The Wayro route from Rivera to La Paloma is 434 miles (698 km), about 9 h 8 min of driving without stops.
Full advisory: Uruguay. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance | 434 mi (698 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B |
| Departments on the route | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Durazno, Florida, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Rivera to La Paloma is like
I-B (5 mi) carries about 1% of the 434 miles. It runs through 7 departments: Rivera, Tacuarembó, Durazno, Florida, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Rivera to La Paloma: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–347 | 347 | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Durazno, Florida, Canelones, Maldonado |
| I-B | 347–352 | 5 | Maldonado |
| connecting roads | 352–353 | 1 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 353–434 | 81 | Maldonado, Rocha |
- Mile 49 of this route: Rivera → Tacuarembó (department line)
- Mile 158 of this route: Tacuarembó → Durazno (department line)
- Mile 207 of this route: Durazno → Florida (department line)
- Mile 273 of this route: Florida → Canelones (department line)
- Mile 342 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (department line)
- Mile 399 of this route: Maldonado → Rocha (department line)
What to see on the way from Rivera to La Paloma
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 67), Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (mile 69), Casa de Rivera, Durazno (mile 198), Cathedral of Florida (mile 252), Piedra Alta (mile 253), Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (mile 414)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 353)
- Museums and history: Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (mile 69), Casa de Rivera, Durazno (mile 198), Cathedral of Florida (mile 252), Piedra Alta (mile 253), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 319)
- With kids: Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 67)
Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba
Reachable from Route 5 at kilometer 390, the Mauricio López Lomba reserve is a wildlife reserve in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar
The Museo del Indio y del Gaucho, a museum of the Indigenous people and the gaucho, is located in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
Casa de Rivera, Durazno
Facing Plaza Independencia in Durazno, the Casa de Fructuoso Rivera (Casa de Rivera) is one of the town's main heritage sites and now houses the department's historical museum.
Cathedral of Florida
Florida's cathedral basilica is also Uruguay's national shrine of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, the country's patroness, and keeps the original image; look for its bronze door by sculptor José Belloni and his son Stelio, stained glass and domes.
Piedra Alta
On the banks of the Santa Lucía Chico River outside the city of Florida, Piedra Alta is a rock formation of historic importance that appears on the department's coat of arms and flag.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Since 2021, UNESCO has counted Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker among its World Heritage Sites. The engineer's brick church in Estación Atlántida was inaugurated in 1960 and is known for its undulating walls and roof.
Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station
Near Piriápolis in Maldonado, this breeding station for native wildlife on Cerro Pan de Azúcar is surrounded by native vegetation and offers guided visits, including a native wildlife trail and a path up the hill.
Observatorio Astronómico del CURE
Run by the University of the Republic's eastern campus (CURE), this small observatory in Rocha opened in 2016 and uses a 30 cm reflector telescope under a motorized dome for teaching, research and public outreach.
Teatro 25 de Mayo
Rocha's Teatro 25 de Mayo opened in 1910 as an Italian-style theater in the eclectic style, with room for about 400 people. Now a cultural complex, it is a stop on the city's self-guided heritage walk.
Arriving in La Paloma
Cabo Santa María
Cabo Santa María (Cabo de Santa María) is a headland on Uruguay's Atlantic coast in Rocha, where the town and port of La Paloma were built.
Cabo Santa María Lighthouse
Erected in 1871, Cabo Santa María Lighthouse overlooks the Atlantic from its headland in Rocha and serves as a landmark of the seaside resort of La Paloma.
La Balconada beach
La Balconada (Playa La Balconada) is one of the main beaches of Rocha, located in La Paloma and known for its sunsets.
More drives to La Paloma
- Maldonado to La Paloma
- Atlántida to La Paloma
- Nueva Helvecia to La Paloma
- Tacuarembó to La Paloma
- Artigas to La Paloma
- Durazno to La Paloma
From Rivera to other places in Uruguay
- Rivera to Paysandú
- Rivera to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Rivera to Carmelo
- Rivera to Colonia del Sacramento
- Rivera to Nueva Helvecia
- Rivera to Veinticinco de Agosto
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Rivera to La Paloma?
About 9 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 434 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rivera to La Paloma?
About 434 miles (698 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Rivera to La Paloma drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Rivera to La Paloma?
Closest to the road: Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (zoo, mile 67, 0.1 mi from the route); Casa de Rivera, Durazno (historic house museum, mile 198, 0.3 mi from the route); Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (astronomical observatory, mile 414, 0.3 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.