Living in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay wasn’t the plan. Shelley and Chas tried not to move here, but every time they made a pros and cons list Punta del Diablo won.
Originally from the US, they lived and worked in 18 states before settling in Athens, Georgia, where they ran an organic farm and counted Michael Stipe as a neighbour and friend. Chas is an artist. They sold their US home, bought one in Punta del Diablo and landed in Uruguay at 7 am on 27 August 2025.
They worried about the language, about living somewhere rural, about whether there would be enough services year-round and about what life would be like for them as a lesbian couple in a small town. A year later they have a packed social calendar, a Spanish teacher who is also a friend and a front porch where they sit and listen to the ocean.
Punta del Diablo is in Rocha, Uruguay’s “wild east” up against the Brazilian border. It’s a fishing town with some of the most unspoiled beaches in the country, a very creative community and, as some locals joke, the Uruguayan Isle of Lesbos. It’s also the first time we’ve interviewed foreigners living in Rocha, Uruguay.
In this episode of Living in Uruguay (as a foreigner), Karen A Higgs speaks with Shelley and Chas about their first year—the good parts and the tricky ones.
We explore
– Why they chose Punta del Diablo
– What the cost of living in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay is for a couple who own their home
– What the town is like in high season and in the quiet winter months
– How they made friends, starting with the first annual pride parade on the beach
– Why Punta del Diablo, and Uruguay in general, is so LGBTQ-friendly
– How they managed moving to Uruguay with cats
– How they got Uruguay residency living four hours from Montevideo
– What it’s like learning Spanish, setting up utilities and letting go of instant gratification.
If you’re thinking about moving to or retiring in a Uruguay beach town, especially somewhere more rural and natural, this interview gives you an honest and practical look at what the first year can feel like.
HUGE THANKS to Shelley and Chas.
If they’ve got you daydreaming about Rocha, start here
Punta del Diablo—where hippie meets hip, our guide to the town itself
https://www.guruguay.com/punta-del-diablo/
5 deserted beaches in Rocha to put on your bucket list, one of our most-loved articles
https://www.guruguay.com/best-beaches-rocha-uruguay/
Why Uruguay is the most gay-friendly nation in South America
https://www.guruguay.com/uruguay-gay-friendly/
And if you’re thinking about making the move yourself, you’ll have a lot to learn, just like Shelley and Chas did. They used the Guru’Guay website and guidebooks to find their relocation specialists, their insurance agent and their favourite spots in Montevideo, and it gave them the confidence to keep moving forward. You can too
Living in Uruguay: our guide to life, logistics and residency
https://www.guruguay.com/living-in-uruguay/
The Guru’Guay Guide to Uruguay, for beaches, ranches and wine country, including Rocha
https://amzn.to/3YxKXAR
The Guru’Guay Guide to Montevideo, the one Shelley and Chas used to explore the capital while their residency paperwork got underway
https://amzn.to/3VC9Hry
The full Living in Uruguay (as a foreigner) series, with interviews with foreigners from all walks of life
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIWZW6Im61X_sPHl6JGJow_C4UzryWt-Q
Book a private consultation with Guru’Guay
https://www.guruguay.com/private-consultations/
CREDITS
Guru’Guay thanks relocation specialists Sierra Atlántica for their support in making this video possible. And they can support YOU in your move to Uruguay.
https://www.sierraatlantica.com
Idea and production: Guru’Guay
https://www.guruguay.com
Filming: Sierra Atlántica
https://www.sierraatlantica.com
Interviewer: Karen A Higgs, Guru’Guay
Interviewees: Shelley and Chas
Editing: OMNI
https://www.teamomni.co/
Music: “’Ta Rengo” by Diego Janssen
/ @diegojanssen
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to the guests
1:28 Choosing Punta del Diablo
4:02 Life in the high season
6:37 Local services and logistics
8:30 Social life and community
13:16 Cost of living
16:42 Moving pets to Uruguay
20:42 Residency and relocation
23:32 Language and cultural growth
28:11 Advice for future expats
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