Uruguay is a tiny country that offers much more than could be imagined. An almost unique combination of open space and low population density endows the country with vast pampas (plain lands), ideal for those who like raw nature and want to have a taste of "gaucho" life, typical dishes and traditional festivities. A quite different portrait of the country can be seen in its large sandy beaches alongside the Atlantic ocean, and in its colonial locations, such as Colonia, where life develops quietly, in contrast to metropolitan cities, such as Montevideo, where the rhythm of life is accelerated. An annual festival known as Carnival Week, held in February, draws huge crowds to Montevideo for parades, masquerades, music and dancing. Montevideo is the heart of the country, and is itself a collection of art and history, with museums, theaters, exhibitions, shows, casinos and popular feasts filling the city with an intense agenda all year round.
Sea Lion on rocky coast
Uruguay is a model of stability and progress within the South American context. Its economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated force, a well-developed industrial sector and high levels of social spending. Though poverty levels are still an issue in the country, they are by far the lowest in the region and the country enjoys the most even distribution of wealth in all Latin America.
