Crusing and living in South america?

[Hoonakwa]

Hello all,
I have been looking at the Atlantic coast of S.A. as a destination. Uruguay looks nice. Has anyone here had any experience there? It seems like a nice spot to live aboard and do some coastal cruising. Anyone been to Puerto de Punta del Este?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Hoonakwa.

[boatman61]

Wot 'Gord' said.... Greetings...

[dpons]

Originally Posted by Hoonakwa

Hello all,
I have been looking at the Atlantic coast of S.A. as a destination. Uruguay looks nice. Has anyone here had any experience there? It seems like a nice spot to live aboard and do some coastal cruising. Anyone been to Puerto de Punta del Este?

I live in Uruguay, so my opinion shouldn't count

The best place to live aboard is Piriápolis, about 40mi W of Punta del Este.

PdE is a popular resort, and it's impossible to get a place in the marina during the summer and the moorage is expensive (about US$100/day during summer for a 40').

Another options for living aboard are the yacht club at Puerto del Buceo (Montevideo) or Colonia. Check this for prices.

From any of this places you can go easily to Buenos Aires, or explore the Río de la Plata.

Be aware that because of exchange rates Uruguay is very expensive these days, as is Brasil. The winter is not too harsh, and summers are dominated by afternoon thermal earterlies, so we go east at night. UV is an issue if your skin is sensitive.

Good luck

Diego

[El Pinguino]

What Diego said.

Uruguay must be the most laid back country on the planet.

I hung out in the Rio De La Plata from mid 2009 until the end of 2010.... Colonia is a brilliant spot at all times of the year while Piriapolis is good for haulout and working on your boat but more of a holiday town and not as much fun in winter or the off season imho.




You can go quite some way up the Rio Uruguay, I believe as far as Fray Bentos if not further.

Based on my experiences with the Aduana and sundry other Argentine thieves I would avoid BA and the delta like the plague.... as suggested take the fast ferry out of Colonia if you want to go sightseeing. Or take a slow ferry out of Nueva Palmira through the delta.

First 2 pix.... Colonia, 2nd pair Nueva Palmira and the slow boat through the delta to BA.

[SVTatia]

I have cruised the coast of Brazil, having sailed there from Canada, but did not go as far south as Uruguay. The challenge is to get there, and best way is go to Azores first then hang a right. Now, once there enjoy, because coming back up the coat is also another story. From Bahia it took me 3 tries to leave and finally gave up - had to wait for a cold front that took 2 months to arrive, but then again, what a great place to get stuck at.

[bstreep]

We were in Uruguay 5 years ago. It was fantastic. At that time, our experience was different than Diego's - we found it very affordable. But, things can/do change. We were getting softball sized filets and a decent local bottle of wine (to split) for $10US.

Punte del Este was extremely nice - they told us the latitude is the same (south) as Myrtle Beach, SC (north). Colonia was a nice, clean, sleepy town. Loved it. But loved Montevideo too! We liked Uruguay much better than Argentina.

I have to say the people of Uruguay are among the nicest we've ever met. And we are from Texas. An absolutely delightful country.

[Hoonakwa]

Thanks for the info guys. Sounds like a nice place. I will looking the marinas suggested.