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Martín García Island is a magical place. It lies just 3.5 kilometers from Uruguayan shores, but is under Argentine jurisdiction. The untouched nature and complex history of the island makes it a great weekend-trip destination.

For a time, the jurisdiction over the island was shared by both countries. However, a treaty signed between them in 1973 established the island as Argentinean territory. Still, drones of Uruguayans come to visit each year due to its history and nature, and for its many attractions—the theater and cinema, the old prison, the museum, the ancient lighthouse, the nature trails, the political history of the region, as well as the most deliciouspanettones baked at the old island bakery

Martín García Island is located on the Río de la Plata in the mouth of the sandy Uruguay River. Even though it belongs to the Republic of Argentina, it lies closer to Uruguay than to the port of Tigre, in Argentina, which lies 35 kilometers away across the river.

It was discovered in February, 1516, by Juan Díaz de Solís, who came across the fresh waters of the Río de la Plata while searching for a passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. Seeing that the sea had such a low concentration of salts, Solís referred to it as the “Mar Dulce” (Sea of Fresh Waters). It was during these explorations that the island was found. One of the most beloved members of the crew died during this expedition coming from the high seas. As a tribute to him, the newly found island was called “Martín García”.

The 1,800 million year old island lies 27 meters above sea level, and is humid enough to shelter many rare species of vegetation. The rainforest is in the shape of a gallery and it is inhabited by the typical wildlife of the littoral area.

In colonial times, when a trip to the island took days, it was used to hold the most dangerous prisoners from the cities of Montevideo and neighboring Buenos Aires. No one could escape, as the surrounding Río de la Plata in this area is intolerant and extremely wide, and it is impossible to swim across it.

The prisoners used to work in the granite quarries (today flooded by a beautiful lagoon teeming with aquatic plants). The cobblestones were dumped into large carts that reached the island pier through a system of reels, and then loaded onto boats.

These first cobblestones gave origin to the streets located in the area known today as the historical district of Montevideo, both in the port lanes and in the old city markets.

Martín García island witnessed countless battles in the river over the domination of these waters. It watched Almirante Brown flee toward Montevideo and then saw him invite the Spanish troops to sink in the place known as Bajos del Temor (feared shallow waters). It was a leprosarium and quarantine port during the cholera and yellow fever epidemics that hit Montevideo and Buenos Aires. And it was home to poet Rubén Dario.

There are regular river services leaving from the cities of Colonia del Sacramento, Carmelo, Nueva Palmira, and the port of Tigre (Argentina) taking visitors down to the island. If you wish to visit the island on your own, Martín García has a huge pier to moor sport watercrafts. Visitors must hold updated passport or the corresponding Uruguayan identification card.

The information in this article has been reproduced here with the permission of www.welcomeuruguay.com.