Trinidad (Uruguay)

Trinidad is the capital of Flores Department, Uruguay. Visitors are drawn by the nature 3.5 km (2.2 mi) west of the city, on Route 3, and by the prehistoric sites: the Palace Cave and the rock paintings at Chamangá.

Plaza Constitución

Bus service is available from Montevideo as well as other Uruguayan cities such as Colonia and Salto. Service is offered by Agencia Central, COPAY, El Norteño, NOSSAR, and Núñez.

Grutas del Palacio

• 🌍 Grutas del Palacio (By car, best option. By bus, it is possible but only once a day at 17:00 along route no. 14. By thumb, it is possible likewise, just not along route no. 14. Best to get off at highway no. 3, about 2-3 km north of the Grutas del Palacio position in the west. From there a gaucho trail leads 4.5 km straight west to route no. 14—check OpenStreetMap. The trail leads over a 1941 bridge crossing the river, and you will have to climb two gates—the trail however is not on private property. From the exit point on route no. 14, you have to walk back south the 2-3 km to the entrance of the site. To get back to Trinidad or to the dam to the north for an overnight stay, ask the tourists that leave the site or the staff that will leave at 18:30.), ☏ +598 43604473. W-Su 09:00-18:30. A natural monument 46 km from Trinidad, on the ancient National Road N°3 surrounded by nature. It is a seventeen-hectare geopark. It is considered the second geopark in Latin America, incorporated in the global network by UNESCO, which declared it a national natural heritage site. It is a stone monument which consists of caves that are formed by around 200 columns of about 2 m in height and 80 cm in diameter. The caves can be accessed through about forty different entrances and the public can explore them freely. For years it was thought that the caves had been constructed by the ancient inhabitants of Uruguay. These inhabitants did use the caves as dwellings, but studies have confirmed that the site is a natural formation which was sculpted by water about 70,000 years ago. Different tools and artifacts that were found there allowed geologists to learn about the Proterozoic, Palaeozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic ages – see them at the museum at the entrance to the caves. Visitors can get in on their own all year round, or they can ask for guides who are specialized in its history. Every year, generally in April, Flores City Council organises tours to the place, and you can get there by bus. U$50. (updated Feb 2018)
• 🌍 Museo Departamental, ☏ +598 4364 6964, museo@flores.gub.uy. M–F 10:15–17:45, Sa Su 11:00–17:00. History museum of the region, located in the old train station. 

• 🌍 El Rancho, Pancho Lopez and Aparicio Saravia, ☏ +598 4364 7078. 

• Hotel Maxim, Alfredo J Puig 750 esquina Treinta y Tres, ☏ +598 4364 5860. It has this sophisticated air about it like it's a castle or something. Has a restaurant and complimentary breakfast. U$4,196. (updated Feb 2021)