Things to see and do in Uruguay

Join the frenzy of dancing and drumming in the streets every February during Montevideo's exuberant Afro-Uruguayan Carnival

Observe the rich array of bird life at one of eastern Uruguay's coastal lagoons, including Laguna de Rocha near La Paloma, Laguna de Castillos near Barra de Valizas, and Laguna Negra near Punta del Diablo.

Sample Uruguay's fine dairy products in the 19th-century Swiss settlement of Colonia Suiza (The Swiss Colony), west of the capital.

Attend a football match or visit the Museo del Fútbol in the Estadio Centenario, the Montevideo stadium where Uruguay's national team won the first World Cup in 1930.

Savour the enormous racks of roasting meat and vegetables at Montevideo's Mercado del Puerto, a popular lunch spot in an old covered market by the waterfront, where businesspeople rub elbows with tourists, and street performers provide entertainment on weekends.

Enjoy the eclectic mix of colonial, European and modern influences in Montevideo; Uruguay's capital city. Don't miss the Ciudad Vieja (Old Town), the fascinating Gaucho Museum, the recently opened Carnival Museum and the appealing beach suburbs east of town.

Ride the waves and wander the endless sandy beaches at the low-key Atlantic resort of Punta del Diablo, then head south along the coast to the perfect surf breaks of La Paloma and La Pedrera.

Get a feel for the historic conflict between Spanish and Portuguese forces at the northern fortresses of Santa Teresa and San Miguel near the Brazilian border.

Attend a concert, play, or tango performance at Montevideo's recently renovated 19th-century opera house, Teatro Solís (www.teatrosolis.org.uy); or enjoy live music and dance at one of the city's dozens of other nightspots.