Day trip to Colonia del Sacramento from Buenos Aires

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Colonia Del Sacramento is a small town in Uruguay that is easy to visit by car from Montevideo and can even be visited on a day trip by ferry from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Founded in 1680, Colonia is one of Uruguay’s oldest cities, and its historic district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its architecture and history.

It’s safe, easy and cheap to visit Colonia del Sacramento on a day trip from Argentina, and besides this beautiful city and all it has to offer, there’s also the chance to see another South American country and renew your visa.

This travel guide will explain how to get to Colonia del Sacramento from Buenos Aires or Montevideo, which tours and ferry companies to use to get to Uruguay, and everything you need to know before you go.

 

 

Where is Colonia Del Sacramento?

The city of Colonia del Sacramento is located on the southwest coast of Uruguay, near the meeting point of the Río De La Plata River and the Atlantic Ocean, and opposite the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

It is about 180 kilometers by road from Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, or 50 kilometers by sea from Buenos Aires.

How to get from Montevideo to Colonia Del Sacramento Uruguay

From Montevideo you can reach Colonia by car, bus or tour.The drive takes 2 to 3 hours.

There are many bus companies that offer this route with regular departures and they have air conditioning, toilets and seats.You can book tickets in advance at 12Go.

If you want to make things even simpler, Global Tour has day trips from Montevideo to Colonia that include hotel pickup and drop-off, as well as a trilingual guide to show you around Colonia del Sacramento. They also have private tours from Montevideo.

We have used GetYourGuide for many tours and activities around the world and they are great.Highly recommended.

Book now. Colonia Tour from Montevideo / Private Tour

How to get from Buenos Aires to Colonia Del Sacramento Uruguay

You can get to Colonia by ferry from Buenos Aires, Argentina.The port is in Puerto Madero, to be exact, and there are many ferry companies to choose from.

The ferries recommend being at the port 1.5 hours before departure, although in my case I would be fine with less than an hour, I’m sure it depends on the day and the season.

All ferry companies have daily morning and evening departures, so doing this as a day trip is not a problem, although it’s a good idea to book your tickets in advance.

The ferry is safe, comfortable and relaxing and only takes 1.5 hours to sail in both directions.On the way back to Argentina I even found a power outlet to charge my phone battery.

Immigration is pretty easy on both sides of the border. As a US citizen, I didn’t need a visa for Argentina or Uruguay, so it was very easy to do as a day trip, but remember to check the current visa requirements for your nationality and don’t forget your passport to bring

 

Best ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia Del Sacramento

The two main ferry companies from Buenos Aires are Buquebus and Colonia Express.

They both operate a similar schedule to Colonia Del Sacramento and there is no difference in quality between them, so you can just go with the company that has seats for your travel dates.The third option is SeaCat, though it seems don’t like them very much.

You can book tickets on Buquebus with 12Go or Colonia Express with GetYourGuide, the latter having the advantage of a walking tour with a bilingual guide and an optional winery visit.

It is also possible to buy tickets from the official websites of the ferry companies, but they are written in Spanish and the websites have a lot of glitches, so this is a case where it is actually easier to book with third-party companies.

Things to do in Colonia Del Sacramento

Once you arrive in Colonia Del Sacramento, the historic district is within walking distance of the ferry port and is small enough to walk around the area, no need for transportation at all.

Colonia is a peaceful and attractive city with cobbled streets, quaint old buildings and a mix of Portuguese and Spanish cultural influences thanks to its colonial history.

Here are some of the best things to see and do in Colonia Del Sacramento:

• City gate and wall. The first thing to see in Colonia is the stone gate from 1745 AD, the wooden drawbridge and the defensive wall at the entrance to the historic quarter.
• Harachner Street. This is one of the most photogenic streets in Colonia, with its colorful old buildings and cobblestone road. It was one of my favorite pictures.
• Basilica of the Holy Eucharist. A historic 1800s Catholic church with vaulted ceilings and other remarkable architecture.
• Colonia Del Sacramento Lighthouse. This 1857 AD lighthouse was built on the ruins of the 17th-century San Francisco Monastery. The light has guided sailors to safety for centuries, and it still operates today. You can pay a small cash fee to climb to the top of the tower. for panoramic views above the city.
• Pietra Minerals of Uruguay. It’s a nice little rock shop with semi-precious stones like agate, quartz, and amethyst. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s a great place to look around. When I was there, the owner even gave out small stones to every visitor.

Last but not least, there are a number of interesting museums to see in Colonia, including the Portuguese Museum and the highly rated Origami Art Museum.

After being founded in 1680, this city went back and forth between Portuguese and Spanish control for a century, so both countries left their mark on Colonia culture.There are even some beaches nearby that you can visit if you rent a bike.

How long to stay in Colonia?

A day trip is plenty of time to see the best of Colonia Del Sacramento, although you can easily stay longer if you enjoy the relaxed feel of the city.

There are plenty of hotels and restaurants to keep you comfortable for a few days in the city, and you can use the extra time to explore every inch of the historic district and see all the museums at your own pace.

More tips for Colonia Town

• What to wear? This part of Uruguay has the same climate and temperature as Buenos Aires, so you can usually wear summer clothes most of the year.
• Where to stay? Two good hotel options in Colonia are Posada del Angel or Posada Boutique Las Terrazas.
• Restaurants. Food places in Colonia tend to be a bit pricey due to tourism, but the food is good. Check out Charco Bistro or Casa Viera.
• Cash: You can usually pay for things in US dollars or Argentine pesos, so there is no need to change money in Uruguayan pesos, especially on a day trip can only be paid in Uruguayan cash, nothing else. There are several ATMs in town if needed.
• Credit cards. Most places in town accept credit cards, including restaurants and hotels, so this is generally the best way to pay for everything.Small souvenir stands may be cash only.
• WiFi: The city has good phone reception and you can find fast WiFi in many restaurants and hotels.Staying connected is not a problem.

 

Is Uruguay safe?

Colonia Del Sacramento is a safe and tourist-friendly city.

Although Uruguay doesn’t have a perfect safety record, the quiet little town of Colonia is visited by many international tourists every day, and I’m not aware of any bad incidents that have ever happened here.

When I visited Colonia, I took my camera all over the historic district taking pictures, and I saw many other photographers doing the same thing with equipment that seemed more expensive than mine.

Overall, I felt completely safe at Colonia Del Sacramento. Just take the usual precautions and you won’t face any problems at all.

 

Is Cologne worth it?

Yes, I’d say Colonia is worth it.Even though there isn’t much to do in Colonia del Sacramento outside of a day trip, I still think it’s a nice city to visit.

My trip to Uruguay was a good experience in every way and it was nice to see a new country and cross it off my bucket list without paying for any expensive flights.

Best of all, Colonia was easy and relaxing as I was already worn out from all the walking and sightseeing in Patagonia and Iguazu Falls.