This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
One of the most popular day trips from Buenos Aires is to Colonia del Sacramento, a town across the Rio de la Plata in Uruguay. Colonia’s Barrio Histórico (historic neighbourhood) has many landmarks leftover from the town’s Portuguese colonial era. I recently spent a few weeks in Buenos Aires, and had the chance to take this day trip. Not only was it cool to get to visit a whole other country, but Colonia was super interesting! I put this guide together to help you plan the perfect day trip from Buenos Aires to Colonia.
How to Get From Buenos Aires to Colonia Del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is located in Uruguay, just across the Rio de la Plata from Buenos Aires. The best way to get there is taking a ferry across the river, which takes about an hour and fifteen minutes. There is a ferry service operated by Colonia Express, which makes several round trips each day between the two cities. The schedule varies with the seasons, but you should be able to get a ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia in the morning, to get your day trip started. You shouldn’t need more than a few hours in Colonia- booking a return ferry in the late afternoon or early evening should give you enough time.
I would recommend booking your ferry tickets in advance- it can book up. Currently, a roundtrip ticket costs about $75 USD, but check before you go, as the Argentinian peso fluctuates a lot, so prices can change quickly.
It is also important to get to the ferry terminal early, as you will need to go through immigration before you get on board! I arrived about an hour and a half before my sailing, and that was a perfect amount of time.
The ferry terminal in Colonia is very close to the Barrio Histórico, where you will find all of the main attractions.
What to Do in Colonia Del Sacramento
One day is enough time to see the main sites in the old city of Colonia. The area is fairly small, and easily walkable. When you arrive at the ferry terminal in Colonia, you can pick up a map of the Barrio Histórico that has all of the important sites on it. Or, here is a list of things to check out:
- Colonia Craft Market
- Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse (for a small fee you can walk to the top)
- City Handcraft Market
- Colonia City Hall
- Colonia Cultural Center
- San Benito Church
- The old city walls
Another great option is to book a walking tour. This package: Colonia Ferry Ticket and Walking Tour includes round trip ferry tickets, as well as a walking tour. Your guide will meet you upon your arrival at the ferry terminal in Colonia. This is the tour I booked and I loved it! The guide was a very friendly and knowledgeable local, and she took us on a great tour that lasted about an hour and a half. Then she recommended some good spots for lunch, and we had free time to explore on our own before catching the ferry back to Buenos Aires.
Another option for a walking tour, if you don’t want to book it with ferry tickets, is this one: Walking tour around Colonia del Sacramento Old Town. It meets in the historic city center, a short walk from the ferry terminal.
What to Bring
When you take a day trip from Buenos Aires to Colonia, it is important to keep in mind that you are visiting a different country. You need to bring your passport! You should also look into visa requirements. With a Canadian passport, I did not need a visa to enter Uruguay for a day trip, but make sure to check up to date visa requirements for your country of citizenship!
I would recommend wearing good walking shoes. You will most likely be walking between all of the sites in the historic neighbourhood, so it is important to have comfortable footwear. If you are visiting in the spring or summer, I would definitely recommend bringing sunscreen as well, as you will spend most of the day walking outside.
You can also pack snacks and water, but there are lots of places to get food in Colonia!
So there you have it- everything you need to know about planning a day trip from Buenos Aires to Colonia. I hope you have a great trip!
You may also like: