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|currency = Uruguayan peso (UYU$)|hitch BW = <rating countryUY|TR ='uy' />Uruguay

The '''Oriental Republic of Uruguay''' is a country in [[South America]].

More than half of Uruguay's population is concentrated in the capital of [[Montevideo]], meaning a very low population density in the country's interior. In the Uruguayan countryside you will doubtlessly encounter some of the most laid back, friendly folks you could imagine. Humble, generous and curious about anyone passing through, it is the people rather than the geography that make travel memorable in this overlooked corner of the continent. A stable, democratic country with low levels of corruption, high levels of education, and the noticeable absence of the class division, Uruguay is often called the Switzerland of South America. Check it out. The tranquility of the countryside and the openness of the people will leave an impression on any traveler. Uruguay is a relatively small country, so traveling from the top Northern city to [[Montevideo]] would not take much time. From [[Rivera]] (a border town with [[Brazil]]) to Montevideo it is about 520 km.

Uruguay Even the [http://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/hombre-hacia-dedo-nadie-paraba.html president is a relatively small picking up hitchhikers] in this country, so traveling from the top Northern City to Montevideo would not take much time. From Rivera (a border town with BrazilJanuary 2015) to Montevideo is only 520 km.

As far as ==Hitchhiking==Regarding hitchhiking/vagabond traveling goand vagabonding, Uruguay's a pretty easy place to hang out. Many Uruguayan locals have hitchhiked through their country, and have had great experiences and good rides. Probably about 1 in 4 cars will give you a lift (outside of Montevideo). Unfortunately there There are many stretches of desolate (but pretty) highway where you'll be lucky to see 4 cars pass in an hour. Expect long waits. Next to that, in the countryside much traffic just goes to the next farm or ranch, thus local traffic is prevalent and short rides more likely than somebody travelling longer distances. The coast, from [[Chuy]] to [[Colonia De del Sacramento]], is more trafficked and therefore an easier place to get a lift. The beaches aren't stunning but there are Along the Interbalnearia some cool towns, sand dunes, and even sea lions to can be seen. Whether arriving to or departing from Montevideo, expect to use public transportation to get you into/out of town.

Many Uruguayan locals have hitchhiked through their country, and have had great experiences and good rides. '''Chuy''': Right after passport control you can get a ride in about 5 minutes, unfortunately rides will be short most of the time, so try to get to {{Cities Uruguay early in the morning, otherwise you will be stuck on Punta del diablo or even worst Castillo. ''''''Montevideo''' to Colonia and Gualeguaychu.''' Catch the Santiago Vazquez bus in downtown Montevideo Vazquez and Mercedes(not sure of the bus number though, you should ask) When you get to Santiago Vazquez cross the bridge and start hitching after the toll. If going to Gualeguaychu get off in the 2 and start hitching there. However it's strongly recommended to go to Colonia. If you're going from Colonia to Gualeguaychu hitch on the 21. Even if you will see the ugliest towns in the country and you'll get cider instead of water people are super nice.}}

Montevideo is the only city in the country where it's not recommended to sleep on the street, in the rest of the country you can sleep rough without a care. Football stadiums are recommended. Scale a wallIn the countryside, watch when camping out for night shift workers, and cozy up in a press box. Pretty luxurious. You can shower at just about any service station for a dollar or two. There is no showers in the service stationswalking through fields, as a matter be aware of fact the gas stations won't let you use the toilets(toxic) snakes. Football stadiums are recommended. Te cops can be a piss Another option in the city. In Punta del Este the cops stopped me six times in two weeks period, but it's countryside is to do a great dumpster diving place, McD dump up visit to 40 to 60 hamburgers a night. You can camp outside the city center on the beach, but watch for groups of kids and street folkslocal police office. In the summer it gets pretty packed They most likely might be bored and the the prices jump up a 100 percent. Hitchhiking is not fast. In the summer time lots of cars with the whole family but very few will stop for in many cases invite you. I walk most of the time, people don't care for hitchhiker much here. Maybe because dinner and to sleep in the crime rate is slowly going upstation, or it summer or a full moon good luck. I had some luck rides on scooters on short hitch and one long onto put your tent nearby. They are a lot of fun, if a bit crazy ride

== Food Personal Experience ==Don't forget to try alfajores'There is very few traffic on the Uruguayan highways, a cookie-ish delicacyhence the fact that the entire country only has 3. Opt for homemade ones or the brand Punta Ballena5 million inhabitants. And to maximize your experience, you'll need to drink We could not hitch a lot of mate. For Uruguayanssingle ride on that day, yerba mate is practically a religion. Everyone carries a thermos and so we called it a mate gourd pretty much everywhere they gonight after it started getting dark. "Me convidas con un mate?" is a good way to start a conversation The next day we walked and make a new friend. If you really wanna make friends herehitched, point out that Uruguay advanced further in the World Cup than its two football powerhouse neighborsand walked and hitched. And of course, Forlan is better than Messi. Chivitos is also an excellent choice in Uruguayan food. More until a fast foodtruck picked us up, Chivitos is huge flattened Sandwich, that consists of 3 and took us all the way to 4 kinds of Vegetables with a huge piece of meatMontevideo. Which was some 490 kilometers from where we were standing. In towns, the Chivitos will cost around 65-80 Uruguayan Pesos, and Hitchhiking in Montevideo or more Touristic Cities, it can range from 90 to 140 PesosUruguay is definitely better then Argentina.'' -- (Tony Tung)

Again''Traffic can be very low at times, like as described above. Hitchhiking around the Ciudad de la Costa east of (next to) Montevideo seems to be very difficult, several times failed in Argentinahitchhiking between Carrasco airport and Atlantida. All other roads are fine, just be aware that anywhere outside of the cities traffic gets rare fastly, mostly locals driving to the Dulce de Leche next estancia. When waiting to get a straight ride to a next, bigger city, e.g. between Melo and Tacuarembo, one can wait ages. Hopping between estancias works fine, but even seemingly short-distance trips in the countryside can take their time. Notable, though, is very widely knownthat [[night hitchhiking]] works pretty awesome so far, from Paysandu to Montevideo it was no problem at all, and also from Rocha to Maldonado once it took me less than a couple of minutes to score a ride (given that traffic exists at that time of day).--[[User:Platschi|Platschi]] ([[User talk:Platschi|talk]]) 22:34, 21 December 2013 (CET)

== Personal Experience ==There ''Here is very few traffic on the Uruguayan Highways, hence the fact that the entire country only has 3.5 million inhabitants. We could not hitch a single ride short analyze of hitchhiking in Uruguay'' from [[User:Korn|Korn]] on that day, and so we called it a night after it started getting dark. The next day we walked and hitched, and walked and hitched...until a truck picked us up, and took us all the way to Montevideo. Which was some 490 kilometers from where we were standing[https://warmroads. Hitchhiking de/en/hitchhiking-in Uruguay is definitely better then Argentina-8-uruguay/ - warmroads]. (Tony Tung)