Digital Nomad Life in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay

"Hah! That's what we DON'T have here... Here is just a magic vibe, granite boulders covered with mussels & snails, the mighty Atlantic on your doorstep, with 4 beaches. As for activities, just daily life is enough for us... Gardening, cooking out, building on our house. The whole area is filled with national parks and some old Spanish/Portuguese forts, etc. Great for hiking through the ghost gums (eucalyptus trees), checking out the capybara & fantastic birds from a comfy blind, and perving on all that luscious plants in the shade gardens, etc... Laguna Negra is nearby, a great lake for fishing & camping. Don't expect your catfish to look like the ones you've caught. These have a fin all the way around the back to the belly side of the tail, but they taste the same... If you or your kids are into soccer (futbol here) then you're home free as far as a social life. Life revolves around the kids. Get to know your lavadera (laundry lady). Ana is great, cheap, and knows how to get whites white. The "other guy," however, who has stickers on all the fridges in the rental places, will hang your clothes on the line & spray with fragrance. :-/ They will come home with all of the dirt still in them, but smelling fresh, thank you... Our town dentist, Mario Garcia, is a godsend! The ONLY completely pain-free dentist I have ever known. We're getting ready to move back North for a spell to take care of elderly parents, but we are having hub's teeth fixed first. He needs a partial for the uppers, as he lost his back teeth long ago. He does NOT like going to the dentist, but he & Mario are friends & fishing buddies now. The partial & an implant in front are going to cost us about 1/20th of what we'd pay in the US and First Class work it is... Never any mercury fillings down here. In fact, Mario specializes in removing mercury fillings and replacing with ceramic," said one person in Punta del Diablo.

"First of all, learn some Spanish, preferably Castellano (Castile, Spain) instead of the Mexican version... They will understand YOU, but you may not understand THEM... Many TV shows here are in English with Spanish subtitles... It helps, believe me, especially with grammar. We have one Canadian couple here and one crusty old Irishman... Those are the only expats we have met in our tiny fishing village of 1,000 souls... This agrees with us PERFECTLY, as we want to assimilate, not hang with expats. I would recommend just chatting the local up - your grocery clerk, the fellow who fills the tank for your car at the Ancap station, the meat man (prime rib is always in the meat locker, seldom out front). We have made friends of a family who own a wine/cheese shop in the town where we buy our groceries... They love to practice their English while we practice our Spanish. My dentist has just returned from a trip to British Columbia to do a work/study tour on a boat up there. He practices his English with me & I practice my Spanish with him... We have been so well received & made welcome, I may eventually offer English classes for adults... My best advice is not to be shy and simply venture "Buen dia" occasionally until you feel more comfortable. Undoubtably, someone will eventually try to engage you in conversation on the bus or at the market. If they speak to fast for you to understand, simply request "mas lentamente, por favor" & they will slow down. I had to retrain my ears to the Castellano, altho I had grown up speaking Tex/Mex and Mexican Spanish. Just be yourself, be courteous & respectful, smile & the world will open up for you. Be aware that here we don't say "Adios" but, rather, "Ciao!" Schnitzel is Milanesa here... Germans may have invented it, but the Italians immigrated first, so there ya go... :D One of the BEST places to meet people is the local futbol matches and/or practices. Uruguayans are rabid futbol fans, and will quickly try to persuade you to root for their favorite teams... ;p," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Punta del Diablo.

"Punta del Diablo is a great place to meet people and make new friends. One of the easiest ways to meet people is to join any organized activities, from surf lessons to social events, to meet people with shared interests. You can also try joining a local sports team, hostel activities and travel excursions. Additionally, there are plenty of great local bars, restaurants, and cafés to meet people and get to know the locals. Finally, don’t forget to network! Talk to people you know and ask them if they know anyone in the area," explained one person living in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay.

"Punta del Diablo is a small fishing village in Uruguay that has become a popular destination for expats and digital nomads. The laid-back atmosphere and stunning beaches make it an ideal place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Expats and digital nomads can find a variety of accommodation options, from beachfront cabanas to apartments in the town center. The cost of living is relatively low, making it a great place to stretch your budget. The local community is friendly and welcoming, and there are plenty of activities to keep you busy, from surfing and fishing to exploring the nearby national parks. With its stunning scenery and relaxed lifestyle, Punta del Diablo is an ideal destination for expats and digital nomads looking for a change of pace," explained one expat living in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay.

"Family is the MOST important consideration here. Raising kids on pure air, clean water, unprocessed foods (keeping them from eating too many sweets) are all high priorities. Life is not a race here. Relax, take five minutes instead of one - they're small. :D The parilla is an EVENT, not a meal. It's a chance for family & friends to get together around the grill for nice conversation while the kids run around, a few delicious bites, a glass or two of excellent wine... Our village is centered around two things: tourism & fishing. One feeds the other & vice-versa. The one word that ALWAYS comes up in conversations about Punta del Diablo is "que tranquilo," which, of course, it IS. Everyone is relaxed... I found myself relaxing immediately. Anything that can't be finished today will certainly be waiting for you tomorrow. I doubt, when I stand before my Maker, that I will regret not having spent more time cleaning house or washing dishes. Rather, time with friends on the beach fishing or taking the sun, enjoying one another's company is a high priority for me," said one person in Punta del Diablo.

"If you are looking for a place to live in Punta del Diablo, there are many options available to you. Depending on your budget and what you are looking for, there are apartments and rental houses for short-term and long-term stays. You can also look into camping and hostels which can provide an affordable option for accommodation. Airbnb also has many properties listed in Punta del Diablo which can be a great option for those looking to stay in the area. Additionally, there are websites dedicated solely to helping travellers search for housing in Punta del Diablo, such as DiabloNest. Finally, you can also look into real estate agents and local newspapers which may list available properties in the area," explained one person living in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay.

"Learn Spanish before you come! Yes, they say everyone speaks English, but that's not true of the interior (or anyplace away from Montevideo). Learn Spanish! Learn to ride a small motor bike or 4-wheeler. You do not want to own a car here; the streets will eat it. Also, the salt air from the Atlantic. We use the bus to go out of town for major purchases, and use a small scooter & a 4-wheeler for getting around town. DRESS DOWN! Wearing your old sweats & flip-flops works to your advantage here. Especially if you're thinking of living here, you want to dress down. Flashy clothes gets you robbed. Dress down comfy - jeans, t-shirt, camos, work clothes.... Leave the suit in the suitcase. Learn to use a fireplace and/or wood stove competently without smoking up the house. Learn what to look for before you rent a house with a fireplace or wood stove. I.e., don't rent a small house with a huge fireplace! The big fireplace will actually suck more heat out of the house than it leaves in it - where YOU are! Find a house with a fireplace sized appropriately. It will make the difference between an economical, comfy winter and a chilly, expensive one. If renting, you will never find a Uruguayo house that has hot water in the kitchen, so just get over it. They have a tap in the shower and a bucket. Fill bucket with hot from the shower & tote it to the kitchen. Ta. Learn small motor repair - esp. chainsaws, motorbikes, and 4-wheelers. We have 2 mechanics in town and they will both skin you alive. One will fix the vehicle just enough to keep it running a week, then you'll be back for more repairs. The other will siphon the gas from your tank & tell you it was empty when you brought it to him. GAS is expensive. At present, we pay 70 pesos per liter here in Diablo for gas brought in from Brazil. If you buy from the gas station in Coronilla, it sells for 42 pesos/liter and Uruguayo gas, better quality. Learn to work with propane. Cooking revolves around the 13kg propane cylinder here. BUY MORE THAN ONE so you have time to wait for refills to be delivered. "Manana" (minus tilde) does not always mean "tomorrow" - it could be next week. Learn how to connect & disconnect your gas tanks yourself. Learn how to cook over wood on the grill. Charcoal in the bag exists here, but nothing like Kingsford. It's expensive when you can find it and it throws sparks. Learn to cook in the fireplace - you might enjoy it. Make yourself speak Spanish, even if you're shy or feel embarrassed. Check out DuoLingo.com. Even if you're tripping over your words, the people will appreciate you more for making the effort. Shop around for your internet. Antel (govt phone company) currently offers LTE superfast modem with 30GB downloads for 1,200 pesos (about $60USD) per month. BUT... when you get there to buy one, they're always out of them. We just got a new one after our old contract expired... We pay 750 pesos/mo for 12gb, about $25USD/month. DON'T be afraid to shop on the Brazil side of Chuy, the international free zone town. We bought our wood stove there at factory prices because Brazil's cast iron is better made than UY's. UY produces very little in the way of picante sauces, etc., so we get most of our groceries there as well. Clothes, groceries, shoes, tools, etc., we buy in Brazil for better selection, better prices, better quality," said one expat who made the move to Punta del Diablo.

"Bring flip-flops. Bring your favorite condiments, especially if you like spicy foods. Leave heavy coats behind, as winter only lasts about 3 months & spring is usually beautiful. That said, bone up on your fire-tending skills, as most home heating is by wood fire... If you split your own wood, you can buy it cheaper. Make friends with a good firewood vendor. Bring earmuffs for winter, as we do have a lot of wind (the Pamperos). Bring comfy pants with lots of pockets for shells, etc. when you hit the beach. ALWAYS save your empty beer bottles, as you get a 10- to 15-peso discount when you return the "dead soldiers" as you purchase more beer. Same with wine - returning the bottles (esp. the 5-liter bottles) saves you 165 pesos or so (about $8.50). Get the tri-fold maps from an Ancap station. Worth every penny of the $10, they have a map of UY, another of all the MercoSur countries, a map of Montevideo, and city street maps of all of the major cities... PDD is not listed, as we have only one main road through town... ;p Be prepared to be unprepared for the welcome you receive, the wonderful food & wine, the genuinely friendly people. We have found our new home, for sure. Lay out your trips in advance & plan to use the least fuel possible... Gas is about $8/gallon, so we use it well. We bought a 1968 VW Bug for $3500 USD. She's economical, reliable & parts are cheap as dirt. We bought an engine belt, new fuel lines, fuel filter, new seatbelts, and a new door knob for only $10. The fuel lines & filter were installed curbside at no additional cost. We had the resistor for the windshield wipers changed out curbside & were given a handful of extra fuses. The labor took 2 hours, but the total cost was $16. Learn to use propane. It's one of the things they do best here. Exchange of a 33-lb cylinder is only $16. The 2-lb cylinder for the gas stove in the kitchen costs $5. If you plan to immigrate, come down during the fall & stay thru the winter, so you know what you're getting into. You will probably be pleasantly surprised - we were. Now that we're hooked, we're buying property & starting building a home. Buy a cell phone from Antel, the govt phone company. A mid-range phone with camera & MP3 player, Bluetooth, and internet will set you back $26, with $5/month for service. :D Try the Uruguayo products. We have found many to be superior to brands we used in the US. If you have allergies, plan to obtain some antihistamines & decongestants from a farmacia here. You can get Loratadine cheaply for the first; you can still get pseudoephedrine down here without being spread-eagled outside the pharmacy. If you have health issues & are on regular medications, most are available over the counter without prescription here. Put off any dental work until you get here - it's incredibly high quality, latest technology, and incredibly cheap... I had a cracked molar that eventually broke, losing 25% of the back corner. Mario, my fabulous dentist, my hero - fixed it for $40 USD. Be prepared to be amazed at how little govt interference these people have in their lives. Be prepared to make friends with the police. They are not at all the threatening thugs one fears in the US," explained one foreigner living in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay.

"The lack of the fedral gummint's nose in my business. The fact that people here are more laid back & easygoing in their approach to life. The fact that there are no "old folks' homes" here. Old folks stay with the family until they die - they don't get farmed out for someone else to take care of because the family can't be bothered..," said one person in Punta del Diablo.

"Expats living in Punta del Diablo often appreciate the relaxed and laid-back lifestyle, the friendly locals, and the lack of commercialism that still remains in the area. They also enjoy the small-town charm and scenic views of the nearby beaches, as well as the abundance of outdoor activities such as fishing and surfing. The local cuisine is also a plus, and the activities and music festivals held throughout the year provide plenty of entertainment for expats," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Punta del Diablo.

"Expatriates often find the process of settling in and adapting to a new culture and environment to be the most challenging. Cultural and lifestyle differences can make it difficult to adjust to a new way of life, from the food, to the language and the climate. Other challenges may include navigating bureaucracy, making new friends and securing gainful employment. Additionally, legal and financial considerations can be a challenge, especially when trying to access public services or transfer money," said one person in Punta del Diablo.

"Because of 3 previous head injuries, I struggle with remembering precise wording & phrasing of Spanish, especially now when faced with formal Castillano... But people are so patient & understanding, even if you arrive speaking Mexican Spanish, they still understand you, as most of their TV is in Mexican Spanish..," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Punta del Diablo.

"If you plan to stay in Punta del Diablo for a while, you will need to obtain a temporary residence visa. You will need to submit the following documents to apply for the visa: a passport or other valid travel document (valid for at least 6 months beyond the duration of your intended stay); proof of financial means to support your stay (like a bank statement); proof of health insurance; a valid police clearance from residence country; proof of return ticket or onward journey; and documentation related to the purpose of stay (such as employment contract, study program)," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Punta del Diablo.

"When visiting Punta del Diablo, it is important to be aware of the local customs and adhere to cultural norms. Be mindful of appropriate dress, especially when entering religious spaces. Be respectful of other cultures, languages, religions, and individual beliefs. Refrain from taking photos of locals without asking for their permission, as this could be perceived as disrespectful. Avoid talking about sensitive topics such as politics and religion, as these are fraught with differently held opinions. Do not touch or take anything, especially anything that appears to have spiritual or religious significance. Respect the local environment and wildlife and respect the local vendors by shopping locally. Finally, it is always appreciated when visitors learn a few words of the local language," remarked one member in Punta del Diablo.

"Not here in Uruguay, but many in Thailand I would rather forget... Because I had a migraine, my son went to a friend's restaurant alone & met an "undisclosed ladyboy." We ended up cutting our visit short as a result..," explained one expat living in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay.

"Check out the various affiliates. Rocha has a state affiliate that is quite reasonable. Medica Uruguaya is reasonable. COMERO has proven most economical & available choice for us. Very clean & professional, no problem getting appointments," commented a person living in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay.

"Punta del Diablo, a small coastal village in Uruguay, offers limited healthcare services due to its size and remote location. The village has a small health center, known as Centro de Salud, which provides basic medical care and emergency services to the local community and tourists. This health center is staffed by a few doctors and nurses who can handle minor illnesses and injuries. For more specialized treatments or serious medical emergencies, patients may need to travel to larger cities such as Chuy or even Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. These cities have more advanced healthcare facilities, including hospitals and specialized clinics, which can cater to a wider range of medical needs. Pharmacies are also available in Punta del Diablo, where locals and tourists can purchase over-the-counter medications and basic medical supplies. However, it is advisable for visitors to bring any necessary prescription medications with them, as the availability of specific drugs may be limited in the village. Overall, while Punta del Diablo does have some basic healthcare services, it is essential for visitors to be aware of the limitations and plan accordingly, especially if they have any pre-existing medical conditions or require specialized care," explained one digital nomad living in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay.

"Expats and digital nomads generally like the laid-back atmosphere, beautiful beaches, and friendly locals in Punta del Diablo. They appreciate the low cost of living, fresh seafood, and the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture. The small-town vibe and the natural beauty of the surroundings, including the Santa Teresa National Park, are also attractive features for those looking for a peaceful and relaxed lifestyle. On the other hand, some expats and digital nomads may dislike the limited availability of amenities and services in Punta del Diablo, as it is a small town. The internet connectivity can be unreliable, which can be a significant drawback for digital nomads who rely on stable connections for work. Additionally, the town can become quite crowded during the peak tourist season, which may be off-putting for some. The language barrier can also be a challenge for those who do not speak Spanish, as English is not widely spoken in the area. Finally, the limited public transportation options and distance from major cities may make it difficult for expats and digital nomads to travel and explore other parts of Uruguay," wrote one digital nomad living in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay.