Pres. Gral. Óscar D. Gestido Binational Airport

Rivera/Santana do Livramento, Uruguay

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Routes out

Destinations

SURV

ICAO

712 ft

Elevation

AirlinesAirports profile

Binational airport bridging Uruguay and Brazil at the border.

Location

Rivera, Uruguay

Presidente General Óscar D. Gestido Binational Airport (IATA: RVY, ICAO: SURV) serves the twin cities of Rivera, Uruguay, and Santana do Livramento, Brazil, making it one of the rare airports that straddles an international border. Named after Uruguayan president Óscar Diego Gestido, the airport facilitates regional air travel for a cross-border urban area of over 150,000 people. The airport handles limited domestic and regional traffic, connecting Rivera to Montevideo and other Uruguayan destinations. Its unique binational character reflects the deep social, cultural, and economic integration between the two neighboring cities, which share an open urban boundary with no physical border controls between them. Ground infrastructure is modest, reflecting the airport's regional role, but it plays an important logistical function for the broader border region of northern Uruguay and southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Terminals

The airport operates a single small terminal building serving domestic and limited regional passengers.

Getting to & from

Taxis and private vehicles are the primary ground transport options connecting the airport to the city centers of Rivera and Santana do Livramento.

Airlines here

Amaszonas Uruguay has operated routes from Rivera to Montevideo, though service frequency varies seasonally.

Notable facts

›Named after Uruguayan president Óscar Diego Gestido, who served briefly in 1967.
›Serves the twin border cities of Rivera (Uruguay) and Santana do Livramento (Brazil), which share an open urban boundary.
›The airport has binational status, reflecting the unique integrated nature of the two neighboring cities.
›Rivera and Santana do Livramento together form one of the most integrated cross-border urban areas in South America.
›The airport primarily supports domestic Uruguayan routes, with Montevideo being the key connection.

Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Airlines serving this airport

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Routes

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City & Place Guide

Twin border cities where Uruguay and Brazil share one street

Rivera is a Uruguayan city that merges seamlessly with the Brazilian city of Santana do Livramento, separated only by a painted line on the ground in some places. The dual city is a fascinating cultural crossroads where Spanish and Portuguese mix freely, and residents cross between countries dozens of times a day for shopping, dining, and family visits.

The city is best known as a major duty-free shopping destination, drawing visitors from across Uruguay and Brazil to its international shops and commercial zones. Beyond commerce, it offers a relaxed border-town atmosphere, warm hospitality, and a unique blend of Uruguayan and Gaucho Brazilian traditions that make it unlike anywhere else in South America.

•Praça Internacional — the central plaza straddling both countries, a living symbol of peaceful coexistence
•Free Shop Zone — vast duty-free stores offering electronics, perfumes, and spirits at competitive prices
•Parque Internacional — a peaceful shared park with paths, greenery, and monuments on both sides of the border
•Monumento ao Gaucho — a tribute to the gaucho culture deeply rooted in this frontier region
•Museo de Rivera — small regional museum covering local history, indigenous heritage, and border culture
•Cerro del Marco — a modest hilltop with panoramic views over both cities and the surrounding plains

Getting around: Rivera is a compact city best explored on foot in the center; local buses connect neighborhoods and run across the border into Santana do Livramento. Taxis and remises (private hire cars) are affordable and widely available. There is no passenger rail service. Rideshare apps like Uber have limited availability, so taxis are the most reliable option for longer trips.

Best time: Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) offer the most pleasant temperatures, avoiding the intense summer heat and occasional winter chill.

Local food: Try chivito sandwiches and asado on the Uruguayan side, then cross over for Brazilian churrasco, pão de queijo, and strong chimarrão mate shared in the gaucho tradition.

This guide is provided for general information only. Verify details locally before making travel decisions.

Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via RVY? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for Uruguay from official government sources.

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Entity data from open aviation datasets (OurAirports, OpenFlights) with AI-assisted editorial clearly marked. Always confirm time-sensitive details with the official airport website. Sources & verification