Durazno (dead link: January 2023) is a city in the Central Interior region of Uruguay. Founded in 1821, it is the capital of Durazno Department and has a population of about 35,000. The center of Durazno feels like the small city that it is, with shops, restaurants, and historic buildings—but you don't have to walk far to feel like you're out in the country, with chickens squabbling and horses walking over to say hello.
Durazno started as a river crossing, located where Uruguay Route 5 crosses the Yí River (pronounced like "she"). The city's name, which means "peach" in Spanish, is said to come from a peach tree that was once located at the crossing.
The first president of Uruguay Fructuoso Rivera intended to move the capital of the country from Montevideo to this city. His house at the center of town is now a museum.
There are buses between Durazno and Montevideo with departures all day long. Expect to pay U$300–400 each way. The trip takes about two and a half hours each way.
There are also buses from other cities, such as Colonia and Rivera.
The bus terminal, Terminal Rodó 📍, is at the corner of Oribe and Gallinal. It has a convenience store and a restaurant.
Intercity bus service is provided by Nossar, Núñez, Turismar, and Agencia Central (dead link: January 2023). Nossar in particular offers service from a variety of destinations, including international service three times a week from Buenos Aires.
Durazno is on Route 5, which connects it with Montevideo to the south and Rivera to the north.
You can just walk around, it's a small city. There are taxis waiting at the bus terminal though. You can also call a taxi at +598 4362 6070 or +598 4362 4040 .
The central Plaza Independencia, between Oribe, Rivera, Batlle, and Piriz, is an important landmark.
Museo Histórico (Casa de Rivera), Manuel Oribe 775 (next to the Plaza Independencia), -33.380187°, -56.522993°. Tu–F 09:00–19:00, Sa Su 09:00–15:00. The regional museum with rooms about Uruguayan archaeology (including prehistoric artifacts), local history and Gaucho art, located in a historic building. Free 2017-06-05
Museo de Arte (Casa de la Cultura), Penza 719, -33.380191°, -56.525403°. Art museum in a historic building. 2017-06-07
Sports museum, Gral. Manuel Oribe, near the plaza. Only if you are very interested, it's far from a spectacular museum.
Iglesia San Pedro de Durazno, next to the Plaza Independencia, -33.381048°, -56.522639°. A church by famous architect Eladio Diesde. Nothing to make a special trip for, but the brick interior is architecturally interesting. 2017-06-05
Playa El Sauzal, -33.364678°, -56.515963°. Sandy beach on the River Yí. 2017-06-05
Monument to Christopher Columbus, Plaza Independencia, -33.380460°, -56.522390°. A 14-meter column unveiled in 1892 for the 400th anniversary of Columbus's voyage. On top of it is a spherical time capsule which was filled in 1892 and opened 100 years later, in 1992. Then the city's inhabitants replaced its contents with new messages, to be read in 2092! 2017-06-05
Monumento al Tamboril, corner of Larrañaga and Morquio, -33.379°, -56.531°. A monument to the tabor (tamboril), a type of drum—the only such monument in the world! 2017-06-09
For most of the year, there's not all that much to do in Durazno. The exception is when there's a large event in town.
Durazno's tortas fritas are known for being the largest in Uruguay.
There are various restaurants on Gral. Manuel Oribe and around the various plazas.
Two bars in Gral. Manuel Oribe, near the bus terminal. Gets crowded around 01:00-02:00 Fridays and Saturdays.
Free public wifi is available at the Plaza Independencia. Look for the network "Ceibal".