Two days in Uruguay buys you Montevideo, the actual capital, plus one hard day trip to Colonia del Sacramento. That’s it. Uruguay is its own country wedged between Argentina and Brazil, not a province of either, and the capital is Montevideo, not the resort town of Punta del Este. Watch the currency: the peso is written with the same “$” sign as the US dollar, so a menu price of $450 is UYU 450, roughly USD 11 at 2026’s ~40:1 rate, not $450 US.

Three days in Uruguay is still Montevideo plus Colonia del Sacramento, not the coast, but the extra day buys something real: an overnight in Colonia instead of a rushed same-day round trip. Uruguay is its own country between Argentina and Brazil, its capital is Montevideo not Punta del Este, and its peso is written with the same “$” symbol as the US dollar, so quoted prices need a second look before you assume they’re dollars.

Four days is the first version of this route that touches the coast, and it’s still barely a taste: Montevideo, an overnight in Colonia del Sacramento, then a rushed day in Punta del Este before flying home. Uruguay is its own country between Argentina and Brazil, the capital is Montevideo not Punta del Este, and the peso’s “$” symbol is identical to the dollar sign, so double-check any price before assuming it’s USD.

Five days gets you the interior loop plus the coast town that actually deserves your time: Montevideo, an overnight in Colonia del Sacramento, a stop in Punta del Este, then on to Jose Ignacio, quieter and better than the resort everyone flies in for. Uruguay is its own country between Argentina and Brazil, the capital is Montevideo not Punta del Este, and the peso is written with the same “$” sign as the US dollar, a real trap at roughly 40 pesos to the dollar in 2026.

Six days is where this route earns its off-grid ending: Montevideo, an overnight in Colonia del Sacramento, Punta del Este, Jose Ignacio, then Cabo Polonio, a national-park village with no mains electricity and no private cars allowed inside. Uruguay is its own country between Argentina and Brazil, the capital is Montevideo not Punta del Este, and the peso’s “$” symbol is identical to the dollar sign, so double-check any price you assume is USD.

Seven days is enough to run the whole route without the last day being purely a driving day: Montevideo, an overnight in Colonia del Sacramento, Punta del Este, Jose Ignacio, off-grid Cabo Polonio, then Punta del Diablo and Santa Teresa National Park before the long ride back. Uruguay is its own country between Argentina and Brazil, the capital is Montevideo not Punta del Este, and the peso’s “$” symbol is identical to the dollar sign, a real trap at roughly 40 pesos to the dollar in 2026.