Great Runs in Montevideo, Uruguay
Note: For the Full Guide to Running in Montevideo, see the GR Website
The capital of Uruguay, Montevideo is a city of 1.3 million on Montevideo Bay, overlooking the Río (river) de la Plata. It’s an increasingly popular visitor destination, owing to its history, sandy beaches, important port, and great restaurant scene. The center of the city is the old Spanish Citadel of Plaza de la Independencia, which leads to the Ciudad Vieja (old town), with the newer part of the city, Carrasco, to the east. Running in Montevideo is mainly defined by the extensive coastline, which leads east for many km.
La Rambla: The signature run in Montevideo. A combination wide sidewalk/waterfront path that spans for 25+ km, from the Old City/Ferry Terminal to Carrasco. Great water views and runnable beaches.
La Rambla (Favorite Sections): Here, we point out a few favorite sections of the 25 km La Rambla Path & loops coming off this waterfront path, heading from west to east.
Rodo Park: Centrally located park with lovely, verdant criss-crossing paths. Grand fountain, museums, a music stand, and a small lake. For a longer run, head toward the Rambla, around the lighthouse, or the quiet streets west of the park.
Old City: A 6.7 km ‘runseeing’ tour of Montevideo’s Old City. The first 2.5 km is west from City Hall, passing through Plaza Indepedencia and other sites. The return is along La Rambla through Plaza España.
Botanical Garden and Parque del Prado: Wonderful botanical gardens and park located 7 km northwest of the city centre. The park has 5 km+ of lovely dirt trails for running, including 2 km of paths along the river.
Beaches: Montevideo has some of the best urban beach running in the world. The beaches are wide, flat, and feature firm sand. Highlights are Playa de los Pocitos, Playa Buceo to Playa Honda, and Playa Carrasco.
Stadium and Park Area: Estadio Centenario is a soccer stadium located within a larger park and athletics complex. Roads and paths through a park, soccer fields, and a state-of-the-art running track.
Carrasco and Punta Gorda: Create your own route through these upscale residential neighborhoods located 7 km east of Montevideo. Tree-lined streets featuring sidewalks, nice homes, and parks.
Roosevelt Park and Shangrila Neighborhood: Officially called “Children’s Rights Park”, this large park extends north ~5 km from the beach. Both wide and narrow wooded paths, fields, and a lake.
Piriápolis: A great place to run if you’re heading east along the coast toward Punta del Este. There’s a 5 km waterfront path that has great water views, 3 km along Piriápolis Beach, and the challenging Hill of San Antonio!
Punta del Este: Popular vacation spot 130 km east of Montevideo. The Rambla Coastal Loop is the signature run in Punta del Este. We also love Playa Brava and Gorriti Island.
Colonia del Sacramento: A 2-hour drive west of Montevideo, this former Portugese settlement is a popular visitor destination. Good running along the Rambla, Barrio Histórico, beaches, and some rural agricultural roads.
For the full running guide to Montevideo, see greatruns.com.
