Durazno: Nature Trails, Wildlife and History

Along the Río Yi and in the surrounding landscape

The Eco Sendero “Riberas del Río Yi” is 3,500 metres long and passes through natural areas along the riverside forest on the Río Yi. It connects the beach in the Puerto de los Barriles neighbourhood with the Paraje Rebollo area, which also has a beach and sandy areas. The trail was officially inaugurated in 2024. Its length and the named endpoints give the landscape experience a clear framework: the focus is a riverside route connecting two named areas.

A very different natural highlight is the Gruta de La Llorona in La Paloma. The sandstone formation is more than 20 metres high and was formed about 380 million years ago in a marine environment during the Early Devonian. Its surroundings are also remarkable: the steep terrain and humidity create a distinctive microclimate where native trees, ferns and culandrillos grow. Geology and plant life offer two different perspectives on the same natural area.

The BioParque de Durazno adds another dimension. It features spacious open-air enclosures and more than 80 native and exotic animal species. Durazno therefore offers a choice of different nature experiences: the river landscape along the Río Yi, the geological and botanical highlights around the Gruta de La Llorona, and the wildlife at the BioParque.

Museums and buildings

The Museo Histórico Casa de Rivera houses the Durazno Department Archive. It includes a document archive, an archive of voices and music, and a photographic archive. The latter preserves several thousand items of cultural heritage from the department and the country. The museum is located in the former residence of General Fructuoso Rivera; since 1992, the building has served as a museum. Here, a specific historic site combines with a broad perspective on cultural heritage.

Military history is represented in a range of collections. The Museo Militar Tte. Gral. Pablo Galarza displays historical paintings, old uniforms, military equipment, furniture and documents from that period. The Museo Batalla del Río de la Plata (Cuartel Paso del Rey) focuses on the history of the Cuartel de Sarandí del Yi and displays weapons, uniforms and documentary photographs. The museum also commemorates the stay of crew members from the German battleship Graf Spee at the site; its collection includes objects and photographs from that period.

Architecture and art provide their own highlights, too. The Museo Palacio del Dr. Emilio Penza Berlingieri is a spacious residence furnished in the Belle Époque style. In October 1996, the building was declared a National Historic Monument. In La Paloma, the Iglesia Sagrado Corazón de Jesús is considered an architecturally remarkable building. The Museo Claudio Silveira Silva exhibits around a hundred works. The cultural offering thus ranges from archival collections and military history collections to architecture and art.

Nature or culture as your focus

When planning your stay, it’s worth shaping your trip around the topics that interest you most: the riverside trail and landscape along the Río Yi, the natural surroundings of the Gruta de La Llorona, the animal species at the BioParque, or the museums and buildings. These highlights can also help guide your search for a holiday rental in Durazno.

Discover more destinations: La Paloma, Durazno, Santa Bernardina

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