Come for Carnival, stay for the world-class steak

Uruguay is one of South America's smallest nations, but don't let its size fool you – this pint-sized destination is bustling with wildlife excursions, colonial architecture and windswept dunes.⁣ ⁣ Though long overshadowed by Buenos Aires, Uruguay's capital, Montevideo, is also one of the birthplaces of tango, home to world-class steaks and the continent's longest carnival celebration from January to March.⁣ ⁣

The BBC Travel editor Eliot Stein shares why you should book a trip to Uruguay this year.