Location Review: Uruguay

Uruguay is often described as the “Switzerland of South America.” And, it’s a destination that’s routinely touted as a great place for older Americans to retire.

I recently visited Uruguay. And here are my thoughts on the country as a vacation destination and retirement spot.

Most Of Uruguay Is Incredibly Rural

This Is What Most Of The Country Looks Like

Uruguay has a population of 3.4 million people. And 1.4 million Uruguayans live in the capital, Montevideo.

In my trip to Uruguay, I visited three different cities — Colonia, Montevideo, and Punta del Este. Between each of these urban areas is a whole lot of nothing. And I don’t mean this is a derogatory manner, either. There were literally miles and miles of empty fields.

Many websites and Twitter accounts with some variation of “Sovereign” in their name will constantly declare Paraguay and Uruguay as “The last bastion of freedom.”

In reality, these two countries are just rural.

And you could enjoy the same freedoms — fixing up your house without a permit, dealing with little or no bureaucracy, and shooting guns — in many U.S. states like Iowa or…