Smuggling — that was the stock-in-trade of one of the most important towns in Uruguay history.
Colonia del Sacramento was established on the banks of the Rio de la Plata in 1680 by the Portuguese and quickly became a hub for smuggling contraband into the Spanish city of Buenos Aires on the other side of the river.
The struggle between Portugal and Spain for Colonia del Sacramento is the basis for story line for much of Uruguay history — one reason that UNESCO named Colonia del Sacramento’s historic quarter as a World Heritage Site in 1995.
Today Colonia del Sacramento is one of Uruguay’s most popular tourist destinations for both nationals and foreigners. It’s old-world charm is unrivaled, even in a country where historic charm is on display almost everywhere you go.
For a country roughly the size of Oklahoma, Uruguay is richly varied, with miles of Pacific coast, long stretches of magnificent river front on the Rio de la Plata, Rio Negro, and Uruguay rivers, and vast stretches of rolling upland hills and plateaus. This geographical richness is one reason Uruguay has caught the eye of expats looking for places to retire or have second homes.
Uruguay’s economy and government is one of the most stable in Latin America, making it a perfect choice for expats looking for good real estate values, low cost of living, and old-world charm.
Learn more about Uruguay and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. We’ll also send you a free report – The Top Four Destinations in Uruguay. This special guide covers covers real estate, retirement and more in Uruguay and is yours free when you sign up for our IL postcards.
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