Canelones: Wetlands, Wine and Culture

Between the wetlands of the Río Santa Lucía, wine culture and significant cultural sites, Canelones reveals different sides of the department. When planning your trip, it is worth deciding which themes matter most: nature, wine and tastings, history or seasonal events. This will help you choose suitable visits and focus your hotel search on the priorities for your stay.

Wetlands of the Río Santa Lucía

The Humedales del Santa Lucía area is part of Uruguay’s Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (SNAP). Extensive gallery forests and wetlands stretch between Santa Lucía and Aguas Corrientes and are important for the ecosystem and water quality.

One specific point of reference is the 300-meter-long Sendero de Interpretación Ambiental Picada Alaniz. It is located in the wetlands of the Río Santa Lucía near El Rincón, in the city of Santa Lucía; park rangers are permanently stationed in the area. The trail’s length is a useful guide for planning. If you plan to visit the Sendero, check current access options beforehand.

Wine and food

Canelones is also shaped by winegrowing and wine tourism. The wine route includes 110 wineries, although the number may change. Wine tourism offerings include vineyard walks and tastings of wines from Canelones. More than 60 percent of wineries geared toward wine tourism are located in Canelones. Combining walks and tastings makes wine tourism both scenic and culinary.

The Museo de la Uva y el Vino complements the theme with an area for visitors and a boutique offering wines and cheeses. If a particular offering is important to your plans, check its current availability before your trip.

Culture, architecture and history

The Iglesia Cristo Obrero in Estación Atlántida is a work by engineer Eladio Dieste and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 27, 2021. Alongside its natural and wine-related attractions, Canelones therefore offers a precisely dated point of interest for architecture and cultural heritage.

In Las Piedras, La Pilarica is among the oldest buildings in the city and the department of Canelones. The building stands 59 meters above sea level on a historic route that connected Montevideo with the eastern hinterland via Paso de Las Piedras—later called Paso del Calpino.

The Museo Julio Sosa is a cultural space dedicated to singer Julio Sosa, located on the grounds of the Hipódromo de Las Piedras. It features exhibitions about the culture of Las Piedras, adding a local cultural perspective to the architectural and local history. The examples offer different focuses: in Estación Atlántida, a UNESCO-recognized church takes center stage; in Las Piedras, older architectural history and local culture come together.

The Carnaval de Canelones in summer

The Carnaval de Canelones is part of the summer tourist offering. It includes more than 120 activities, with parades, Llamadas, competitions, Corsos and stages in the department’s 30 municipalities. The number of activities may vary from season to season, so check the dates for your intended travel period.

Discover more destinations: Estacion La Floresta, Las Toscas, Guazú-Virá, Parque Del Plata, Colonia Nicolich, Costa Azul, Los Cerrillos, Ciudad De La Costa, Atlántida, Jaureguiberry, Santa Rosa, Santa Lucía.

For the broader travel overview: Uruguay.