Uruguay's Atlantic Coast

A short coast with a great deal on it: an old capital, a resort town with islands offshore, and a beach village with vineyards and a sculpture park inland. A polo lesson on a private field and a ride across the pampas with gauchos at Estancia Vik, and a lesson in cooking with fire at Bodega Garzón, with no drive between them longer than two hours.

Length: Seven nights
Pace: Three stays
Style: Beach, food and wine, riding, art
Route: Montevideo to Punta del Este to José Ignacio

MontevideoOne night
Punta del EsteThree nights
José IgnacioThree nights

A city waterfront curving around a bay, with a beach in front and a band of rainbow cloud overhead.

Days 1 to 2 · one night

Montevideo

Arrive in Montevideo for a walk through the Old City and its museums. In the evening, a demonstration of candombe drumming.

Where you stay

Sofitel Montevideo Casino Carrasco and Spa

Sofitel Montevideo Casino Carrasco is a Belle Époque hotel from the 1920s on the Río de la Plata waterfront in Carrasco, with its own casino. The 1921 Restaurant cooks regional dishes from local and organic produce, Bar Sofitel serves afternoon tea, and there is a So Spa.

A marina full of yachts in a blue bay, with white apartment towers behind and palm fronds in the foreground.

Days 2 to 5 · three nights

Punta del Este

A drive east to Punta del Este. An olive grove tour with a tasting, a bike ride, a private boat out to the sea lions offshore and a hike on Gorriti Island. Between them, time on the beaches, and a stop at Manantiales for MACA, the contemporary art museum set with the Atchugarry sculpture park and the artist's studio, open Wednesday to Monday.

Where you stay

Fasano Punta del Este

Fasano Punta del Este, designed by Isay Weinfeld, covers 490 hectares of preserved land beside the Maldonado River, where countryside meets the sea. Guests stay in 30 bungalows or at the Locanda, with an equestrian centre, an 18-hole Arnold Palmer golf course, a river beach and, in summer, a beach club at La Barra.

An aerial view of the estancia's white buildings and red roofs on open grassland at sunset. — Photo: Estancia Vik

Days 5 to 8 · three nights

José Ignacio

A short drive up the coast. A polo lesson or a game on the estancia's private field, a ride with the gauchos on its Criollo and Quarter horses across the open pampas, and kayaking on the José Ignacio lagoon. A bike ride to Garzón for a morning at Bodega Garzón, learning the restaurant's cooking with fire before a four-course lunch, or its Premium Experience through the quieter corners of the winery and vineyard. On the last day, a drive back to Montevideo to fly home.

Where you stay

Estancia Vik José Ignacio

Estancia Vik spreads over 4,000 acres of rolling countryside beside the José Ignacio lagoon, a mile from the Atlantic, with 12 suites and a 20-metre pool of black stone. Guests ride Criollo and Quarter horses across the pampas with gauchos, take polo lessons on the private field and eat at El Asador, around an open fire.

Arranged on request

Polo on a private field

Polo lessons and games on Estancia Vik's own polo field.

Riding with the gauchos

A ride across the open pampas with the estancia's gauchos, on its herd of Criollo and Quarter horses.

Cooking with fire at Bodega Garzón

A class with the restaurant team in the winery's techniques of cooking with fire, a visit to the winery and a four-course lunch.

The Garzón Premium Experience

The less-seen corners of the winery and vineyard, with a tasting of the house's leading wines.

Subject to availability.

Ways to make it yours

A day across the river in Colonia del Sacramento.
A picnic at a table among the vines at Bodega Garzón, with a full basket.
An asado at Estancia Vik's El Asador, and dinner one night in the brick barrel-vaulted room by the wine cellar.

This is a sample. The hotels, the pace and the order are where we start, not where we finish: every journey is designed around the people taking it.

Made around you

Most travel is bought. This is designed.

Before anything is booked, we talk: who is travelling, how you like to spend a morning, and the hotel preferences below the obvious, from the kind of bath you like to the time you wake and how much daylight you need in a room. You see options where options matter and clean recommendations where they don't.

The same person remains your point of contact from the first reply to the trip after next. No handovers. No team.