How to… Get around Uruguay

A couple of weeks ago, we sent you an article with advice on how to get to Uruguay. If you missed it you can read it again here: http://www.olauruguay.com/Issue4b.html. But what about getting around Uruguay once your there? If you decide to move, you’ll probably want to buy a car (we don’t recommend you import yours as it’s too expensive), but in the meantime, here are your options for getting around…

Bicycle

Seeing Uruguay’s sites by bicycle is a healthy and cheap option. Bicycle rental is available throughout the country particularly in the cities and tourist areas but the quality and price of bikes vary a lot so shop around especially if you plan on making long trips on two wheels.

Scooters and motorcycles

You’ll see scooters and motorcycles everywhere in Uruguay—popular because of the dry temperate climate and because they are cheap to run (gas and diesel prices are quite high here). Again it’s pretty easy to rent a scooter, and it’ll cost you about US$20 a day.

Car rental

There are many car rental agencies throughout Uruguay, including some international companies like Argus and Europcar. Rates start at around US$35 per day. Most car rental agencies allow you to pick up and drop of at different locations. Multicar has offices in Montevideo, Colonia, Durazno, Fray Bentos, Melo, Mercedes, Paysandú, Punta del Este, and Tacuarembó. For more go to www.redmulticar.com.

The highways here are built to a good quality, and the speed limit is between 90kph to 110kph.

Taxi

Taxi services are safe, well regulated, and plentiful…especially in the cities. All taxis are metered and cost about US$2.50 per kilometer.

Bus

The bus is the main method of public transport used in Uruguay. There is a really good intercity network, which connects all the major towns and cities. All larger towns and cities all have their own local bus system. The main bus terminal in Montevideo is Tres Cruz. For a list of bus companies running in Uruguay, including links to their websites, go to: www.omnilineas.com.uy/companies/index.html. Or for the main Tres Cruz website (in Spanish), where you can seach for bus routes, go to: www.trescruces.com.uy. You can’t buy tickets from this site.

Train

There are few train services running in Uruguay. To travel intercity, you’ll have to take a bus. Montevideo has a limited commuter train service.

Boat

Buquebus runs a frrequent boat service from Colonia and Montevideo to Buenos Aires. The fast boat takes just one hour one way from Colonia to BA and three hours one way from Montevideo to BA. The larger vessel takes three hours to Colonia and doesn’t go to Montevideo. Prices vary depending on the type of seat and sometimes the time of day of the trip and how far in advance you purchase your ticket. Current ticket pricing from their website (www.buquebus.com) gives the following:

Colonia to BA return on fast boat US$75 to US$100
Colonia to BA return on larger vessel US$52 to US$85

Montevideo US$134 to US$188 return on fast boat.

Tickets are usually available the day before the trip but to be sure of your seat, try to book a week in advance.

With Buquebus you can also buy a ticket which combines a boat trip and coach to connect to BA from other locations in Uruguay, like Punta del Este and Piriapolis. See thir route map here: http://www.buquebus.com/cache/MapaDeLineasENG.html. (Click on each location to see it’s route.)

Colonia express also runs boat trips between Argentina and Uruguay. They often have good last minute promotional offers, so keep an eye out on their website (www.coloniaexpress.com) if you are planning on making the trip.