Learn Spanish in Uruguay, South America's Switzerland

Also called "South America's Switzerland", Uruguay is a country that offers an incredible amount of options to enjoy nature, quietness, fresh air and stunning beaches. Given its size, distances are short from one attraction to the other. Traveling from north to south by bus takes no more than 8 hours. It is by far one of the safest countries on the continent and you can travel without restrictions.

Its privileged position in the southern cone of the continent permits a policy of regional integration. Furthermore, it's the exit port for the countries of the River Plate basin, and bridges the large countries of Argentina and Brazil. In all, its Atlantic coasts permit fluid communication with the rest of the world.

Uruguay has 450 km of coastline along the River Plate, and 220 km of maritime coastline on the Atlantic, giving room to a great many beautiful, sandy beaches of interest to tourists. As it's located in the temperate zone of the southern hemisphere, Uruguay enjoys a moderate climate. There are sunny days throughout the whole year. The predominant winds are warm and humid from the north, and the winds from the south are cool and dry.

Uruguayan culture

The population of Uruguay is of European origin, mainly Spanish and Italian, giving it an open door immigration policy. There is also a black minority that arrived from the African coasts in the epoch of Spanish hegemony. The indigenous population has disappeared from the national territory more than a century ago, which differentiates the Uruguayan population from that of most Latin American countries.

Uruguayans have a high level of culture and are generally open and friendly towards travellers. They are known for their tranquillity, for their way of being unassuming and familiar; they are lovers of life in the open air and sports, above all football (soccer), the national sport. Uruguayans are always ready to strike up a conversation, to help you get to know their country and integrate those they don't know.

Of all their culinary tastes, the famous "churrasco" and asado (barbecue) of cow meat are the preferred. Italian food is among the most chosen cuisine of Uruguayans, but there is also a variety of international cooking to sample.