Twenty minutes by ferry across the Rio de la Plata from Buenos Aires lies Montevideo, one of South America’s best-kept secrets. Similar to Argentina’s capital, Uruguay is also a contrast to the rest of South America. The population is almost 90% European, with a negligible indigenous population, and most of the architecture is distinctly Spanish, French, British, and Italian. The city is remarkably laid-back, with a friendly local population, and abounds with opportunities to explore the beaches that flank the city, the historical Ciudad Vieja, take a stroll along La Rambla, or watch an intense soccer game between Uruguay’s rival teams, Nacional and Penarol.
