Sandwiched between Brazil and Argentina on South America’s Atlantic coast is one of the world’s most underrated travel destinations: Uruguay. Even though it’s a relatively small country, Uruguay offers tourists cosmopolitan cities, beautiful beaches, historic towns, and a rolling landscape complete with gauchos (the Spanish word for cowboys).
But before you jet off to Uruguay’s capital of Montevideo, make sure you know what to pack and what the power outlet situation is like.
Believe it or not, Uruguay actually uses four different plug-and-socket types. This makes sense, given that Uruguay is a small country between Argentina and Brazil, which both manufacture appliances with different plug and socket types.
The power outlets used in Uruguay are types C, F, I, and L. Type C is often called the “euro plug” and has two round pins. The F plug is commonly referred to as the “Schuko plug” and is similar to the C plug, also with two round pins. Type I is mostly used in China, Australia, and New Zealand, but also in neighboring Argentina. And finally, type L is an Italian plug and usually works with type C. The country’s standard voltage is 230 volts with a standard frequency of 50 hertz.
After reading about how many plug-and-socket types there are in Uruguay, you’ve probably already realized you need a power adapter. You do, but luckily you don’t have to bring four different adapters on your trip. We recommend just buying a universal adapter that will work for a variety of plugs around the world.
After using several different adapters, this travel adapter has been my favorite. It works in more than 100 countries, comes with two USB charging ports, allowing you to charge multiple devices at once, and comes with a lifetime replacement guarantee.
Uruguay actually generates more than 98% of its electricity from renewable sources—most of which comes from wind and hydropower. The country has been applauded for its switch from fossil fuels to green energy, and was called a “green energy leader” by the World Wildlife Fund.
Since Uruguay has chosen to diversify its energy sources, the country reportedly sees fewer power cuts than when they were using fossil fuels. This means that tourists won’t have to worry about power outages or not being able to get WIFI from their hotel or Airbnb. In fact, the International Trade Commision states that 99.9% of Uruguay’s homes are connected to the country’s electrical grid.
When we visited Uruguay, we had no problems with electricity and remember having pretty fast internet, especially in the country’s capital, Montevideo.
Even though Uruguay has four different power plugs, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to bring a converter. If you’re only planning to bring basic electronic devices like a phone, laptop, and camera charger, you only need the adapter.
It is important to keep in mind that Uruguay does operate on a different electrical frequency than the United States, so you can’t use high-powered electronic devices like hair dryers without a converter. We personally recommend leaving the hair tools at home, or checking first to see if they have a built-in voltage range (printed on the appliance as “100-240V” or “100/240V”).
In addition to your US to Uruguay power adapter, these items will help you pack with intention and expand the possibilities of your getaway.
Whether you’re planning to take a suitcase or just a backpack, we always recommend packing cubes. They not only save space but also help you stay organized. We love to use them to separate our toiletries and also separate clean and dirty clothes.
Petty theft isn’t uncommon, so it’s a good idea to wear a neck wallet to protect your money and personal belongings. We talk about this more in the FAQs, but definitely make sure to wear the neck wallet when shopping or going out to eat.
Whenever you’re traveling, you should always make sure to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to protect your personal information. We recommend installing the VPN service on your phone and computer and making sure it’s turned on when using public or shared WIFI.
As we said earlier, Uruguay sees some petty crime, and it’s better to be safe than sorry. Not only should you protect your money and credit cards when out and about, but also what’s in your suitcase and backpack. You could even use a lock for your daypack.
Covid proved that you never know what can happen and that it’s absolutely necessary to have protection in place for unexpected emergencies or cancelations. We’ve found the best policies using TravelInsurance.com: a website that compares plans and different levels of coverage and allows you to purchase the plan that best fits you and your travel plans.
There are so many day trips and beach days to enjoy in Uruguay, and you need to make sure your phone and/or camera is charged to capture all the sights and memories. This compact charger is very fast and is literally the size of a lipstick tube.
Rainfall is pretty constant in Uruguay throughout the year, so you’ll want to pack an umbrella. This one is compact and easy to fit in your daypack and also windproof—making it a good option for the beach.
If you’re going to Uruguay in summer (or even parts of spring or fall), you’ll probably visit the beach at least once. This microfiber towel is perfect to bring in your daypack since it’s quick-dry and rolls up nicely. We also use it for hiking and camping.
Even though we felt safe when we visited Uruguay, the US Department of State urges travelers to exercise increased caution due to crime. Particularly in urban areas, there have been reports of theft and instances of armed robberies at grocery stores and small businesses. We suggest keeping this in mind and protecting your personal belongings, but not to worry too much. Many people claim Uruguay is the safest country in South America!
As silly as it sounds, remember that Uruguay is in the southern hemisphere, so the seasons are opposite to what we’re experiencing in North America. With that said, traveling to Uruguay in their summer, from November to February, is best if you want to capitalize on the hot and sunny weather. Do keep in mind, though that December and January is when most Brazilians and Argentineans take their holidays and head to Uruguay’s beaches, so it will be packed. Summer is also the period for Carnival, and Uruguay holds the record for the world’s longest celebration. This happens from the third week of January through the beginning of March. If you’re looking for a quieter experience, April or October is best.
What you do in Uruguay depends on what type of traveler you are and how long you want to stay. The cool thing is that you can even go for a day trip (although we recommend spending at least one night) from Buenos Aires by taking a ferry to the UNESCO town of Colonia. The trip takes only an hour and 15 minutes. From there, you could visit the country’s capital, Montevideo, for a day and check out its museums, food market (Mercado del Puerto), and just walk around the cool neighborhoods.
Uruguay is famous for its beaches, at least among South Americans, and there are many options to choose from depending on what kind of experience you’re looking for. Regardless of where you choose, make sure to set aside a few days to get into the laid-back Uruguayan groove. Another experience to consider is to head out into the country to see how the gauchos (the Spanish word for cowboy) live. There are several haciendas that offer experiences, like Estancia Turistica La Amorosa.
When we went, we traveled from Buenos Aires to Colonia by ferry, using the company Buquebus. It was comfortable and only took an hour and 15 minutes. This is a great option if you’re starting your trip in Argentina. Within the country, the best way to get around is by bus. Generally, they are pretty comfortable and inexpensive. This is how we got from Colonia to Montevideo, which took about three hours. Another option is to rent a car if you don’t like public transportation. And while we didn’t take taxis while we were there, we heard they can be pretty expensive.
With its vast farmland and gaucho culture, it’s no surprise that Uruguay’s most popular food is meat—typically grilled (referred to as “asado” within the country). When we were there, we enjoyed not only asado, but the famous “chivito” sandwich, which is stacked full of steak, cheese, bacon, and topped with a fried egg. There are also lots of dessert and pastry options, and everyone needs to try the mate (Uruguayan tea) at least once.
Yes! As we said above, we took the ferry to Colonia del Sacramento (usually referred to as just “Colonia”) from Buenos Aires and it was super easy. If you only have a day or two, a trip to this charming waterfront town is definitely something we recommend. The town’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is decorated with beautifully restored homes from when it was founded by the Portuguese in the late 1600s.
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