It's been over a year since our last cute dolphin report (omg remember the pink dolphin of Louisiana?!) and since it's Monday and all, we just have to share this story: an injured baby dolphin was found by tourists in Uruguay, and it's being nursed back to health.

The little cutie was suffering from fishing net wounds and had washed up on a beach at the La Plata River. Now he is at the NGO Rescate Fauna Marina in Punta Colorada, outside of Montevideo, in the safe hands of marine biologists who work with other tiny marine animals, like the dolphin's new neighbor Pingu the Penguin. Apparently they gave the baby dolphin his own cute name: "Nipper."]]> JetSetCD 2010-11-08T09:35:15-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/12/30/153646/49

Jaunted editors and contributors traveled all over the world this year, from South Africa to the Bahamas, but nothing piqued our interest more than an undertouristed part of South America, often overlooked for Rio or Buenos Aires. That's why we're bestowing the Jaunty for Best Field Trip of 2008 to Uruguay.

Even without going in season, Jaunted editor Paul Brady--who recused himself from voting on this award, mind you--found great food, good beaches and even a premium national beer in Uruguay, a country many skip in their South American tours. Unlike in European countries, the exchange rate is still relatively favorable to visitors, and unlike on other South American beaches, you don't need to be born there to get a prime blanket spot. Try Uruguay in 2009; we'll save you a Patricia.

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· Uruguay Field Trip: Getting There [Jaunted]
· Uruguay Field Trip: Punta del Diablo [Jaunted]
· The Full Uruguay Field Trip [Jaunted]]]> Jaunted 2008-12-30T16:00:40-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/12/16/153119/51

Earlier this year, Jaunted editor Paul Brady spent a few days in Punta del Diablo while on his Uruguay Field Trip. It was so enjoyable, he went back, and today brings us this guide to the boomingest beach town on the South Atlantic.

One thing you'll fast realize when planning a trip to Uruguay is that there doesn't seem to be any information out there about visiting the country. Yes, there have been newspaper articles about Punta del Este, but that's no more Uruguay than South Beach is the United States. In perhaps the biggest info dump available to English speakers, Lonely Planet's guide to South America on a Shoestring gives the entire country 29 pages; Argentina gets 138.

But even if Uruguay remains off the radar, on the other side of the equator, summer is heating up, and tourists are flooding into Punta del Diablo, the beach town I've called home for the past month. One of many fishing-turned-surfing-turned-tourist towns that dot the country's seemingly endless and sandy coastline, it's perhaps the most popular of the moment: An article in Sunday's El Pais reports that as many as 10,000 day-trippers will be visiting each day this high season--on top of the 40,000 that will spend the night.

To help you cut through the crowds, you'll need our guide--and this map to all the must-sees.]]> pbb 2008-12-16T16:50:31-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/3/28/151313/305

Well, Uruguay, thanks for the good times.

True, it was sometimes challenging to tackle you without a guidebook, and the English-language travel media has skipped over you for the sexier-every-day Buenos Aires. (With one exception, that is.)

But hopefully our coverage can send some more steak-loving, beach-combing, wine-guzzling folks your way. You deserve 'em.

Related Stories:
· Ministry of Tourism of Uruguay [Official Site]
· Uruguay Field Trip coverage [Jaunted]
· Uruguay coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-03-28T15:45:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/3/27/95325/9738

Most of our tour through Uruguay was poorly timed: Montevideo was vacant for Holy Week, we missed the full moon party in Punta del Diablo and we were late for the season in Punta del Este.

By the time we showed up, just about everything was shut down. But rather than whine about our bad luck to our stone-faced hotel receptionist, we dug up an old review of what's worth checking out year-round in South America's South Beach.

The illustrious Matt Gross swung through Punta more than a year ago, but we figured the town's "most popular bakery," Medialunas Calentitas, would still be around. His description made it all the more enticing:

I ordered a quartet of their famous sticky-sweet croissants and a cortado (espresso with a little milk) for 95 pesos, and as I munched them outside at the surfer-chic picnic tables, latecomers cautiously approached the bakery, only to be turned away. For a moment, I felt like an insider.

If there's any sign that Punta del Diablo is about to become an It spot for backpackers in South America, it's the supremely well-done Diablo Tranquilo Bar, right on the beach. The satellite food and booze spot for the hostel up the road, it's got great service, great design, a great menu and tons of cold beer. If that's not enough, did we mention it's right on the beach?

Though it's only been open for a few months, there really isn't anything bad to report. The place is simply one of the best hostel-affiliated bars we've ever seen--and we've done a lot of boozing at hostels.

Also worth checking out: the panoramic view of PdD from the third floor. Be sure to take your cocktail and that cute surfer chick from across the bar.

Related Stories:
· Uruguay Field Trip coverage [Jaunted]
· Uruguay coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-03-27T16:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/3/25/121136/604

In Punta del Diablo, the two biggest questions you'll face are "What should I get in my empanda?" and "Is it too early for a Patricia?" The answers: Fish and cheese and no, no it isn't.

The place to be is the no-name empanada shack just off the beach in front of the Cueva Luna bar. There are four tables, one guy taking orders and two ladies crankin' out super tasty pockets of golden fried goodness. The sweeping ocean view doesn't hurt either.

Our lunch of four empanadas and a big beer was just 190 pesos ($9). To help you find the no-name spot, we've marked it on our Uruguay Travel Map.

Related Stories:
· Uruguay Field Trip coverage [Jaunted]
· Uruguay coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-03-27T13:45:02-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/