Uruguay is the second-smallest country in South America, wedged between Argentina and Brazil. The country is known for its colonial-era historic districts in Colonia and Montevideo, and popular beaches on the Atlantic Coast. Calmer and safer than its neighbors, Uruguay is a low-key, easygoing destination.
Culturally the country is closest to its large western neighbour Argentina, with which it shares its traditional elements of gaucho (South American cowboy) culture. In Montevideo and on the coast the gaucho is more of a national symbol than a part of daily life, but in the north (cities like Rivera and Bella Unión) you’ll see modern-day gauchos going about their lives, riding horses in traditional clothing.
Uruguay also has Lusitanian influences, like the large Rio-like carnivals in the first months of the year in many cities, the historical old town of Colonia — a 17th-century Portuguese outpost and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Portuñol, a mix of Spanish and Portuguese language spoken near the Brazilian border. Amerindian traits can be found in Uruguayan culture, from cuisine to vocabulary, but there is no Amerindian population left. Finally the Uruguayans share the passion for association football/soccer with Argentina and Brazil and the very first world championships were actually held in Montevideo in 1930 — won by the host nation.
