Ruta del Olivo.

A couple weeks ago I took the car and drove „The Ruta del Olivo“.
I had great expectations, because of the advertising I saw and the
information I got about it.

On ruta del olivo. As far as the eye can see – no olive tree.

Let’s say it, directly at the beginning, it was disappointing.
But think positive and make the best out of such a trip, which took
me 360 kilometers through the country that day.

From Atlantida take the IB east and turn off in Pan de Azucar north
onto ruta 9. Half way to San Carlos you will turn north into ruta 12
and you are already on the „Ruta del Olivo“. See map !

Advertizing map of Finca Babieca. Olives along the ruta everywhere !?

Here on R12 starts a total different landscape of Uruguay. Lush hills,
lots of little creeks, winding road with some spectacular views over
the rolling hills. And wonderful fincas on large acreage everywhere.

Pueblo Eden.

After a few kilometers you reach Pueblo Eden. What a positive surprise.
I have never seen such a tidy town in Uruguay before. A „slow town“,
just 80 inhabitants, clean and tranquil. Maximum speed 20km/h.

Entry sign of Eden at the bridge and the lovely little church in town.

The only restaurant, one and a half block left of the church, is a slow one
too. „La Posta de Vaimaca“ says on their welcome board already
„slow food“, instead „fast food“.

The „La Posta de Vaimaca“ restaurant. Beware of SLOW FOOD.

This restaurant has atmosphere, a nice
menu and life music. Every day open except Monday. You can enjoy
your meals outside or inside and the friendly waitress is patient with you.

The restaurant outside and inside.A meeting point for the whole area.

At the northern end of the town the ruta olivo turns right into a dirt road.
There are signs „Ruta del Olivo“ or „Finca Babieca“, but that’s it. Here
the disappointment started. I expected an area of olive farms, or plantations
of olive trees, as it is shown on the advertising map – nothing !

Tour signs of Ruta del olivo and Finca Babieca.

I was lucky, a sunny and dry day. A long, boring, rough road. During a
rainy day one should have a 4WD. Finally in front Finca Babieca – closed !
That was my mistake, I know. I was trying „blind“ and they require „visits
by appointment only“. But how ? I tried a few times via email – no answer !
I tried a few times by phone to contact them – no one pics up !
Very disappointing !

Entry gate to Finca Babieca.

Then the „Olive trail“ goes on for miles and miles and miles till you hit
ruta 39. During this whole trip not one olive tree to see. The only thing you
will see all over are the ugly windmills. That wind park they build on the
ranges of Sierra de los Caracolas is necessary, I know, but it damages the
beauty of the landscape. Better call it from now on „Sierra de los Molinos“.

Sierra de los Molinos.

As far you can see, every hilltop got a Windmill. This is the „left“ part, same view to the right.

After a few hours on this boring dirt road „Ruta del Olivo“, which in my opinion
is just the advertising and route description of Finca Babieca, you are back on
a sealed road, on R39. Follow it north and you hit a few olive farms on your
right and left. Open for tourists, friendly and inviting. I bought a bottle olive
oil „Ruta del Olivo – Extra Virgin Olive Oil“. THREE litres finest olive oil for
less then 400,– pesos. This same bottle I have seen in supermarkets too.

Three liter bottle of fine Urugayan Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Why to buy the expensive Import Oil, when you can have excellent quality
from Uruguay. And excellent is the Finca Babieca oil also. Even if I was
disappointed about the „Ruta del Olivo“ situation, I will honor the quality
and taste of their olive oils from the bottom of my heart. They have won
a lot of prices and their oils are in many well known restaurants on the
table, like the Conrads in Punta del Este or the Sofitel in Carrasco MVD,
and many others. I faced it first at the fine TRYP restaurant in MVD.

Finca Babieca.

A trio of Babiecas Olive Oils.

Finca Babieca sells mainly 6 different oils, which are all Extra Virgin.
The following is their description:

1. Primum
Delicate Extra Virgin Olive Oil, varietal, made from Arbequina olives.

2. Duo
Extra virgin olive oil composed of two varieties of olives, Arbequina and Frantoio.
With notes of freshly cut grass, tomato leaf and fresh note reminiscent herbs.
Spicy and sour, soft and harmonious.

3. Trio
Extra virgin olive oil made from three varieties: Frantoio, Leccino and Coratina.
Good intensity and flavor complex, wherein the green notes of the mowed grass
mix apple nuances. Sour and spicy marked.

4. Perse
Composed of the best fruit of the harvest; by example Empeltre and Picual.

5. Vivendi Modus
As our way of life, where the freshness of freshly harvested olives with intense
passion for what we do meet.

6. Flavored Aceites
To flavor oils we use a method that consider authentic and craft. The olives are
ground together with herbs or fruit flavor like Basil, Rosemary, Ginger, Laurel,
garlic or hot pepper.

I had the opportunity to taste 5 different ones (1,2,3 and two of 6) and it is
unbelievable how different they all taste. This is all about our personal palate
and taste. I prefer the „Trio“ and a flavored one with taste of oranges and chilli.

During an olive oil tasting.

After this oil tasting experience I made the decision to write another post about the
Uruguay olive oil situation and the producing of olive oil. And may be a third post
about how to choose the right oil as well as olive oil recipes .

Mostly we use olive oil combined with a good vinegar like balsamico. Uruguay has
also an excellent „Aceto Balsamico“. A red wine one, ripened 3 years in oak casks.
The quality is as good as the best from Modena, Italy. Available in supermarkets.

       
The delicious Aceto Balsamico from Gamberoni, Liberdad San Jose.

Just to complete my interesting day tour . Arrived on ruta 39, I turned north and
followed a good sealed road all the way to Aigua. Aigua is off all main roads, but
interesting to see. Lots and lots of old buildings, and I mean VERY OLD. One can
touch history there. Some are restored and nicely painted.

If you drive into ruta 109 from Aigua, leading to Rocha, you will see on the
right the rock formation of the highest point in Uruguay, Cerro Catedral 514meters.

Ruta Panoramica.

Then back south west on ruta 13 and ruta 8 to Minas. Minas full of history and worth
a separate trip. From Minas I followed south on 12 and 60 the „Ruta Panoramica“.
When 12 and 60 divide, I followed the ruta 60 – Panoramica down to Pan de Azucar.

One of the young olive plantations along ruta 60.

This is real panoramic and worth driving. You can see how they damaged the hill
side in the spring area of the river San Francisco, which is streaming down to the
OSE dam in front of Minas. Yeah digging for gold around Minas.

Lavalleja statue on Plaza Liberdad and behind the cathedral in Minas.

Also on this Panoramica you will see, at least lots, of olive farms. Most of them are
very young and just established. Another big olive plantation area is around Carmelo.
Uruguay is an upcoming olive producer with excellent investment opportunities and
an immense growth potential.