Adventure Tourism in Uruguay
Just a few kilometers away, Uruguay has many attractive landscapes to offer where you can enjoy a nice horseback ride, go hang gliding, enjoy guided vehicle tours on all sorts of terrain, go mountain biking and try a zip line amongst many other things.
Santa Teresa, great tubes in sight
During the low season, one can practically surf alone. This is a beach well-frequented by Brazilians, especially during carnival season.
Pesqueros de Playa Grande
This is one of the most consistent beaches in the area and receives swells from the E and S, bringing in high-quality waves. Swells coming from the east break left off the rocks, opening up towards the middle of the beach resulting in long tube waves that stretch for over 100 meters. Sea conditions permitting, we recommend surfers stay away from the rocks since going around the sandbank can be quite difficult with waves reaching up to a meter and a half in height. This can produce some dangerous currents for casual beach goers considering this is the only beach in the area that does not have active lifeguards on duty. The southern swells break fiercely to the mid-right, and if the bank is good and with a little luck there can be some really good waves coming your way.
El Barco
With large swells southbound and winds from SW, El Barco can have very good waves. This is a good option when the tide is high and other beaches are inaccessible. Waves coming from the east also create good conditions at this beach.
La Moza Beach
Some of the best waves in the country can be found here when the tide is high. This beach faces the S and SE. We can find long, right-banking waves that can break 300 meters from the rocks. The water pours in where when they connect with the La Mocita rocks and waves can stretch for more than 500 meters. Waves reach heights of 2.5 meters to absolute perfection. Getting in position can be an exercise that requires patience as swells constantly pump making it difficult for surfers to make it to the rocky points. The alternative is to wait between sets and not hesitate to make your move as a slip up at this point can be dangerous. Or lastly, you can enter the water near Achiras, which is a longer paddle, but a safer one.
Cabo Polonio, surfing with sealions
Despite being hard to reach, this paradise of sand dunes and white beaches is home to some excellent waves. The Southern Beach produces some great waves when the tide is south bound and the wind in the opposite direction. Here in Cabo Polonio, there are waves for everyone and for every style, taste and skill level. From the stream to the lighthouse all you have to do is pick a spot and enjoy. There is a large colony of sea lions that live in Cabo Polonio that can become disconcerted when they see people but are happy when left alone. Most of the year, Cabo Polonio is empty and those who do come often find it very peaceful off season.
Further towards Valizas you can also enjoy incredible beaches with long dunes and high quality waves. From the stream to the lighthouse all you have to do is pick a spot and enjoy. There is a large colony of sea lions that live in Cabo Polonio that can become disconcerted when they see people but are happy when left alone. Most of the year, Cabo Polonio is empty and those who do come often find it very peaceful off season.
La Calavera
This beach faces ENE, and is the only beach with this orientation on the whole of the coast. Here there are even fewer people and is it rare to find anyone surfing at all. Further towards Valizas you can also enjoy incredible beaches with long dunes and high quality waves.
Punta del Diablo, perfect for surfers of all levels
This is a small fishing town, home of the biannual national surfing champions. The Rivero beach, faces eastwards that gets swells from the east ranging up to 2-meter in height. Depending on the state of the sandbanks, the most favorable winds come from the S, SW, W, NW, and N. Punta del Diablo also gets swells from the S and SW, which come in after sweeping through the rocks, past the monument and come to an end at the beach, breaking both to left and right. With a strong SW wind, one can surf comfortably. This is an easy wave, perfect for all levels of surfing and with several points at which the waves start to break. The Viuda Beach faces S-SE and provides very strong waves with various beach breaks. These waves also tend to be bigger and take on more tube-like shapes due to the flatter sandbanks. The best winds here are E, NE, N, NW, and W.
Surfing in Canelones
Clean sand coasts with small coves rounded off by rocky points, surrounded by the Río de la Plata.
From the Pando river mouth to the Solis Stream, breaking points commonly face the S or SE, and are able to be surfed in optimal conditions, with clean swells coming from S and SE and winds coming from N and NW.
Waves here generally do not exceed a meter in height, although a few times year some beaches may witness waves of 1.5 meters, ideal for beginner level surfers. In this area, sandbanks are more consistent during the summer months, due to strong spring winds from N and NE forming sand banks which the winter’s S, SW winds, also known as the pamperos, then remove.
The most-frequented beaches are Atlántida, Santa Lucía del Este, and Jaureguiberry or the Solís’ river mouth, but there are also plenty of other spots alongside this 70 kilometer stretch that are good for practicing sports and relaxing.
Challenging the Rocha waves
From the mouth of the Rocha Lagoon to the Barra del Chuy (bordering Brazil), there are countless different kinds of beaches where surfers can find their own beach just for themselves. Find your special spot to surf on your own while surrounded by beautiful landscapes and sea life.
La Paloma
This is a surfing town on the coast of Rocha, which has two well-differentiated areas perfect for sport. The Southern area (Los Botes, Zanja Honda, and Corumba) has waves that reach over 2 meters. The Eastern area (La Aguada) is perfect for enjoying the sunrise facing the swells along the 7km long coastline stretching to La Pedrera.
Cabo Polonio
Despite being hard to reach, this paradise of sand dunes and white beaches is home to some excellent waves. The Southern Beach produces some great waves when the tide is south bound and the wind in the opposite direction. Here in Cabo Polonio, there are waves for everyone and for every style, taste and skill level. From the stream to the lighthouse all you have to do is pick a spot and enjoy. Throughout the year, including during the summer months, there are very few surfers and there’s a good chance that you’ll be surfing in solitude. La Calavera faces ENE, and is the only beach with this orientation on the whole of the coast. Here there are even fewer people and is it rare to find anyone surfing at all. Further towards Valizas you can also enjoy incredible beaches with long dunes and high quality waves.
Punta del Diablo
This is a small fishing town, home to the biannual national surfing champions. The Rivero beach, faces eastwards that gets swells from the east ranging up to 2-meter in height. Depending on the state of the sandbanks, the most favorable winds come from the S, SW, W, NW, and N. Punta del Diablo also gets swells from the S and SW, which come in after sweeping through the rocks, past the monument and come to an end at the beach, breaking both to left and right. With a strong SW wind, one can surf comfortably. This is an easy beach to surf on, perfect for all levels of surfing and with several points at which the waves start to break. The Viuda Beach faces S-SE and provides very strong waves with various beach breaks. These waves also tend to be bigger and take on more tube-like shapes due to the flatter sandbanks. The best winds here are E, NE, N, NW, and W.
Santa Teresa
During the low season, one can practically surf alone. This is a beach well-frequented by Brazilians, especially during carnival season. Great waves can be found by the Pesqueros de Playa Grande beach, El Barco, and La Moza beaches.
Fishing for the Iridescent Tararira
Found only in Uruguay, this species is a true phenomenon, to the point where catching a tararira is on many fishing enthusiasts to-do list, especially those from border countries like Brazil and Argentina. This intriguing fish lives in closed-off water environments, which are usually hard to navigate; it is incredibly sedentary and territorial, so it is necessary to throw caught specimens back into the water to protect the environment’s equilibrium. An adult tararira can spend more than 20 minutes out of the water and return to it without trouble, as long as it is not hurt neurologically.
Season and Places
The Iridescent tararira season goes from the end of August to March or April, depending on the fall rains.
At the beginning of the season (August, September, and October), they can be found in smaller, shallow channels of water where the average temperature can reach the 18 ºC that the species needs to stir from its winter lethargy.
In streams such as the Salsipuedes Chico, the Tres Árboles, or the many others that flow into the Río Negro, fishermen can wade for 12 or 14 kilometers, fishing tarariras and returning them to the water, drinking delicious crystalline water straight from the source.
Fishing and Equipment
In order to fish for the Iridescent Tararira, one must get in touch with specialist guides who hold permits given to them by the owners of different areas. The fishing method during the early seasons is exclusively spin fishing, which is practiced on the clear banks of different streams, where it is possible to escape the suffocating heat and potentially dangerous insects.
Once November starts, the temperature of deeper channels rises to adequate levels and the iridescent adventure can expand into trolling methods, a type of fishing technique that allows one to discover the most exquisite corners of nature in the country, reaching the most distant water arteries. To practice trolling, 3 or 4 meter boats are needed for these small channels, with motors from 2.5 to 10 hp. Light equipment that can be stowed when avoiding rock slides is also required.
The Tararira is caught by throwing lures or spinning spoons that work under the surface of the water. The fish catch the decoy quickly with a violent attack soon after the lure hits the water. After the fish takes the bait, it quickly tries to swim to the riverbed, and, while trying to free itself, jumps out of water, displaying its slender body over the tranquility of the water’s surface. This is an unforgettable spectacle for fishing and nature lovers.
In order to minimize risks, it is best to use a small net when landing the fish, especially when fishing from a boat. Good fisherman will then put the animal back into the water, being careful not to hurt its gills.
For spinning, surface and mid-water lures that descend as far as 3 or 4 meters are used, depending on the fisherman’s preference. Generally, lures that stay on the surface, such as sputters, plops, or jitters are used to wake and irritate the tararira, to later catch them with others that can descend into the water no less than 50 centimeters.
With the trolling method, lures that can descend up to 6 meters are used, as their main function is to work at river bed-level, where the largest tarariras dwell.
Fishing rods for both spinning and trolling are 7 feet, for 25-30 pounds.
For better handling while casting, ergonomic, centrifugal or magnetic reels with several breaks are recommended. Nylon 20 pound-lines should be used, or alternatively the new, lower-caliber but more resistant micro filament lines.
The tararira has a powerful bite, so the fisherman must have two pairs of pliers, a curved one for holding the fish by its mouth, and another with rounded ends that will help in removing the triple hooks of the lure without hurting the fish.
Sport Fishing
Whether you prefer saltwater fishing or fresh water fishing, Uruguay offers both in a diverse range of fantastic fishing spots for the recreational fisher. In contrast to other countries in the region, the best fresh water fishing areas are only a few kilometers away from the capital where you can find nice clear water creeks with local fish, weighing up to 5 or 6 kilos. Some of the best fishing in the Paraná basin can be found in the Uruguay River in the department of Salto where catches can weigh in at over 15 kilos. Diverse and pleasant fauna and flora surround our beautiful landscapes makes Uruguay perfect for outdoor activities. In addition, on the Brazil-Uruguay border, the eastern coastline provides great year-round fishing for migratory fish suitable for sport fishing. Black Corvina, Sargo, White Corvina, Burriquetas, Hake, small fish, Pejerrey and Anchovies are some of the most sought after fish our waters have to offer. Most of the aforementioned species can even be fished with just a rod and reel, from the shore. The larger black Corvinas and Sole fish often weigh as much as 10 kilos and have historically been one of the most treasured catches for Uruguayan fishers.
Surf
Surfing has enjoyed more and more popularity over the past few years in Uruguay. Many options are available for tourists to enjoy great waves, for all levels of surfing, in the departments of Canelones, Maldonado, and Rocha, and even, after a particularly strong storm, in Montevideo.
The Atlantic coast has the best spots to enjoy swells all year round. During the winter, swells come primarily from the South, while in the spring, summer, and autumn, they come from the East. During the summer months, water maintains a warm temperature which on rare occasions requires only a short suit. However, in the winter, temperatures can drop to 6 or 8 degrees Celsius, making a 4/3 mm suit a necessity, as well as boots and gloves.
