A woman walks through the historic streets of Colonia del Sacramento

Uruguay is a country that lays low - both literally and figuratively. 

Somewhat overshadowed by its two giant South America neighbours - Brazil and Argentina - the highest point in this prosperous, beef-loving nation is a mere 514 metres.

After Suriname, Uruguay is the smallest country on the continent, but it packs in plenty of variety to compensate for its size, from a sandy Atlantic coast to its hard-working cattle ranching interior. 

Uruguay´s capital, Montevideo, has a nice old town and a lively dockside food emporium.

West of the capital lies the UNESCO World Heritage-listed colonial town of Colonia del Sacramento, accessible by ferry from Buenos Aires in Argentina.

About 140km east of Montevideo you could follow the summer crowds to the glitzy coastal resort town of Punta del Este, one of South America´s most chic and crowded holiday destinations. Set on a peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic, casinos, hotels, restaurants and nightclubs are set between a yacht-filled harbour and ocean beaches. 

More isolated Atlantic beaches can be found north of Punta del Este towards the border with Brazil.

For an authentic rural experience, estancias (working ranches) in Uruguay´s farming belt provide a unique and recommended accommodation experience.

The Uruguayan currency is the peso uruguayo. Prices are slightly higher than in other South American countries. Spanish is the official language. On the border with Brazil a mix of Portuguese and Spanish (known as Portunal or Brasilero) is often spoken. It can be difficult to find people who speak English outside of Montevideo and Punta del Este. 

Public transport is fairly poor in Uruguay so renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around.