Treinta Y Tres: Ravines, River and Culture

In the department of Treinta y Tres, reasons to visit range from a deeply carved ravine to natural pools and an annual festival. The Playa Accesible del Río Olimar, officially opened in 2024 as the country’s first accessible river beach, is another special feature of the region. Here, landscapes and culture come together in different ways.

Ravines, waterways and camping

At Quebrada de los Cuervos, the Yerbal Chico stream passes through the Sierra del Yerbal in a very narrow passage. There, the stream forms a deep ravine that is more than 100 metres deep in places. For those interested in landscapes, the combination of the narrow passage and great depth is especially distinctive.

Campsites can be reserved at the campground in Parque Municipal Quebrada de los Cuervos. The park is part of Paisaje Protegido Quebrada de los Cuervos y Sierras del Yerbal in the department of Treinta y Tres. If you plan to camp there, check current availability and reservation conditions before your trip.

Parque del Salto de Agua in Cerro Chato offers a different kind of landscape: it has two natural pools formed by a stream waterfall. While at Quebrada de los Cuervos the narrow passage and depth of the ravine stand out, at Salto de Agua the two pools define the scene.

Festival and river beach on the Río Olimar

The Festival del Olimar takes place every year in Parque del Río Olimar in the city of Treinta y Tres. It is a recurring event for travellers who want to include cultural events in their plans. If you want to time your visit to coincide with a particular edition, check the dates in advance.

Playa Accesible del Río Olimar was officially opened in 2024 as the country’s first accessible river beach. This marks an important milestone in the history of the place. Check current conditions before visiting.

More sights in Uruguay

In the wider destination of Uruguay, Grutas del Palacio offer a geological perspective. They were formed by water erosion. A roof about 70 centimetres thick rests on solidified, reddish sandstone columns that average two metres in height. The caves are considered the Geopark’s most emblematic site and give it its name; they also have scientific, educational and tourist value.

Visits to Grutas del Palacio include guided tours with specialists; there is also an interpretation centre, an audiovisual room, a café and a themed museum. Guided walks along the path to the cave are also available: they take place every hour, with the first starting at 10 a.m. and the last at 4 p.m. Check the current schedule and availability of services before your visit.

Another chapter in Uruguay’s history leads to Colonia del Sacramento. The Portuguese founded the city in 1680 on the Río de la Plata; its strategic importance was connected with resistance to the Spanish. The Historic Quarter is the only example in the region of an urban plan that does not follow the rigid grid pattern prescribed by Spain’s “Leyes de Indias.”

The Historic Quarter’s streetscape includes narrow cobbled lanes and more private areas. Single-storey houses predominate, while two-storey buildings are rare. Grutas del Palacio and the Historic Quarter of Colonia thus offer different perspectives: one is a landscape shaped by erosion, the other the history of an unusual urban plan and its buildings.

Parque Nacional Cabo Polonio is another example from Uruguay: as a protected area, it preserves one of the country’s most distinctive coastal landscapes.

Discover more destinations: Treinta Y Tres, Valentines, Soriano, Entre Ríos, Montevideo, Lavalleja, Río Negro, Tacuarembó.

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