LAVALLEJA
GENERAL INFORMATION
  • Offcial department since 1837

  • Capital City: Minas
  • Population: 60.925 inhabitants
  • Surface: 110.016 km2
  • Distance from Montevideo: 122 km.

  • Holidays and Celebrations:
    • Festival Minas y Abril.
    • Celebración Virgen del Verdún.
    • Noche de los Fogones.
    • Semana de Lavalleja.

  • Tourism Office: Ph.: 4421 1198
Coat of Arms
Location in Uruguay

This department holds a beautiful mountain range that attracts both visitors and Uruguayans, especially the Cerro del Arequita and its cave, and the Cerro del Verdún where the Virgin of Verdun is visited by thousands of people all year round. It also has a wonderful, quiet, and peaceful camping site on the mountain side.

On the Cerro Artigas, in Minas, stands an 18 meter high statue of National Hero Artigas. Its construction was begun by the sculptor José Belloni and finished by his son, Stelio Belloni. Parador Salus and Puma Fountain are near the capital city and they are both wonderful places to visit and enjoy their wooded parks.

MAP WITH ROUTES

HOTELS
HOTEL MINAS
Semi Peatonal 25 de Mayo
Minas
Tel.: 4442 4272
HOTEL PLAZA MINAS
Roosevelt 639
Minas
Tel.: 4442 2328
VILLA SERRANA HOSTEL
Ruta 8 Km. 145
Villa Serrana
Tel.: 099 226 911
PARQUE DE UTE - ANTEL
Ruta 12 Km 347.5
Minas
Tel.: 4442 3788
RESTAURANTS
EL OMBU
Minas
Tel.: 4442 5884
PARADOR SALUS
Ruta 8 Km. 109.5
Tel.: 4443 1652
PARADOR SALTO PENITENTE
Salto del Penitente
Tel.: 4440 3096
RURAL TOURISM
AGUILA BLANCA
Lavalleja
Tel: +598 08 546 827
LA SALAMORA
Tel.: 099 923 997
RENT A CAR
MINAS RENTA-CAR
Empalme Ruta 8 y Ruta 12
Tel.: 4442 0190
SIGHTSEEING

AREQUITA HILL (CERRO AREQUITA).
10 kilometers north from the city of Minas, “Cerro Arequita” stands like a giant made of granite. A 230 meters elevation of volcanic origin. The “Mirador” restaurant offers guided tours of the cave and mountain climbing. There is a municipal campsite very close by with capacity for 3000 people.

PENITENTE FALL (SALTO DEL PENITENTE).
At the Kilometer 125 of Route Nº 8, the visitors will find the entrance to the “Salto del Penitente”, a 50 meters high waterfall surrounded by a beautiful and peaceful natural environment. The “Parador Penitente” offers a restaurant, a campsite, horse riding activites, showers, and rest rooms. Tel.: 4440 3096.

LAGUNA DE LOS CUERVOS.
Detrás del Cerro Arequita se encuentra el Cerro de los Cuervos. Este tiene una similitud con el anterior, siendo su tamaño bastante menor. A los pies de este Cerro es que se formó, con los años, una laguna llamada "La Laguna de los Cuervos".

Sus aguas puras y el paisaje que adorna esta zona, brinda al turista un ambiente indescriptible.