices rise sharply around New Year and throughout January, so accommodation should be booked well in advance. Some smaller coastal hotels and guesthouses close outside the summer season.
Hotel accommodation is exempt from VAT for non-resident visitors throughout the year. Guests must prove their non-resident status by presenting a foreign passport or identity document, and the tax should be omitted from the bill rather than refunded afterwards.
Uruguay has numerous private and municipal campsites, particularly along the Atlantic coast, beside rivers and near national parks. Facilities range from basic pitches with shared washrooms to organised sites offering electricity, cooking areas, swimming pools and cabins. Coastal campsites can fill quickly during January and around Carnival, so booking is advisable.
There is no general right to camp freely on public or private land. Most rural land is privately owned, and permission must be obtained from the landowner before pitching a tent. Camping on beaches, dunes and within protected areas is controlled by local authorities or site regulations and is usually permitted only in designated areas. Travellers should therefore use an authorised campsite unless they have confirmed that wild camping is allowed at a particular location.
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