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Uruguay Wildlife Holidays & Tours: Santa Teresa + Rocha + Cabo Polonio + Colonia + Carmelo

Uruguay Wildlife: Santa Teresa + Rocha + Colonia
Uruguay Wildlife Holidays Tours Santa Teresa Rocha Polonio Colonia
12 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,156
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
ARR12M
• Montevideo
• La Paloma
• Santa Teresa, Sea Turtles
• Rocha Lagoon, Birdlife
• Cabo Polonio, Sea Lions
• Jose Iganatio
• Beaches
• Colonia del Sacramento
• Old City
• Uruguay Wildlife Holidays & Tours

Our tailormade Uruguay wildlife holidays & tours explore the flora & fauna of this beautiful country. From Montevideo, we travel to Santa Teresa Nature Reserve on the Atlantic coast to see green sea turtles & local flora, the sea lion colony at Cabo Polonio & the birdlife at Rocha Lagoon. We then head Jose Ignatio & the charming colonial city of Colonia del Sacramento. All transfers & specified sightseeing included.

Day 1
You will be met at Montevideo Airport and transferred to your hotel in this capital city of Uruguay.
 
Check in and relax in this vibrant and culturally rich city, situated on Montevideo Bay and home to nearly half of Uruguay's population.
 
Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.
Day 2
Today enjoy a half day private tour of Montevideo with its many monuments, parks and scenic waterfront.
 
At the heart of the city is the Plaza Independencia, which separates the city's Downtown ('Centro') from the Old Town ('Ciudad Vieja') with its fascinating colonial and art deco buildings, the towering Palacio Salvo landmark and the neo-classical Solís Theatre. Other buildings of interest include the Catholic Cathedral, Constitution Square, Government House and the Town Hall.
 
Avenue 18 de Julio, the main commercial street, is lined with shops, cafes and commercial buildings.You will also see the impressive Plaza del Entrevero (the Parliament), built using 52 different colours of marble and 12 types of wood. The arts, music and theatre scene is very much alive in this city – from elegant older theatres and cozy tango bars to modern beachfront discos.
 
We continue driving through the Prada residential neighbourhood, one of the oldest in the city and home to a famous sculpture, La Diligencia (The Stage Coach) as well as a monument to the last of the Charrua Indians and a Rose Garden. We pass the Obelisk and La Carreta (Covered Wagon) monuments as we continue to Ordonez Park in the Batlle district. We also stop at the Plaza Virgilio monument to fallen naval soldiers, from where there are excellent views over the city. At the end of our tour, we return along the coastal road with its lovely beaches.
Day 3
This morning transfer 2.5-hours from Montevideo to the seaside town of La Paloma on the east coast.
 
Check into your hotel in this small town with its white lighthouse, traditional fishermen’s cottages and some of the best surfing beaches in Uruguay.
 
Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.
Day 4
Today enjoy a 6-hour private tour to Santa Teresa National Park, an important forested coastal reserve where a wide variety of flora and fauna can be observed.
 
We start in the small town of La Coronilla, where we visit the Karumbé Sea Turtles Conservation Project dedicated to the preservation of green turtles. We then walk along the coastline for 1-hour, past the beautiful beach of La Moza, to Cerro Verde where you will have a beautiful view of the Coronilla Islands. On most days, you will see sea turtles on this walk.
 
Afterwards we continue to Santa Teresa National Park, which cover 3,000 hectares and includes four beaches: La Moza, Las Achiras, Playa del Barco amd Playa Grande. This park is home to many endemic plants, including over one million trees. We visit the fortress built by the Portuguese, the largest military fortification in the country, to learn about its history and enjoy great views over the national park.
 
We complete our tour with lunch at the small town of Punta del Diablo.
 
Note: Karumbé is closed on weekends and public holidays.
Day 5
This morning enjoy a private tour to Rocha Lagoon, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a RAMSAR birding site of international significance. This shallow brackish lagoon is separated from the salty waters of the Atlantic Ocean by a sandbar that is periodically breached by storms and tidal action, creating a complex system that is high in biodiversity.
 
Our day starts with a visit to the Ocean Museum, located in the old Palermo train station, where we will learn about the conservation of whales and the ocean.
 
We continue to La Paloma lighthouse, from where we hike or ride to Rocha Lagoon, a 28 square mile (72 sq km) semi-freshwater wetland rich in fish, crab, shrimp and molluscs. It is an important habitat for 24 species of shorebirds and over 200 species of breeding and migratory birds including waders, flamingos, swans, herons and ducks. It is a particularly important habitat for the buff-breasted sandpiper, American golden plover, the endemic coscoroba swan, black-necked swan and threatened species such as Chilean flamingo, Olrog´s gull and black-and-white monjita.
 
On arrival at the local village, enjoy a boat ride on the lagoon followed by lunch at a restaurant managed by the fishermen's wives.
Day 6
This morning you will be transferred 1-hour to the small fishing village of Cabo Polonio for a shared excursion, travelling across the beach and sand dunes in a 4x4 truck. Wit
 
hout any road access and completely isolated by the sand dunes, this hamlet has been declared a national park and has a special charm, with endless white sandy beaches. It is the largest biosphere reserve in Uruguay.
 
On this peninsula you will find one of the largest sea lion colonies in all of South America. After visiting the sea lion reserve, you can visit the lighthouse and enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant, before returning to La Paloma.
 
Note: If you like walking, you can choose to hike barefoot across the sands for the last 3 miles or 1 mile. Your driver will only speak Spanish.
Day 7
This morning transfer 2-hours from La Paloma to the resort town of Jose Ignacio, driving through vineyards, olive trees, hills, lakes and streams.
 
Jose Ignacio was formerly a sleepy fishing village that today attracts the rich and famous to spectacular Brava Beach. Check into your hotel and explore the endless beaches of this scenic coastline, with its iconic lighthouse.
 
Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.
Day 8
At leisure to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Jose Ignacio.
 
You can also visit the nearby Estancia Anastasio Biosphere Reserve, which is a wonderful bird watching and wildlife conservation area.
Day 9
Today transfer 3-hours from Montevideo to the charming colonial city of Colonia del Sacramento.
 
Colonia is a picturesque town that was formerly a Portuguese colony and is today a UNESCO World Heritage site.
 
Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.
Day 10
Today transfer 4.5-hours from Jose Ignacio, travelling through beautiful countryside to Colonia del Sacramento.
 
Check into your hotel in this picturesque town that was formerly a Portuguese colony and is today a UNESCO World Heritage site.
 
Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.
Day 11
This morning enjoy a half day private tour of historic Colonia del Sacramento, which is situated on a small peninsula that juts out into the river.
 
We start with a visit to the Real de San Carlos area, stopping at the San Benito Chapel and the Mihanovich Complex that dates back to 1910 and includes a 10,000 seater Bullring, a 3,000 seater Fronton (court for playing the Basque sport of jai alai), a casino hotel and a racecourse. We continue driving through various residential areas and along the river's west coast beaches to the Downtown shopping area. From here we enter the historic Old Town on foot and explore its narrow cobbled streets. Also view the Portón de Campo - the reconstructed 1745 city gate which contains remnants of the old city walls. From above the town, the 19th-century lighthouse offers sweeping views over the river.
 
The afternoon is free for you to explore this historic city independently.
Day 12
At leisure to explore more of the historic city of Colonia del Sacramento.
Day 13
Transfer 3-hours to Montevideo Airport for your flight home.
 
Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.