Buenos Aires Uruguay

Squished between Argentina and Brazil, Uruguay sometimes seems like the dowdy second cousin who received the pity-invite for Thanksgiving. It’s, well, just kind of there, forever condemned to “Switzerland of South America” status by many travel guides. On the contrary, for the traveler, Uruguay is no neglected cousin at the Thanksgiving dinner table, but rather the perfect place to be if you’ve got the big-city blues in BA. Life here is just more laid back than in Argentina—and that is by no means synonymous with boring. It’s simply a world apart, a destination that will provide some thrilling contrasts, and some similarities (they like soccer and beef here, too), with Argentina.

Entrance Requirements. Getting into Uruguay should be a piece of cake, as long as you have a valid passport. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States will receive a tourist card upon entry—the card allows you to stay in Uruguay as a visitor for up to 90 days. Nationals of other countries require visas. It's critical that you hold on to your tourist card throughout your journey. If you return to Argentina, or your other point of origin, without it, you may be fined.