Uruguay Travel Guide - Getting There

The national airline is PLUNA (PU) (website: www.pluna.com.uy).

From Madrid to Montevideo is 12 hours and from Miami is 9 hours.

Montevideo (MVD) (Carrasco) (website: www.aic.com.uy) is 19km (12 miles) from the city (journey time - 35 minutes). To/from the airport: There is an airport bus to the city centre. Taxis are also available. Facilities: Duty-free shop, post office, restaurants, car hire, pharmacy, travel agencies, ATMs and a bureau de change.

Oneworld Visit South America Pass: valid within Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Participating airlines include American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), Cathay Pacific (CX), Finnair (AY), Iberia (IB), LAN (LA) and Qantas (QF). The pass must be bought outside South America in the country of residence. It allows unlimited travel to 34 cities. A minimum of three flights must be booked; prices depend on the amount of flight zones. For further details, contact one of the participating airlines (website: www.oneworld.com).

US$31 on international departures (US$17 to Buenos Aires), if departing from Carrasco International Airport.

Main ports: Montevideo, the main international port, is served by cargo lines from the USA and Europe.

High-speed ferries operate between Montevideo and Buenos Aires (journey time - 3 hours) (website: www.buquebus.com).

There are also services from Colonia (160km/100 miles west of Montevideo) to Buenos Aires by ferry and a hydrofoil service. A port departure tax may be levied.

Modern coaches with bar, TV, WC and radio travel regularly between Brazil and Uruguay. The journey time from Montevideo to Porto Alegre (Brazil) is 11 hours 30 minutes; to São Paulo 30 hours; and to Rio de Janeiro 36 hours. Buses link Montevideo with Asunción and Iguazú Falls in Paraguay, Santiago in Chile and numerous destinations in Argentina including Buenos Aires. More information is available from the website www.trescruces.com.uy.