🇺🇾 Salto, Uruguay · Since 1945
TERMAS
DEL ARAPEY
Uruguay's first and most storied geothermal source — flowing since 1945 from the Guaraní Aquifer, 400,000 litres per hour, home to South America's only 5-star all-inclusive thermal golf resort.
Uruguay's First Hot Springs —
Still Its Most Magnificent
On 6 January 1945, a drill biting through the earth at Arapey, in the department of Salto, struck something unexpected: not the oil it was looking for, but an immense surge of hot mineral water from deep within the Sistema Acuífero Guaraní (SAG). That accidental discovery made Arapey the first hot springs resort in Uruguay — and set in motion a transformation that would turn this remote corner of the continent into one of South America's most sought-after wellness destinations. Eighty years on, the water still flows at 400,000 litres per hour, still rises at 39 °C, still carries the same extraordinary mineral load — and the infrastructure built around it now includes the continent's most celebrated luxury thermal resort.
"Arapey is recognised for its natural environment and high-level hotel infrastructure — with spa and Wellness services that set it apart from any other thermal destination in Uruguay."
— Vademécum de Aguas Minerales Termales del Uruguay, Balnea Vol. 12, 2026 · University of the Republic / Complutense University Madrid
The First Bore — and 80 Years
of Transformation
Arapey predates every other hot springs resort in Uruguay. Its story is one of accidental science, patient development and — eventually — five-star ambition.
The Instituto Geológico del Uruguay drilled at Arapey in search of petroleum — a national programme driven by ANCAP, the state energy company. The original perforation began around 1941 and struck artesian thermal water that has been flowing continuously ever since. The main bores reach 725 m and 1,300 m depth respectively, tapping directly into the Guaraní Aquifer.
By 1945 the source was confirmed as fully artesian and self-sustaining — 400,000 litres of mineral-rich thermal water per hour, surfacing at 39 °C. This made Arapey not only the first but also the highest-volume natural thermal source in Uruguay. The original well is still operational today.
Following the model established at Daymán, public bathing facilities and rudimentary accommodation were developed at Arapey. The site's relative remoteness — 80 km north of Salto city — gave it a markedly different character: quieter, wilder, more surrounded by native palm groves and riverine forest.
The municipal Termas del Arapey complex expanded steadily, adding pools, bungalows, hotels and camping facilities. It drew visitors from across Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil, building a reputation as the most natural and tranquil of the Salto thermal centres.
The opening of Altos del Arapey Club de Golf & Hotel Termal — a 156-room, all-inclusive, 5-star resort with an 18-hole golf course, spa and 8 thermal pools — transformed the area's offer for international travellers. Designed by architect Miguel Bono to integrate seamlessly with the landscape, it became the reference property for luxury thermal tourism in South America.
Termas del Arapey now spans multiple distinct facilities — municipal pools, boutique hotels, the 5-star Altos del Arapey, the Oasis Termal, military cabins and extensive camping — all fed by the same ancient Guaraní water that first surfaced eighty years ago.
The Water: Warm, Generous
and Scientifically Documented
Arapey's waters are classified as sodium bicarbonate–rich hyperthermal waters, sharing the same deep Guaraní Aquifer origin as Daymán. Analysis published in Balnea (Vol. 12, 2026) confirms a mineral profile with well-established balneotherapeutic properties — particularly relevant for rheumatological, musculoskeletal, dermatological and stress-related conditions. At 39 °C, the temperature sits perfectly within the internationally recognised therapeutic window (33–42 °C).
The primary mineral character. Bicarbonate-rich, mildly alkaline waters are associated with anti-inflammatory action, improved cellular hydration and digestive well-being when taken as drinking water.
Historically celebrated since the 1960s for their iodine, iron, calcium, magnesium and fluoride content — the "goodness of the waters" for rheumatic and arthritic conditions (Crodara, 1962; cited in Estévez, 2022).
Silica-rich waters have a long European tradition in balneotherapy for skin conditions, connective tissue health and joint inflammation — a key component of Arapey's dermatological reputation.
Documented in the historical mineral profile. Calcium and magnesium work synergistically to support bone density, muscle relaxation and nervous system regulation during immersion.
Present at trace concentrations consistent with the Guaraní Aquifer profile. Population studies associate naturally occurring lithium in drinking water with calmer mood and reduced stress markers.
Pools are thermoregulated: 38–40 °C in winter, 35–38 °C in summer. At 39 °C, Arapey's water sits squarely within the peak therapeutic window for vasodilation, joint relief and parasympathetic activation.
The single most remarkable physical characteristic. This extraordinary artesian flow — unchanged in 80 years — means Arapey's water is always fresh, always mineral-rich and always at source temperature.
One of the world's largest freshwater underground reservoirs, spanning Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. The SAG's ancient sandstone geology imparts a uniquely consistent mineral signature to all Arapey waters.
What Arapey's Waters
Can Do for You
The Vademécum (Balnea, 2026) and the Spanish School of Medical Hydrology (Complutense University, Madrid) confirm the following evidence-based therapeutic indications for Arapey's sodium-bicarbonate hyperthermal waters.
Rheumatic & Arthritic Conditions
The original and primary therapeutic use since 1945. Warm immersion in bicarbonate waters at 38–40 °C reduces joint load, improves synovial fluid viscosity and relieves chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Circulation & Blood Pressure
The thermal and hydrostatic effects of sustained immersion promote peripheral vasodilation, improve venous return and reduce systolic blood pressure. Regular balneotherapy has documented effects on arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk markers.
Stress, Anxiety & Sleep
Arapey's seclusion and natural surroundings amplify the physiological relaxation response. Warm water immersion activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reduces cortisol, improves sleep onset and produces the documented "thermal afterglow" — hours of post-bath calm.
Skin Health & Dermatology
Bicarbonate and silica-rich alkaline waters soften and hydrate skin, support barrier function and have traditional applications in mild psoriasis, eczema and dry skin conditions. The high water volume and freshness at Arapey are particularly favourable for dermatological benefit.
Rehabilitation & Recovery
Hydrotherapy at 37–40 °C reduces gravitational joint load by up to 90%, making it ideal for post-operative recovery, sports rehabilitation and chronic pain management. Several Arapey facilities offer supervised physiotherapy programmes.
Healthy Ageing
The combination of calcium, magnesium, silica and warmth supports bone mineralisation, reduces inflammatory markers and improves mobility — all relevant to healthy ageing. Balneotherapy is increasingly prescribed in European health systems for the over-60s, and Arapey's gentle 39 °C waters are ideally suited.
From Wild Camping
to Five-Star Luxury
No other thermal destination in South America offers this range — from a municipal complex with camping for 5,000 people to an internationally ranked 5-star all-inclusive resort, all within the same geothermal zone.
The crown jewel. 156-room 5-star all-inclusive resort with 18-hole golf course, full spa, 8 thermal pools (indoor & outdoor), gym, restaurants, snack bar and event salons. Own bore. Private landing strip for light aircraft. South America's only thermal golf resort of this category.
202-room hotel offering comfortable mid-range accommodation with direct thermal pool access. Pools, gardens, spa services and a full restaurant programme. The classic Arapey experience.
40 self-catering alojamientos (accommodation units) in a quieter zone of the complex — ideal for families or couples seeking more independence while still enjoying full thermal access.
The historic public heart of Arapey: indoor and outdoor pools surrounded by native gardens, changing facilities, and accessible pricing. Open all year. The thermal tradition in its most democratic form.
Uruguay's largest thermal camping ground — with BBQ areas, full sanitary facilities, shade from native palm groves and direct pool access. The preferred choice for Uruguayan and Argentine families on a longer stay.
Municipal accommodation: Complejo Ñandubay (25 units), Bungalows (30 units) and Motels (44 units) — all with thermal pool access. Budget-friendly, family-focused and bookable year-round.
Full spa services across multiple properties — including massage, hydrotherapy circuits, Swedish and Scottish showers, facials and mud treatments. Altos del Arapey's spa is widely regarded as the finest in the Uruguayan thermal region.
The only 18-hole golf course in Uruguay's thermal region, set within 100 hectares of natural landscape at Altos del Arapey. A unique combination: morning golf, afternoon thermal pools, evening spa. Private landing strip available for fly-in guests.
Altos del Arapey:
South America's Premier Thermal Resort
For European and international travellers accustomed to the grand European spa tradition — Baden-Baden, Bath, Spa, Montecatini — Altos del Arapey offers a genuine counterpart in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the only resort in South America that combines geothermal thermal waters, an 18-hole championship golf course, a full-service spa and a 5-star all-inclusive programme under one roof.
Designed by Uruguayan architect Miguel Bono with a philosophy of landscape integration — low-rise buildings, natural materials and sightlines that dissolve the boundary between pool and palm grove.
Including a spectacular covered pool for year-round use, outdoor landscape pools, hydrotherapy pools with jets, and a dedicated children's thermal pool — all fed by the resort's own geothermal bore.
Altos del Arapey has its own licensed airstrip for light aircraft — a genuine rarity. Guests from Buenos Aires, Montevideo or São Paulo can arrange direct private or charter flights to the resort (prior authorisation required).
Full board with full thermal pool and golf access included. Uruguayan cuisine at its finest — grass-fed beef, river fish, artisanal cheeses — combined with international standards. The only all-inclusive thermal golf resort in Uruguay.
Plan Your Trip
Getting There
📍 Km 549 of Route 3, 80 km north of Salto City
Access via Camino Raúl Gaudin (19 km from Route 3)
✈️ By air: Fly Montevideo → Salto (55 min). Altos del Arapey has its own private airstrip (prior authorisation).
🚌 By bus: Coach to Salto city, then local transfer or taxi to Arapey (approx. 80 km, 1 hr).
🚗 By car: Route 3 north from Montevideo (~560 km). A scenic drive through Uruguay's palm-grove interior.
Opening Hours & Entry
🕗 Daily: 08:00 – 22:00
Open every day of the year including public holidays.
💰 Municipal complex: very accessible pricing. Hotel properties and Altos del Arapey: consult directly for package pricing. Camping: low cost, large capacity.
🧴 Bring: swimwear, towel, sandals, sunscreen. Robes & towels available in hotel properties. Golf clubs available for hire at Altos del Arapey.
Contacts
📞 Municipal Complex: +598 4768-2101
📱 Mobile: +598 98395302
📧 admarapey@gmail.com
⭐ Altos del Arapey:
📞 +598 4768-2200
🌐 www.altosdelarapey.com
📧 Salto tourism info: Visit Salto contact page
Nearby & Combined Itineraries
♨️ Termas del Daymán: 80 km south — the hottest waters in Uruguay (46 °C), more family-oriented, water park
⚡ Salto Grande Dam: Binational hydroelectric marvel
🏙️ Salto City: 80 km south — restaurants, markets, colonial architecture
🔮 Estancia La Aurora: Uruguay's most mysterious rural estate
💡 Tip: Combine 2 nights at Arapey (luxury / tranquillity) + 2 nights at Daymán (family / activity) for the ultimate Salto thermal circuit.
"Going to Arapey is not a holiday. It is a recalibration — ancient water, endless sky, the scent of native palms and the deep silence that only appears when a continent's geology exhales through the ground beneath you."
— Visit Salto Editorial