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Voykit pocket guide · Uruguay
Cabo Polonio
Spend 1–2 days in Cabo Polonio; get there by bus to Portal del Cabo then a 20‑min 4WD truck (no private cars).
Cabo Polonio is an off‑grid beach village on Uruguay's Atlantic coast. With a 4WD shuttle as the only link, a day or two is enough to see the lighthouse, sea‑lion colony and dunes, then return.
- Country
- Uruguay
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- UYU
- Money
- Currency is the Uruguayan peso (UYU, $). About UYU 40 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards are widely accepted; US dollars are quoted and accepted for hotels, rentals and ferries.
- Daily spend
- Budget UYU 1,200–2,000 excl. bed · Mid UYU 2,000–3,500 excl. bed · High UYU 3,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Antel (state), Movistar and Claro; prepaid SIM with passport at shops, or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire 911
- Plugs
- Types C, F, I · 220 V · 50 Hz · Many sockets take several types; bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10%.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel porter: Small tip per bag.; Parking attendants (cuidacoches): Coins on leaving.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable throughout.
- Toilets
- Clean in cafés, bus terminals and shopping centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Café | U$2–3 |
| Lighthouse entry | U$25 |
| 4WD truck (one way) | U$225 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MVD · Carrasco International Airport (Montevideo)
- Bus to Montevideo then Rutas del Sol to Portal del Cabo (≈4 h).
Typical fares
- Montevideo → Portal del Cabo (bus)
- about U$30, 4 h (check schedule)
- Portal del Cabo → Cabo Polonio (4WD)
- U$450 round‑trip, 20 min (check schedule)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village and beach are walkable; most visitors explore on foot.
See and do
Known for
- Sea‑lion colony
- Cabo Polonio Lighthouse
- Off‑grid dunes
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Punta del Diablo | Walk the 7 km (4.3 mi) sand‑track from Cabo Polonio (≈90 min, allow 2–3 h).Walk the 4.3 mi (7 km) sand‑track from Cabo Polonio (≈90 min, allow 2–3 h). | ≈2 h total |
Sleep
- Cabo Polonio Hostel
- Dorms US$16 low season / US$25 high season, double room US$44; kitchen, bar, 12 V light.
- Plan B Hostel
- Dorms US$10, near 4WD terminal, kitchen use.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Holaola |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwanto kwesta |
| Where is the 4WD terminal? | ¿Dónde está la terminal 4x4?donde esta la terminal 4x4 |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: One cheek kiss among friends, handshake otherwise; avoid: Skipping greetings when entering a shop
- Mate: Accept or politely decline; avoid: Stirring the straw
- Time: Relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Arriving early at dinner parties
- Conversation: Football, food, Carnival; avoid: Calling Uruguayans Argentines
Scams and watch-outs
- No road access – only 4WD trucks from Portal del Cabo (check schedule, especially off‑season).
- National park bans tents and pets.
- Accommodation prices rise 50 % in high season; book ahead.
Cabo Polonio is low‑risk; main concerns are isolated location, limited medical services and occasional dead seal remains on the beach.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Cabo Polonio yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Sea‑lion colony
- Cabo Polonio Lighthouse
- Off‑grid dunes
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Portal del Cabo transport info: www.portaldelcabo.com.uy/es/servicios/transporte/ingreso-a-cabo-polonio-transporte-4x4-camiones
- Wikivoyage: Cabo Polonio, revision 5117803 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5117803
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Cabo Polonio
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance, fire911
US consulate in Montevideo; other embassies in Montevideo.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/cabo-polonio). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.