Uruguay has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, moderated by Atlantic Ocean influence. Montevideo averages 10°C in July (winter) and 23°C in January (summer), with rain spread evenly through the year. Punta del Este comes alive in summer (December to February) when beach temperatures reach 25-28°C and the town fills with visitors from Argentina and Brazil. Winter (June to August) is mild along the coast at 8-15°C, with occasional frost inland but no snow. The best months to visit are November to December and March to April when temperatures are comfortable and crowds thinner than the January peak. Carnival in Montevideo runs for 40 days from mid-January to late February, the longest carnival season in the world.
