If you’ve been following our blogs, you’ve done your homework up to this point. You’ve evaluated Uruguay against Argentina. You’ve researched Closaway Outfitters’ – San Jose Lodge on our website, Facebook page and Instagram page. You’re almost ready to book, but, you’re still struggling a bit to understand what to expect and exactly how your trip will go day by day. It’s a fair question. You’re about to travel some 5,000 miles and once you arrive, you will be captive for four or more days. In this blog, we hope to help you understand the “flow” of your lifetime trip.
First is the decision of how long should you plan to stay at the Ranch. From personal and client experience, I can tell you that time moves faster at the Ranch. It feels as if you’ve only been with us a day, when then it’s time to head back. Many repeat guests stay a week or even two weeks; however, we understand cost considerations must be factored in. Given the travel, we highly recommend nothing less than four equivalent hunting days, but more is better!
Arrival:
Almost every major airline from the US will get you to Uruguay. Most will connect through other major South American cities and then have a South American airline take you to Montevideo, Uruguay. These flights will take place overnight, with a typical early AM arrival in Montevideo (MVD). Montevideo has a hassle-free, quick customs process, and most clients make a pass through the duty-free shop to pick up their favorite spirits for their stay.
We will greet you at customs clearance and load you and your baggage up for the drive to the Ranch. By the way, as we provide daily laundry service, you can travel light. The drive to the Ranch is approximately 2.5 hours northeast of MVD. It’s worth noting that most other outfitters are in the northwest of the country and can be a 6-to-8-hour drive. Another reason we are a preferred outfitter as, unlike the other indigenous outfitters, you will be hunting the same day as your arrival. In effect, this “saves” you an additional day in total.
You will arrive at the Ranch late morning and will have time to unpack, settle in and then enjoy a mouth-watering lunch from our executive chef. Most clients will take advantage of the early afternoon and catch a short nap. Typically, we will conduct a dove roost hunt your first afternoon, as a good transition to the balance of your stay.
At the Ranch:
Evenings at the Ranch typically consist of clients unwinding on the porch with friends, the firepit (yes it’s winter time there), appetizers, their favorite spirit, and breathtaking sunsets. All meals are memorable with our executive chef and evening/lunch meal service includes an appetizer, full entre and delicious desert, paired with outstanding regional wines. Entres include all of the game you harvest and are heavily influenced by the Spanish and Italian heritage of the country. After dinner, guests typically shower and change into comfortable clothing. Some enjoy an evening of billiards and others “hang” on the porch, reflecting on the day’s events. Depending on the next days activities, some guests will turn in early and night owls may catch up on news from our large screen television by the fireplace.
Morning duck hunters will get a 5:30 AM door knock and perdiz hunters will get a 7:00 AM door knock. Morning hunts will typically get clients back to the Lodge from 10 to 11:30 AM. Clients determine whether they want an early or late lunch, with the opportunity to relax or take a refreshing nap. You will enjoy Uruguay’s best duck and perdiz hunting!
Most afternoons are slated for dove and pigeon roost shoots. However, based on conditions and client desire, we often will mix up the hunting venues. For example, afternoon duck hunts can be quite good. Perdiz hunts are good be it morning or afternoon. We take advantage of fresh planted fields for pigeon and dove, both which morning and afternoon can be excellent. You can be assured that we will always keep you in birds based on current conditions.
If you’ve read the previous blog of the “Closaway Way”, we do have many guests who prefer to take a mid-trip afternoon off from hunting and just enjoy a fire, the views and one another’s company. Whatever your preferences are, we will gladly make effort to accommodate the same.
Dove and pigeon hunts are done from comfortable blinds and seating. Comfortable camo clothing is recommended. Duck hunts are done from shore blinds, so there is no need for waders. Temperatures can get in the high 20’s to low 30’s, so layering is the order of the day. Perdiz hunting does involve walking 3 to 5 miles during a hunt. Comfortable footwear is imperative and AM hunts require layering that you can shed as you hunt.
Pigeon hunts are done with carousel decoy rigs and mojo dove and ducks are decoys and mojo teal (good luck seeing that with any other outfitter in country). Most shots will be considerably close.
Our staff will attend to all your needs, including refreshment. We will handle policing up all equipment, birds and empty hulls so that you only need to enjoy yourself.
Departure:
On your departure day, we will conduct an AM hunt and you will have plenty of time to get back, eat lunch, pack up and prepare to depart for the airport in the early afternoon, as flights tend to depart in the evening.
We feel that it is also important to state matters that you shouldn’t expect. We use only US imported, late model beretta and bennelli firearms, so unlike other outfitters, don’t expect gun failure. Unlike other outfitters, we use only premium, clean-burning ammunition. Unlike other outfitters, we stock an extra season’s worth of shells at all times, so don’t expect to run out of shells as is common with other outfitters. Lastly, we are the only all-inclusive outfitter in country, so don’t expect a massive itemized additional bill at checkout. Additional shells (if any beyond your 125 per day allotment) and tips is all you will owe.
Departing flights tend to be the reverse of the arrival flights and most clients arrive at their home destination early the following day. This gives you plenty of time to reflect on the absolute best duck, pigeon, dove and perdiz hunting you ever experienced. We are proud of our 100% client satisfaction and all of our clients feel that the total experience was a tremendous value for their money. It keeps everyone coming back, often with friends along!
We hope that this gives you a “flavor” of expectations and flows for your trip. As stated earlier, the only downside is the trip passes too quickly! Please feel free to contact for any further questions or concerns and we look forward to hosting you!
