Covering an area of around 187,000 sq kms, Uruguay is the second smallest independent country in South America, sharing borders with its much larger neighbours Brazil to the north east and Argentina to the west, beyond the mighty Uruguay River that flows between them and drains into the Rio de la Plata estuary to the south west of the country, the remaining south and south-eastern boundaries facing out across the South Atlantic Ocean. In fact, the topography of Uruguay is dominated by water as the entire surface area is covered by a dense network of rivers, lakes and coastal lagoons, the rest of the land mass being made up of rolling plains, low hills - or cuchillas - and a smattering of mountains, the highest of which at just over 513 metres is the Cerro Catedral in the Carape mountain range.

The vast areas of gently undulating countryside to be found across much of Uruguay are susceptible to the rapid changes in weather patterns that sometimes occur, although a temperate climate in southern regions and a subtropical one in the north gives rise to nothing particularly extreme with evenly distributed rainfall throughout the year, relatively mild winters and summer temperatures peaking at around 28°C at this latitude. September to May are therefore optimum months for those seeking to rent holiday villas in Uruguay when long, hot and sunny days are the norm and the popular resorts along the Uruguay coast are warming up in line with the weather to accommodate a growing number of visitors from right around the globe.

While the Uruguay coast has been a summer vacation destination favoured by Brazilians and Argentineans for decades, Americans, Canadians and Europeans have only recently begun to explore the potential this part of the country has to provide a totally unique vacation experience. From the vibrant capital city of Montevideo through Maldonado, Piriapolis, Punta del Este and on to the Brazilian border, you'll find more stylish resorts on the Uruguay coast than exist anywhere on the Mediterranean, where exclusive hotels, chic boutiques, first-class restaurants and prestigious golf courses rub shoulders with the kind of quality beaches where surfing and sailing need only be interrupted by long periods of sunbathing.

Head inland away from the cosmopolitan coast of Uruguay and the atmosphere changes from one of urban excitement to pure rustic tranquillity, prompted by the deep sense of history that is infused in every river and rock of this ancient and unspoilt land, giving you the opportunity to discover a South American country that is not only displays cultural diversity but also proves to be both historically fascinating and scenically spectacular.

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