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Travel Tips
Entry Requirements:
-
U.S. Passport, must
be valid 6 months beyond intended stay
-
Tickets and Documents
for return or onward travel
-
No Visa Required for
stay up to 3 months; extendable locally for an
additional 3 months
-
Sufficient Funds for
length of stay
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PASSPORTS ARE VALID,
HAVE NOT EXPIRED. WILL NOT EXPIRE IN THE NEXT SIX
MONTHS.
YOU NEED A PASSPORT TO EXIT THE USA AND ENTER
URUGUAY.
IF YOU HOLD A U.S. PASSPORT, NO VISA IS NEEDED TO
ENTER URUGUAY.
IF YOU HOLD A PASSPORT FROM ANY OTHER COUNTRY
BESIDES THE USA, PLEASE LET US KNOW OR CONTACT THE
LOCAL URUGUAYAN CONSULATE TO VERIFY IF A VISA IS
NEEDED FOR YOU TO ENTER.
Weather:
First of all, it NEVER
snows in Uruguay! The summers on the coast are quite
hot which is conducive to the beach and water sport
component of vacations; inland hills can be cooler,
especially at night. Because of the open land, the
weather can change quite rapidly. Sunscreen is a must,
especially in the summer (December thru March.)
Dress:
Urban Uruguayans
favor European dress, the younger set prefers jeans and
tee shirts. We recommend that you bring some sort of
small backpack to carry with you. A sweater may be
necessary sometimes at night, and it does rain in
Uruguay so bring appropriate weather gear.
Transportation:
Rent a
car! Roads in Uruguay are typically very good. Traffic in Montevideo is a lot
friendlier than Rio or Buenos Aires, and as soon as
you’re out of the city, you have the road to yourself.
If you venture into the more rural areas, use caution,
especially at night, because a few of the roads are
unmarked. Rental cars tend to be a bit pricey. Buses in Montevideo cost 15 pesos,
around 60 cents US, and are an efficient way to get
around; they run often, even late at night. Taxis
are a good bet when traveling in metropolitan areas,
though most taxis do not have rear seat seatbelts.
Trains in Uruguay are typically for freight, and not
passengers. Cycling outside the capital or small
towns can hazardous due to a scarcity of bike paths,
narrow road shoulders and unsafe driving practices, so
take great care!
Driving Information:
U.S. Licenses accepted. Driving is on the right-hand
side of the road. Wearing seat belts and using
headlights on highways and other inter-city roads 24
hours a day are mandatory. Children under 12 must ride
in the back seat. Motorcyclists must wear helmets. The
use of cellular phones while driving is prohibited.
Right turns on red lights and left turns at most
intersections marked with a stoplight are not permitted.
Drivers approaching an intersection from the right or
already in traffic circles have the right of way.
Flashing high beams indicate intent to pass or continue
through unmarked intersections. For driving under the
influence, violators are fined and confiscated licenses
may be retained for up to six months.
Business Hours:
Usually, stores
and private businesses are open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00
p.m., Monday to Friday. Stores also open from 9:00 a.m.
to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. There are several shopping
centers, which open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday
to Sunday. Banking hours are from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(certain banks open from 11:00 a.m.) but a vast ATM
network is available around the clock. The public
offices are open from 2:30 pm to 7:00 pm in winter and
7:00 am to 2.30 pm in summer.
Money Exchange:
Cambios in
Montevideo, Colonia and Atlantic beach resorts change US
dollars cash and travelers' checks (the latter at
slightly lower rates or modest commissions). Banks are
the rule in the interior. Better hotels, restaurants and
shops accept credit cards, and more and more Uruguayan
ATMs accept North American or European credit cards.
There is no black market.
Tipping:
In restaurants,
it's customary to tip about 10% of the bill. Taxi
drivers do not require tips, although you may round off
the fare for convenience.
Security:
Montevideo is the
second most secure capital city in the world after
Tokyo. The crime rate is very low in Uruguay, but one
still needs to be alert and exercise reasonable
caution. It is safer to take a taxi in downtown
Montevideo, especially at night. If driving, keep the
doors locked and windows mostly rolled up. Keep
valuables out of sight on the floor or in the trunk.
The
loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be
reported immediately to the local police and the nearest
U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a
crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local
police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or
Consulate for assistance.
Within
Montevideo, the emergency number to contact the police,
fire department, rescue squad, or ambulance service is
911. In the rest of the country, dial 02-911 to connect
with the Montevideo central emergency authority, which
will then contact the local emergency service.
Drugs:
DON’T CARRY DRUGS. PENALTIES ARE HARSH. Penalties for
possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in
Uruguay are strict and convicted offenders can expect
jail sentences and heavy fines.
Health:
There are no specific health risks for travelers coming
to Uruguay. However, travelers should ensure that
adequate medical insurance is obtained before
traveling. Medical and dental care is excellent, but
treatment is expensive.
Travel Regulations:
Due to strict agricultural regulations, travelers are
prohibited from importing animal and dairy products,
fruit and vegetables. All baggage is normally X-rayed
and may be searched on arrival.
Shopping:
Uruguay's best buys include suede jackets, amethyst jewelry, antiques
and paintings.
U.S. Embassy:
The U.S. Embassy is
located in Montevideo at Lauro Muller 1776; telephone
(598)(2) 418-7777; fax (598) (2) 418-4110 or -8611.
Internet:
http://uruguay.usembassy.gov/.
Consular Section hours are Monday, Wednesday, and
Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00
p.m., except U.S. and Uruguayan holidays.
Share!
It is traditional
to offer to share your food or drink with your Uruguayan
friends and of course they will do the same with you.
Kisses and Hugs:
Be prepared to
give and receive a kiss on the right cheek and a hug; it
is Uruguayan tradition.
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