Salto Uruguay

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March 21st 2013

Published: March 23rd 2013

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Large Thermal Spa Pool

We had this pool all to ourselves, we took this photo using the autotimer.

We arrived in Salto, Uruguay after a 5 hour bus ride from Parana to Concordia followed by a change of bus to cross the border into Uruguay which only took an hour including passport control. The bus goes over the hydroelectric dam on the Uruguay river which provides 65% of Saltos electricity. We decided to book a stay on a thermal spa ranch about 30km outside of Salto at Estancia San Nicanor. It took about 45 mins by taxi, majority of the journey being on a 12km dirt road. It was pitch black when we arrived but were glad to find that we were the only guests in the hostel accomodation. The next morning we found out just how beautiful this place was. Surounded by beautiful countryside the main estancia was very pretty and all the other accomodation buildings nicely spaced out around the grounds. There were 2 large thermal spa pools about 1km away down a track, along the walk we saw cows, ostrich, peacocks, lots of wild birds and much to Marks excitement a tarantula. The first day we had the too large pools all to ourselves as we were the only guests, it was so peaceful, no cars,

Small Thermal Spa Pool

This is where we swam at night with frogs in the pool and bats overhead.

planes, people, just wildlife and countryside. Our second night we had dinner in the restaurant with a spanish couple and their friend, they were full of tips and ideas for places we can visit as they had all travelled extensively through south america. We decided to stay for 2 more days which meant we needed to get into the town of Salto to do some food shopping and organise our next bus ticket. We got a ride with the ranch staff into town in a van that had seats attached to the body work with coat hangers and electrical wire, it broke down on the way but after some tinkering the driver got us into town! Salto is lovely, old buildings, cobbled streets, clean and quiet, even the drivers let you cross the road here. The journey back was less eventful. During our stay here we swam in the small thermal spa pool close to the estancia every night, it was very hot in the pool but the temperature outside was much cooler at night so if felt really relaxing. There were little frogs swimming in the water, which we were surprised didn´t get cooked. Around the edge of the

Beautiful Country Side

pool there were occasional toads the size of saucers, and lots of bats catching all the insects overhead. There is no light pollution here so the star gazing was also wonderful. This is backpacking in style!

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