Uruguay Art and Gastronomy Adventure

Your trip to Uruguay begins upon touch-down in Montevideo. After getting fetched from the airport, settle in for a drive along the coast to the buzzy beach enclave of Jose Ignacio. En-route, pause at fascinating sites like Casapueblo, an artist-created cliffside dwelling, and Olivos de las Animas for a tasting of local olive oil. Arriving in Jose Ignacio, Casagrande is waiting with its rustic-chic rooms, refreshing pool, and quiet courtyards dripping in greenery.

Today, you and your group adjust to living on “Jose Ignacio time.” Eager explorers can set off on hikes over pillowy sand dunes, kayak through tranquil lagoons, or ramble down city streets lined with stylish eateries and boutiques. For others content to relax at the hotel, there’s a drink from the poolside bar and a sun-soaked lounger with their name on it. As night falls, hit the town for a taste of Jose Ignacio’s lively nightlife. 

Drive out into the vineyard-carpeted countryside to the family-run Bodega Altos de la Ballena winery, where a guided tour and wine tasting introduces you to the world of Uruguayan wine. Then, two of the region’s premier art institutions, MACA and the Atchugarry Foundation Sculpture Park, open their doors for curated tours and behind-the-scenes glimpses of founding artist Pablo Atchugarry’s private studio. Reflect on your newfound expertise on contemporary Uruguay art over a picnic lunch before returning to town. 

Leave the seaside behind and head inland to Estancia Vik, a contemporary reimagining of a classic colonial estate set on 4,000 acres. On this vast property, the sky is the limit both for views and things to do: mosey around the pampas on a horseback ride, kick back by the pool, or marvel at the property’s renowned art collection. The estate’s stellar food program takes center stage at dinner, with plenty of accompanying vino and bed just steps away. 

The previous night’s meal was just a prelude to the main event: a full day savoring the world of Uruguayan food and wine. After mate and traditional pastries for breakfast, the tasting menu unfolds, from a taste-of-place charcuterie board to the grande finale asado dinner. A sommelier keeps glasses filled as wood-fired cuts pile up on everyone’s plate. Full and content, sip on local liqueurs and puff on cigars as the stars wink overhead.  

Drive back to Montevideo and drop your bags at the hotel before setting off for a guided walking tour around the grand monuments and museums of Old Town. Strolling rampart walls and stepping inside hallowed cathedrals, your guide reveals hidden histories of the city’s rich past. Then, legendary “Candombe” musician Fernando "Lobo" Nuñez welcomes your group into his studio for stories about this genre’s vital role in Uruguayan culture. A swanky dinner out wraps up the day. 

Artists, creatives, and private collectors open their doors to you on a full-day deep dive into the city’s celebrated art scene. Step into the inner world of boundary-pushing artists at the EAC and the FAC collectives, then, snag a coveted appointment to tour the private Engelman-Ost collection. Art is subjective, and so is this tour; your guide handpicks which studios and venues to visit based on everyone’s preferred genres, mediums, and interests.  

A meandering drive northwest brings you to the Uruguay wine country town of Carmelo on the banks of the Rio de la Plata. The birthplace of Uruguayan vino, it’s a town made for slow living, with waterfront promenades, cobblestone streets, and fabulous food and wine. At night, you’ll be sleeping among the vines at the elegant Narbona Wine Lodge, but before then, spend the afternoon discovering the town and sailing around the Rio de la Plata on a sunset cruise. 

Continue your education into Uruguayan wine at the place where it all began: Calera de las Huérfanas, an 18th-century Jesuit mission where the country’s first vines were cultivated. Then, head to two of Carmelo’s finest wineries, Bodega Cordano and Bodega El Legado, to taste the results of that legacy with immersive tastings and gourmet food pairings. Guided tours head through breezy vineyards and closed-to-the-public production spaces, revealing each winery’s unique approach and style. 

Drive south to the UNESCO-certified town of Colonia del Sacramento, one of the oldest settlements in the country. Wind along cobblestone roads in the company of a private guide, listening as they reveal the stories behind the historic facades lining the streets. Then, travel a bit outside of town to Viñedos y Olivares del Quintón, a boutique winery and olive oil producer, to learn about their unique processes before tasting the offerings over lunch.  

Your final day starts off unrushed with a relaxing morning at Charco, your hotel in Colonia del Sacramento, before the drive back to Montevideo for your flight. From riding horses across sprawling fields to talking shop with artists, you’re taking home plenty of wonderful new memories, and hopefully a bottle of wine or two to relive the trip over dinner back at home.