Casupá, La Paz, and Santiago Vázquez will represent Uruguay in the "Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism" award

Casuppah:

Located in south-central Uruguay, it belongs to the jurisdiction of the department of Florida and is one of its three municipalities. It is 70 km from the departmental capital and 110 km from the capital, Montevideo, which can be reached in 1:30 hours.

For the past ten years, it has established itself as a sustainable tourist destination, boasting a variety of attractions: tourist olive groves, Mangueras de los Artigas Park, the Zoo of the Future, an Open-Air Museum, a Mural Circuit featuring popular town figures, a Cultural Center, the María Auxiliadora Parish, and a Sports Complex, among others. Rural, cultural, educational, sports, and religious tourism experiences are available.

The main festivities are Las Barriadas de Carnaval (February), the Criollo Festival in Parque Mangueras de los Artigas (March) and horse riding raids (May, July and October).

It offers a unique and innovative experience in South America: the Zoological Park of the Future, a one-hectare thematic site, whose goal is to inform and raise awareness among tourists and residents about Uruguay's biological diversity and the importance of protecting its diverse ecosystems.

Regarding the promotion and conservation of cultural resources, the Mangueras de los Artigas Park, Casupá's main cultural and natural attraction, was declared a National Historic Monument through local initiatives.
In terms of environmental sustainability, the Zoological Park of the Future and the installation of an artistic native flora nursery are notable.

La Paz:

Located in the department of Colonia, La Paz is surrounded by nature, cascading rivers, and a community committed to education. Its golden sand beaches, rural activity, and two large companies that process local products sustain the economy with identity. Situated in the heart of the south, on one of the country's most important tourist corridors, La Paz offers an unforgettable experience: canoeing trips and nighttime cruises on the Rosario River, guided by moonlight. This unique experience combines adventure, nature, and excitement in a serene and enchanting setting. 

Over time, the quality, organization, and dissemination of the program have improved significantly, attracting a growing number of visitors. The activity, which promotes active and sustainable tourism, allows you to experience a deep connection with the landscape and with yourself. An exquisite experience that turns each paddle into an unforgettable memory. 

It has four monuments declared of National Interest by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Uruguay: Black Bridge, Waldensian Church, Catholic Church, and Butler Peréz House. This allows for the preservation and care of the heritage.

The town is distinguished by its strong connection between the countryside and industry, especially in the production of artisanal products such as sweets and jams. In this department, two large companies are dedicated to processing raw materials sourced directly from local rural producers. Thanks to this synergy, high-quality products are produced, made with fresh fruit and a profound respect for tradition.

Santiago Vázquez:

It is the only town in the department of Montevideo not contiguous with the city of the same name. Given its natural and cultural characteristics, its main activity is fishing, complemented by a growing development of rural and aquatic tourism, taking advantage of its proximity to the Santa Lucía Wetlands Protected Natural Area.

It borders the Santa Lucía wetlands, part of the National System of Protected Areas, which means it must comply with certain regulations pertaining to this designation. The park rangers of the protected area and all residents are committed to ensuring the environmental sustainability of the town and the wetlands.

Tourism is significantly commercialized and developed. Furthermore, efforts are being made to improve the tourism value chain and the destination's competitiveness in areas related to market access, marketing and promotion, innovation, product development, and quality.

The Caminos del Agua projects, the Santa Maria Wetlands Visitor Center

Lucía, Finca Espinillo, and Parador Gourmet Punta Espinillo have been certified with the "Greenest Tourism" Seal awarded by the Montevideo City Council to all tourism projects that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to sustainability and environmental preservation.

The objectives of the proposal are:  

1- Reduce regional inequalities in income and development.
2- Combat rural depopulation.
3- Promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and youth.
4- Improve education and skills development.
5- Promote rural transformation and strengthen traction capacity.
6- Strengthen multi-level governance, partnerships, and active community participation (public-private-community collaboration).
7- Improve connectivity, infrastructure, and access to finance and investment.
8- Advance innovation and digitalization.
9- Innovate in product development and value chain integration.
10- Promote the relationship between sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems and tourism to preserve biodiversity, agrobiodiversity, cultural heritage, and local gastronomy.
11- Promote the conservation of natural and cultural resources.
12- Promote sustainable practices for more efficient use of resources and a reduction in emissions and waste.

Reasons to participate:
To make tourism a driving force for rural development and community well-being.
To commit to sustainability in all its aspects—economic, social, and environmental.
To gain visibility and international recognition as a leading rural tourism destination.
To be part of a global network of rural destinations.

The requirements are as follows:
POPULATION: Low population density, with a maximum of 15,000 inhabitants.
TERRITORY: Located in a landscape with a significant presence of traditional activities such as agriculture, forestry, livestock farming, or fishing.
SOCIETY: Shared values ​​and the community's lifestyle.

Areas of evaluation
Applications will be evaluated by an independent advisory board through a set of indicators covering the following areas:
1. Cultural and natural resources
2. Promotion and conservation of cultural resources
3. Economic sustainability
4. Social sustainability
5. Environmental sustainability
6. Tourism development and value chain integration
7. Tourism governance and prioritization
8. Infrastructure and connectivity
9. Health, safety and security

Source: MINTUR Uruguay.