Río de la Plata

You’ve had plenty of time to admire it, so let me properly introduce you to the Río de la Plata. Depending on who you ask, or what book you’re reading, you’ll see it described as a river, an estuary, or even a gulf. It’s technically the mouth where two major South American rivers, the Uruguay and the Paraná, flow into the Atlantic Ocean. It stretches 250 kilometers in length and is about 100 kilometers wide. The name “River of Silver” doesn’t come from the colour of the water, but instead from its historic connection to the famous silver mines of Potosí, in Bolivia. This was the route through which silver was shipped downriver and eventually exported to Europe. As you head east along the Uruguayan coast, you’ll see the water gradually changing colour, blending more and more with the Atlantic until it turns deep blue. That’s where you’ll start to find some of Uruguay’s most beautiful beaches. With any luck, you’ll stumble on the perfect spot for a seaside getaway.