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Territory capital · 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).

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

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.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
UYU
Best months
Dec–Mar
avoid Jun–Aug
Airport
MVD
Nights
1–2

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Cabo Polonio: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 6Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
  • South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
  • South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
  • South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
  • Uruguay ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Uruguay's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a Uruguayan consulate; ferry passengers from Buenos Aires clear both countries' immigration at the terminal.
  • Uruguay ↗Buenos Aires–Colonia and Buenos Aires–Montevideo ferries sell out on long weekends and in summer: book ahead.
  • Uruguay ↗Pay restaurants, hotels and car hire with a foreign-issued card: non-residents get the 22% VAT (IVA) removed on restaurants and car hire roughly 15 November – 30 April, and on lodging — check the current season's rules.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Cabo Polonio911 ▾
  • Police911
  • Fire and ambulance911

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Cabo Polonio, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Sea‑lion colonyCabo Polonio LighthouseOff‑grid dunes
Airports
MVD Carrasco International Airport (Montevideo) (Bus to Montevideo then Rutas del Sol to Portal del Cabo (≈4 h).)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

  2. Feb

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    22°C (72°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    19°C (66°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    16°C (61°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    15°C (59°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    17°C (63°F)

  9. Sep

    not flagged

    20°C (68°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    23°C (73°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    25°C (77°F)

  12. Dec

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

Best: Dec–Mar. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →

Warmest Jan (28°C (82°F)), coolest Jul (7°C (45°F) low), wettest Jan (12 rain days), driest Jun (6). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Cabo Polonio: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

28°C (82°F)

19°C (66°F)

12 rd

Feb

27°C (81°F)

18°C (64°F)

12 rd

Mar

25°C (77°F)

16°C (61°F)

11 rd

Apr

22°C (72°F)

13°C (55°F)

9 rd

May

19°C (66°F)

10°C (50°F)

7 rd

Jun

16°C (61°F)

8°C (46°F)

6 rd

Jul

15°C (59°F)

7°C (45°F)

6 rd

Aug

17°C (63°F)

8°C (46°F)

7 rd

Sep

20°C (68°F)

11°C (52°F)

9 rd

Oct

23°C (73°F)

13°C (55°F)

10 rd

Nov

25°C (77°F)

15°C (59°F)

11 rd

Dec

27°C (81°F)

17°C (63°F)

12 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The village and beach are walkable; most visitors explore on foot.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Punta del Diablo

go

Door to door: ≈2 h total

Walk the 7 km (4.3 mi) sand‑track from Cabo Polonio (≈90 min, allow 2–3 h).

Bring water and money; trail is exposed.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

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.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
UYU 1,200–2,000 excl. bed
Mid
UYU 2,000–3,500 excl. bed
High
UYU 3,500+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hostel dorm2 × 1 night × UYU 25UYU 50
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × UYU 50UYU 100
4WD truck round‑trip (Portal del Cabo ↔ Cabo Polonio)2 × UYU 450 · U$450 return, check schedule.UYU 900
Bus Montevideo → Portal del Cabo (Rutas del Sol)2 × UYU 30 · Approximate 2026 fare.UYU 60
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUYU 111
Trip total≈ UYU 611 per person per day, bed includedUYU 1,221

Low season vs high season rates.

2026 estimate in USD; flights and long‑distance bus not included.

Prices of common things

CaféU$2–3
Lighthouse entryU$25
4WD truck (one way)U$225

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Cabo Polonio is low‑risk; main concerns are isolated location, limited medical services and occasional dead seal remains on the beach.
  • 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.

Emergency numbers

Police
911
Fire and ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Cabo PolonioCabo Polonio

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, ambulance, fire911

Embassy

US consulate in Montevideo; other embassies in Montevideo.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • 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)

Say or show

  • Hola — Hello (ola)
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much? (kwanto kwesta)
  • ¿Dónde está la terminal 4x4? — Where is the 4WD terminal? (donde esta la terminal 4x4)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Cabo Polonio. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Dec–Mar · avoid Jun–Aug · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 1 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Add Montevideo (2–3 nights) before heading to the Atlantic coast.
  2. Combine with Punta del Este (2 nights) for a coastal circuit.

Meanwhile

Back to Uruguay

Sources

Ask about Cabo Polonio

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