Uruguay: Overland Uruguay and The Border Crossing from Brazil

Border Crossing from Argentina to Uruguay:

We crossed out of Colón (Argentina) and into Paysandú (Uruguay), immigration and Customs for the vehicles all in less than 15 minutes. Friendliest border crossing also.

1.As you approach the bridge it is not necessary to stop at the police check.

2.Drive over the bridge to where both countries have their customs/immigration points in the same complex.

3.Pay the AT$70 Bridge toll (US$10)

4.At the Argentina section. We declared no animal or dairy products. They needed passports, vehicle registration papers and Argentina Temporary Vehicle papers which was cancelled.
5.Just a few metres on in the same lane is Uruguay section.

6.Showed passports for immigration.
7.Then into Aduana R.O.U. which is inside the building on the LHS.

8.We got a Temporary vehicle Permit for 1 year.

9.They asked for 3rd Party insurance. WE had none and they no provision to supply. By default we showed them our Australian registration papers and that lists our Australian 3rd party insurance company name. Some how they were happy with that, even though it means nothing in Uruguay !! ??

10.Following a quick inspection of the vehicle we were given a receipt that we had to give to the officer as we drove out of the customs control area.

Travel in Uruguay:

Uruguay is only a river bridge away from Argentina, but what a difference. Hard to put your finger on it. More modern houses and fuel stations yet horse drawn carts !

Less expensive food but Diesel expensive at just under US$2/Lt, plenty of old 1940/50’s vehicles on the road mixed with all the modern brands and more than 10 Chinese imports.

Must drive with lights on.

Camping:

A little challenging to find free camping asking we were offered directions and also taking small roads of the highways we found vacant and open farm land, and nobody around to ask.

Food:

Easily available and about the same as Argentina. Once over the border at Paysandú it is a big town with banks and food supermarkets. Some of the bank ATM’s did not accept our Master/Visa credit or debit cards. After about 3 banks success.

Fuel:

Diesel expensive at just under US$2/Lt

Water:

Internet:

Challenging to find free internet but driving through towns we occasionally found.

Vehicle Storage:

We found two places to store the vehicle.

Granja Arenas

Ruta 1 Km167, Riachuelo, Colonia Uruguay.

Ricardo Arenas (who speaks English) was very helpful however the government has recently ( Nov 2013) restricted him from storing vehicles. maybe this will change.

You can contact Ricardo at arenas@adinet.com.uy

We stored our vehicles at Hotel Swiss: