Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Orientation
Montevideo is surrounded by water on three sides, a testament to its earlier incarnation
as an easily defended for tress for the S panish E mpire. The O ld City begins near the
western edge of M ontevideo, found on the skinny por tion of a peninsula betw een the
Rambla Gran Bretaña and the city's main artery, Avenida 18 de Julio, named for the date
the new constitution was adopted. Look for Plaza Independencia and Plaza Constitución
to find the center of the district. Many of the city's museums, theaters, and hotels reside
in this historic area, although a trip east on Avenida 18 de Julio reveals the more modern
Montevideo, with its own share of hotels, markets, and monuments. Along the city's long
southern coastline r uns the Rambla G ran Bretaña, traveling 21km (13 miles) fr om the
piers of the O ld City, past Parque Rodó, and on to points south and east, passing fish
stalls and street performers along the way.
175
Getting Around
It's easy to navigate around the center of Montevideo on foot or by bus. Safe, convenient
buses crisscross Montevideo, making it easy to v enture outside the city center , for 15
Uruguayan pesos (about 60¢/35p). Taxis are safe and relatively inexpensive, but it can be
difficult to hail one during r ush hour. I recommend calling
Remises Carrasco
(
&
09/
440-5473
). To rent a car, try
Thrifty
(
&
02/204-3373
). For roadside emergencies or
general information on driving in U ruguay, contact the
Automóvil Club de U ruguay,
Av. Libertador 1532 (
&
02/902-4792
), or the
Centro Automovilista del Uruguay,
E.
V. Haedo 2378 (
&
02/408-2091
).
Visitor Information
Uruguay's
Ministerio de Turismo
is at Av. Libertador 1409, corner of Colonia (
&
02/
908-9105
or 02/1885). I t assists trav elers with countr ywide information, and it 's open
daily from 8am to 8pm in winter, from 8am to 2pm in summer. There are also branches
at Carrasco I nternational Airpor t (
&
02/604-0386
); Tres C ruces bus station (
&
02/
409-7399
); and at the por t, to gr eet Buquebus and cr uise-ship visitors (Rambla 25 de
Agosto de 1825 and Yacaré;
&
02/188-5100
), with hours of Monday to Friday 8am to
6pm, and varied hours on w eekends, depending on cr uise-ship docking schedules. The
municipal tourist office,
Explanada Municipal, inside of the atrium of the I ntendencia
(or City Hall), at Avenida 18 de Julio, and Ejido (
&
02/916-8434
or 02/1950), offers
city maps and br ochures of tourist activities. I t's open daily fr om 10am to 4pm. I t also
organizes cultural city tours on w eekends. Though not officially open to the public,
Montevideo's Tourism Office is on the building 's third floor and is r eachable at
&
02/
1950-3171.
The city also has a satellite tourism office, usually open M onday to Friday
from noon to 7pm, at San Jose 1328 at Ejido (
&
02/1950-2043
), built into a walkway
that is part of the basement of the Sheraton Four Points hotel. It still remains difficult to
find English-speaking help in M ontevideo's offices. I n the ev ent of an emergency , the
Tourist Police
can be r eached at
&
0800-8226
or 911, and their office is at Colonia
1021. Visit www .presidencia.gub.uy, www .uruguaynatural.com.uy, www .montevideo.
gub.uy, or www .turismo.gub.uy for mor e tourism information. The trav el magazine
Pasaporte U ruguay
also pr ovides a w ealth of information, in E nglish and S panish,
and is av ailable free in some locations, and for sale for about $3 (£2) in others (www
6
.
pasaporteuruguay.com).
Tour Companies
In business for mor e than 50 y ears,
Buemes Travel Services,
Colonia 979 (
&
02/902-
1050
), is among the largest full-ser
vice tour companies in U ruguay. M uch of their
