Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Taxis charge an official fixed rate of UR$1220 for the 30- to 45-minute taxi ride from
the airport to downtown Montevideo; the return trip to the airport is cheaper (between
UR$700 and UR$900, depending on time of day and place of departure).
BUS
everywhere for UR$21 per ride. For a clickable map showing which buses serve any giv-
en destination, visit
www.montevideobus.com.uy
(in Spanish).
CAR
Most major international companies have counters at Carrasco airport. In downtown
Montevideo, you can also try the following Uruguayan companies (with nationwide
branches).
Multicar
(
2902-2555;
www.redmulticar.com
;
Colonia 1227, Centro)
Punta Car
(
2900-2772;
www.puntacar.com.uy
;
Cerro Largo 1383, Centro)
TAXI
Montevideo's black-and-yellow taxis are all metered. Cabbies carry two official price
tables, one effective on weekdays, the other (20% higher) used at night between 10pm
and 6am, and on Sundays and holidays. It costs UR$31 to drop the flag (UR$37 nights
and Sundays) and roughly UR$1.78 per unit thereafter (UR$2.14 nights and Sundays).
Even for a long ride, you'll rarely pay more than UR$200, unless you're headed to Car-
rasco airport.
WESTERN URUGUAY
From Colonia's tree-shaded cobblestone streets to the hot springs of Salto, the slow-
paced river towns of western Uruguay have a universally relaxing appeal, with just
enough urban attractions to keep things interesting. Here, the border with Argentina is
defined by the Río de la Plata and the Río Uruguay, and the region is commonly referred
to as
el litoral
(the shore).
Further inland you'll find the heart of what some consider the 'real' Uruguay - the
gaucho country around Tacuarembó, with
estancias
sprinkled throughout the rural land-
scape and some beautiful, rarely visited nature preserves.
WORTH A TRIP
