Rocha is full of corners as magical as beautiful, worth visiting. If you are thinking of taking a trip and discovering the most charming towns and villages of our department, this is your chance! Each one, scattered throughout the territory of Rocha, takes us to other times, invites us to walk through its streets, go hiking in its surroundings, visit its squares and old churches.
During your trip make sure you have your cell phone and camera battery fully charged because you will want to capture every detail. Do you dare to discover these 7 beautiful towns and villages of Rocha?
18 de Julio
At kilometer 10 of route 19, a few kilometers from Fuerte San Miguel. Immersed in an area where low plains and lagoons predominate, alternated with ranges, covered by indigenous forest. Formerly called San Miguel, the foundational motive of the town, in the early 1900s, was the result of the construction of "casas propias" (own houses)for those who worked as laborers, foremen, mediators, stallholders and porters in large estancias(ranches) in the area to keep their families close to their place of work.
19 de Abril
Located on route 9 at km 235, on the banks of the Chafalote stream, surrounded by mountains, hills and marshes. Until 1913 its name was Chafalote, later 19 of April, formerly known as place of transit and border. It was a zone of disputes between the Portuguese and Spanish crowns a transit route to the Lusitanian border and to the last border defense posts of the Spanish empire (Santa Teresa and San Miguel), marked the way to them by various royal guards, being the better known the Guardia del Monte.
Cebollatí
To the north of Rocha, on route 15 at km 187, Cebollatí is located on the banks of one of the longest rivers in Uruguay: the Cebollatí River. Privileged place by nature, surrounded by palm trees, an immense indigenous forest and the famous Isla del Padre (Father Island). The town was named as "Rice Capital" due to the high percentages in the production of this crop.
Parallé
Small village, with only 16 inhabitants (according to the last census conducted in 2011), is located in the central-western area of Rocha, between the Cuchilla de Spalato and the arroyo Casimiro, and next to route 15.
Puerto de Los Botes
Small fishermen town, entering by route 9 in the km 204, on the banks of arroyo Rocha and next to the Laguna de Rocha, whose little narrow streets and ranchitos at the edge of the road give it a picturesque aspect. Arriving at the stream there is a small park of eucalyptus, with public restrooms and barbecue
San Luis
On the shores of the San Luis River and along route 19, at kilometer 29. The name of this town has its origin in a Jesuit priest, Luis Costanza, who arrived in the area around 1650. Located in a region mainly focused on the cultivation of rice. The Cerritos de Indios also abound, testimonies of the life of the oldest inhabitants of these lands.
Velázquez
Villa Velázquez is located west of the India Muerta stream, on route 15 at its junction with route 13. Its first settlers arrived in 1910; it is recognized as "historical capital" of the department of Rocha. Area where the Batallas de India Muerta (Battles) were carried out in 1816 and 1845.
A beautiful urban area where the beauty of its square stands out next to the Maria Auxiliadora Chapel and the house of Don Amalio Graña, the third farm that was built on the site and the only one dated from 1915 that remains standing. To the southwest by Gil Díaz street is the Pozo del Estado, place where the town was supplied with water in the past. The main avenue also stands out since it is delineated by hundreds of palm trees, which were located by the founder of the town.
