Travel to Uruguay
Flying to Uruguay
Carrasco International Airport (MVD), near Montevideo, is Uruguay's principal international gateway. Direct flights operate from Madrid and Miami, as well as from major South American cities including Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Lima, Bogotá, Asunción and Panama City. Airlines serving the airport include Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air Europa, American Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, GOL, Iberia, LATAM, Paranair and SKY Airline.
There are no direct flights from the UK. The simplest routing is generally via Madrid, although connections through São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Santiago or another regional hub are also possible. Travellers from other parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and Australasia will likewise need at least one connection.
Punta del Este International Airport (PDP), also known as Capitán de Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo International Airport, serves the principal resorts along Uruguay's southeastern coast. Most international services are regional, with flights from cities in Argentina and Brazil increasing during the southern summer. Routes and frequencies can be highly seasonal, so schedules should be checked before travel.
Flight times:
From London to Montevideo: 16 hours 30 minutes (including stopover).
Departure tax:
Departure tax is included in the price of the airline ticket. Passengers do not normally need to pay it separately at the airport.
Airport guides
Airport Code: MVD. Location: Carrasco Airport is located 19km (12 miles) northeast from central Montevideo. Money: There is a HSBC bank with an ATM and a bureaux de change in the terminal. Read more
Travel by rail
There are no scheduled international passenger rail services to Uruguay from Argentina or Brazil.
Driving to Uruguay
Uruguay shares land borders with Argentina and Brazil. From Argentina, vehicles cross the River Uruguay using the international bridges linking Gualeguaychú with Fray Bentos, Colón with Paysandú, and Concordia with Salto. The Fray Bentos crossing is generally the most convenient for travellers driving between Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
The principal crossings from Brazil include Chuí–Chuy on the Atlantic coast, Jaguarão–Río Branco, Santana do Livramento–Rivera and Quaraí–Artigas. Border formalities are usually straightforward, although queues can develop during the summer holidays, Carnival and Easter.
Drivers must carry a valid driving licence, vehicle registration or ownership document and insurance valid in Uruguay. Written authorisation is required if the driver is not the registered owner. Vehicles registered in another Mercosur country must have valid Mercosur third-party insurance, commonly known as the Green Card.
International coaches connect Montevideo with Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Porto Alegre, Pelotas and Asunción, although routes and frequencies vary. Services arrive at Tres Cruces, Montevideo's principal long-distance coach terminal. Booking is advisable during peak holiday periods.
Getting to Uruguay by boat
Regular passenger ferries cross the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo. Buquebus operates direct services to both cities, while Colonia Express sails to Colonia and offers through tickets with connecting coaches to Montevideo and Punta del Este. Some Buquebus ferries carry vehicles.
The fastest crossings between Buenos Aires and Colonia take approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, while direct services to Montevideo take around 2 hours 30 minutes. A separate river service connects Tigre, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, with Carmelo in western Uruguay. Booking is advisable during weekends and the southern summer.
There are no scheduled international passenger ferry services between Uruguay and Brazil or countries beyond Argentina.
Cruise ships:
International cruise ships call at Montevideo and Punta del Este, mainly during the southern summer cruise season.
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