Montevideo travel from Buenos Aires – A tale of two countries
Buenos Aires attracts thousands of tourists every year – a whopping 5 million to be exact! Its distinct porteño culture has enough to keep any traveler entertained for weeks. However if you do fancy a break from the huge metropolitan city, Buenos Aires not only offers great connections to the rest of Argentina, but – what many tourists sometimes oversee – is that it lies a mere 45 min boat ride from Uruguay.
Across the Rio de la Plata(about 3 hours’ journey) lies Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, which is often considered as the little sister of Buenos Aires – much to the dislike of the Uruguayans.
Uruguay is South America’s second smallest country and with only 3.5 million inhabitants (half of them living in Montevideo!) it can sometimes be overlooked for its larger neighbours Brazil and Argentina. Uruguay however clearly stands its ground, recently causing positive headlines around the world with its progressive politics, legalizing abortion and on their way to legalizing marihuana.
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| Montevideo’s city centre |
An age-old – but very amicable – rivalry still exists between these two Rio Platense cities. No one can argue that Argentina’s and Uruguay’s cultures are very similar and it’s probably due to their equally passionate sense of national identity and patriotism that this friendly conflict prevails.
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| Uruguayan stamp with image of Gardel. |
Both Argentineans and Uruguayans passionately defend their country’s produce, claiming to have better meat, better dulce de leche, and better yerba mate than their neighbour across the river. And don’t even think of mentioning footballor tangoat a table with Argentineans and Uruguayans. Football rivalry is nothing new, but when it comes to Argentina’s national legend Carlos Gardel discussions can get heated: Gardel (along with Evitaand Maradona) is an Argentine Icon. However, the story of his early years is a bit unclear and apart from the fact that he might have been born in France, Gardel himself once claimed to have been born in Uruguay. On this subject tensions grow between Argentina and Uruguay. Argentina even at one point demanded the Uruguayan Government bring up the subject in Parliament.
However when travelling to Montevideo don’t expect the Uruguayan capital to be Buenos Aires, despite its similarities and proximity, the two cities are worlds apart. Buenos Aires has been called South America’s Paris, but Montevideo doesn’t live up to the same statement…nor does it want to!
As any Montevideano will tell you, Montevideo is tranquilo. And many travelers find it much more laid back than Buenos Aires. This of course could be due to its size, however Montevideo and its people are known for their bohemian, relaxed way of life, giving the city a friendlier touch. Something you’ll notice as soon as you get off the boat - in small gestures – like cars stopping to let you cross the road, or strangers smiling and greeting you.
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| Montevideo’s neighbourhood of Pocitos, with its stunning beaches. |
Montevideo is a great add-on to your vacation in Buenos Aires and we’ve compiled a list of some of the highlights of Montevideo, things Buenos Aires – we hate to admit it – lacks:
Beaches
What gives Montevideo a huge advantage over Buenos Aires is that Montevideo is a beach city. Especially in the hot summer months, as the centre of Buenos Aires can reach up to 40°C and can seem unbearable at times, Montevideo lies on the coast where the Rio de la Plata meets the Atlantic and has a mild climate all year round…not to mention some beautiful beaches!!!
Miles of coastline run alongside the centre, and beaches lie within walking distance. Ramirez, Pocitos and Buceo Beach are ideal for relaxing, windsurfing, canoeing or playing volleyball. Have a look at our previous post on the best places to visit in Uruguay, with some of South America’s best beaches.
Seafood
Another advantage of beach side cities is the seafood! Something, that is difficult to come by in Buenos Aires. Along Montevideo’s La Rambla (the extended boardwalk that stretches across the city) you can find a variety of restaurantsthat specialize in delicious fish and seafood.
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| Chivito – an Uruguayan delicacy |
Chivito
Staying on the subject of food an absolute must when you’re in Montevideois to try a Chivito, which has become a national dish for Uruguayans. Heaven for meat-lovers, it is a hearty filled steak sandwich, topped with slices of ham, bacon, lettuce and tomato, melted mozzarella cheese, and a fried egg.
Ciudad vieja – The old town
One of Montevideo’s highlights, explore Uruguay’s colonial past by visiting Montevideo’s Old Town. This historic district features colonial buildings with classical architecture, cafes, museums, public squares and the Solis Theater – a Montevideo landmark. A great place to explore and get a feel for the city, if you have little time or are on day trip to Montevideo.
Mercado del Puerto
Within the Ciudad Vieja, at the city’s oldest harbour, lies the Mercado del Puerto. Established in 1868 as a fruit, vegetable and meat market, it is now a must see destination in Montevideo. This large warehouse style building offers a huge amount of restaurants, where some of the most authentic Uruguayan cuisine can be found. It also makes for a great shopping trip with leather goods shops, artisans and handicrafts.
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| Montevideo’s central square |
A trip to Montevideo should definitely be on your list of thing to do in Buenos Aires! Discover Argentina’s friendly neighbour, Uruguay!
Have a look at this recent advert on Argentine TV. Uruguayans and Argentineans crossing the Rio de la Plata to meet for afternoon mate and cake. Just shows the supposed feud between the two neighbours isn’t as serious after all:
If you are looking for more trips to Uruguay, activities in and outside Buenos Aires, have a look at our online catalogue, here.
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