Minas de Corrales (near Tacuarembo), Uruguay
January 8-15, 2016
As you travel away from the popular coast and into the northern areas of Uruguay you end up surrounded by farm land, green rolling hills and open plains. This is what they call "gaucho country" (cowboy country) and its the real deal where you'll see gaucho's dressed in french style beret caps and baggy pants tucked into their boots. Lots of horses, cows and sheep dot the countryside with few and far between towns and villages. Its isolated and tranquil which was the perfect combination to seek refuge from the crowded and expensive coastline during the peak season of January and February. This part of Uruguay is lesser known and lesser traveled and that suits us just fine! Though it doesn't boast any major attractions, it does however, allow us to tap into the local culture and experience something a little different. We ended up spending a week in a small village called Minas de Corrales (located near the larger town of Tacuarembo) where we got to know a lovely local family who owned the hotel where we lounged during our week.
Our Accommodations - Hotel Artigas
We came across a little gem called Hotel Artigas in the small village of Minas de Corrales. Its owned and operated by the same family since it opened over 100 years ago and they accommodate a large population of gold mining workers when the local mine is flourishing and recruiting employees. We got to know the family and learned a lot about the area's history and culture.
It was a great place to be especially when we have the chance to meet wonderful people!
The History of Minas de Corrales
In 1878 a French gold mining company set up shop in the area which lead to a wave of immigration from all over the world and thus, gave birth to the village of Minas de Corrales. The mining company also built a damn to provide hydroelectric power to the mine and shared the electricity with the village (the first in Uruguay to have power). By 1916 most of those who came to the area to follow a dream had left and the village became a ghost town for several decades. In 1996 a multinational company with Canadian, US and Australian capital restarted the gold mining operation and continues to be a major employer for the local area.
Hotel Artigas provides tours which gives a unique perspective to the area that otherwise would not be appreciated. We had an opportunity to join them for a tour of the remains of the damn and mining facilities. We think one of the best things to do is get off the beaten track and explore parts of a country which are under appreciated. Often, this is where the most memorable experiences can be found.