Guaviyú: Routes and History of the Rivera Region

Guaviyú can be understood through specific rural routes and the history of the wider border area. When searching for a hotel, it is helpful to distinguish between place names and regional points of reference: the routes relate to Guaviyú, while examples concerning the broader destination of Rivera offer a wider perspective on nature and history.

Rural routes

The rural road UYRV 0084 connects Lapuente on Ruta 27 at kilometer 84.9 with Guaviyú and is 12.0 kilometers long. The rural road UYRV BR02 is 16.0 kilometers long and runs from Guaviyú via UYRV 0110 toward UYRV 0205 near Cerrillada. UYRV BR02 is 16.0 kilometers long, making it four kilometers longer than UYRV 0084, which is 12.0 kilometers long. If you are planning to travel on either of these roads, check current road conditions beforehand.

Border history in the wider area

In the wider region, in the border area known as Guaviyú, Fructuoso Rivera met with Guaraní delegates from the Seven Eastern and Twenty-Three Western Missions on April 6, 1828. In the broader border area of Rivera Department known as Guaviyú, a stone and bronze stele commemorates this meeting; this does not establish its exact location within the present-day town.

In the broader destination of Rivera

The protected landscape area Valle del Lunarejo is located in the broader destination of Rivera. Its landscapes include grasslands, hills and ravines with steep-sided native forest, as well as caves, vertical cliffs and waterfalls amid lush subtropical vegetation. More than 250 species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals have been recorded in the area.

The Valle del Lunarejo visitor center is located on Ruta 30 at kilometer 237. If you are planning a trip there, check road conditions beforehand. A 2024 guide lists motorhome and tent camping, hiking, vehicle excursions and horseback rides at Miradores del Valle, including agrotourism rides and rides to Arroyo Lunarejo. Check in advance which of these activities are available for your travel dates.

The history of the broader destination of Rivera includes the area around Masoller: in 1904, it was the site of the battle that ended Uruguay’s civil wars; General Aparicio Saravia was mortally wounded there. In Rivera, Parque Gran Bretaña was declared a national historic monument in 1981. In the broader destination of Rivera, the Cuñapirú hydroelectric dam was inaugurated in 1882 and declared a national historic monument.

Well-preserved stone buildings can still be seen in Valle del Lunarejo; they played an important role in the region’s historical conflicts. The Ruinas de Santa Ernestina are part of the Ruta del Oro, which also includes Minas de Corrales.

Discover more destinations: Rivera, Minas De Corrales.

Back to the overview of the broader destination: Rivera.