A Day Trip

Colonia del Sacramento is a city in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is one of the oldest towns in Uruguay and the capital of the Colonia Department. It has a population of around 27,000.

Colonia del Sacramento can be done as a half or whole day trip from Buenos Aires. It is easily self-guided, which was my approach, but can also be done via guided tour. There are several guided tours available via popular sites like Viator, Get Your Guide, Airbnb experiences, etc. Several outlined and intricate itineraries are available in vlogs and blogs, but I found Colonia del Sacramento the perfect place to just wander and take in organically.

In my minimal Buenos Aires research, I came across the ferry to Uruguay and considered adding time in Uruguay to my Central America trip, but then decided I didn’t to take days away from my trip trying to add another destination. I had conceded to not going to Uruguay, but then saw my IG friend’s day trip from Buenos Aires and asked him a million questions that he graciously answered and decided to go.

I am so glad that I did.

How to Get There

There are a few options to get from Buenos Aires to Colonia Del Sacramento; but the ferry is the most direct and efficient option, taking only 1 hour and 15 minutes to cross from Buenos Aires to Colonia Sacramento.

The two most popular ferry operators are:

Buquebus which is considered the “nicer” option. Tickets start around $45 each way and can be purchased in advance on the Buqebus website

Colonia Express is considered the more “budget” or “no frills” ferry option. Tickets start around $23 each way and can be purchased in advance on the Colonia Express website.

I took the Colonia Express Ferry, which is the more budget friendly of the two ferry options, so my experience will be based on that.

You Are Crossing the Border

Even though it is only about an hour ferry ride and likely just a day trip, keep in mind you are exiting one country and entering another.

🛂You will clear passport control on both the Argentina and Urugay side

Be sure to have your passport and any other documentation you may need

Arrive at the Ferry terminal with enough time to go through security and immigration: the recommended time is 2 hours, but I arrived a little less than an hour prior to my departure and had plenty of time to use the restroom, and grab a coffee and pastry.

Be sure to review restricted items on the ferry's website.

Ferry Terminal

Be sure to use the Ferry Port as your destination when making your way to the Ferry. I made the mistake of using the address on my ticket, which was the address to the ticket sales office and not the port, when getting my Uber. Luckily, my driver caught my mistake and was gracious enough to take me to the Port.

Buquebus Terminal is located at Av. Antártida Argentina 821, C1104 AAH, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Colonia Express Terminal is located at Av. Elvira Rawson de Dellepiane 155, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Both terminals have cafes, bathrooms, and vending machines for a snack or coffee before boarding your ferry.

On Board

I was warned ahead of time, “the Colonia Express is not a luxury liner” and to keep my expectations low. I have been on every kind of boat you can imagine, so I was open to anything and for just over an hour, can handle pretty much anything.

I was actually pleasantly surprised by the Colonia Express, especially after all the “terrible” reviews I had seen. I don’t know what people are expecting, but other than being a bit dated, my ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia was comfortable, clean enough and got me there safely.

The ferry on the way back, from Colonia to Buenos Aires, was a very unexpected surprise. The boat was much bigger, newer, had a large cafe area, comfortable seats and even USB charging ports. I had no complaints about either of the ferries.

If you need entertainment on board, bring a book and/or headphones and settle in for the 75 minute ride.

Welcome to Colonia del Sacremento!

Once you arrive at the station in Colonia, you can take a quick bus ride or taxi, or walk about 15 minutes to the Historic City Centre.

This is also where you might meet your tour guide or group if you are utilizing one. There is an information center in the terminal with maps and lots of information about the area.

As you make your way from the ferry terminal to the Historical City Center, you will pass several shops, cafes, and restaurants. As soon as you step in the UNESCO World Heritage site that is the Historic City Centre, you will feel like you took a step back in time.

What to See in Colonia del Sacramento

Anyone who has been with me for a minute, knows that my planning is a bit… lacking… sometimes. I tend to just show up places with a loose idea of what is there and what I might want to do and then take it from there.

I DID consult a couple of blogs before heading to Colonia del Sacramento and found one that really spoke my language. The writer really encouraged just wandering around and taking in the city slowly (my kind of advice!). She gave a few places “not to miss” that I made note of, but other than that I really just wandered about and used the camera icon on google maps to find points of interest.

One mistake that I did make, due to lack of planning, was not realizing that many attractions, restaurants, and bars are closed on Mondays (which is when I went). Be sure to check schedules of anywhere specific you want to visit or eat and plan accordingly.

Here is what I saw:

Barrio Historico

Colonial landmarks and cobblestone streets abound in Barrio Histórico, a UNESCO-listed historic district on the Rio de la Plata that combines Spanish, Portuguese and post-colonial urban design. Portón de Campo is an old city gate with a drawbridge, while a lighthouse among the ruins of a 17th-century convent offers views of the waterfront neighborhood. Serene Barrio Histórico also has museums, hotels and eateries.

La Calle de los Suspiros

La calle de los suspiros is a historical street located at Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. The street was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995

Several blogs said this street is a “photographer’s dream”, and while I would argue the whole centre city is, La calle de los Suspiros is especially breathtaking. With its original architecture, colors and cobblestones, it is like something out of a period piece. It is immediately understandable why these street has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Faro de Colonia del Sacramento

🗺️G4GX+V4J De San Francisco, 70000 Col. del Sacramento, Departamento de Colonia, Uruguay

🕰️Mon-Tues Closed, Wed 10a-5p, Thurs-Sun 10a-12:50p, 2p-4:50p

Lighthouse built on top of convent ruins, dating to the 1850s, with a staircase to the top & historical displays.

Unfortunately, the lighthouse was closed on the day I went to Colonia, but it was still beautiful from the outside. Reviews tend to be mixed as to whether or not it is worth going up the lighthouse, but it seems on a clear day, the view are absolutely worth it.

Puerta de la Ciudadela

🗺️Sarandí 700, 11000 Montevideo, Departamento de Montevideo, Uruguay

“Gateway to the Citadel”
Puerta de la Ciudadela is one of the few remaining parts of the wall that surrounded the oldest part of the city of Montevideo, the citadel, which was torn down in 1829.This drawbridge over a moat was built in 1745 as the only entrance to the city. It is located by Plaza Independencia, in Ciudad Vieja

The actual gate is beautiful in and of itself, but the surrounding area is the real highlight. The stone walls, trees, lawn, the flowers, this site is a whole scene. There are also some really cute shops and a cafe within the gage walls.

Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento

🗺️G4HX+HM3, 70000 Col. del Sacramento, Departamento de Colonia, Uruguay

Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament

The present church dates back to 1810, when it was built according to plans by Tomás Toribio; soon afterward a lightning storm destroyed the building, which was restored between 1836 and 1841. Finally, in 1976 a conceptual refurbishment took place.

While the inside of the Basilica is beautiful, I felt it paled in comparison to the ornate and intricate details of many of the basilicas and cathedrals in other parts of Latin America (and Portugal, where it gets its influences). Still stunning for what it is, but the exterior is the true sight to behold.

The Plaza de Armas Manuel Lobo

🗺️18 de Julio 205, 70000 Col. del Sacramento, Departamento de Colonia, Uruguay

The Plaza de Armas Manuel Lobo is a nice green space that is part of the circuit of the historic city and where you can see the foundations of the old governor's house, from beautiful paths and walkways with spaces to sit and contemplate the place.

I stumbled upon this site on my way to the basilica and thought it was really interesting. I am usually not one to stop and read all the information and descriptions, and just like to look at things, but I found the information at this site really interesting. Definitely worth a look around when you are in the Historic City Centre.

Bougainvillea trees

Technically not a “site”, the Bougainvillea trees are a SIGHT throughout Colonia del Sacramento. I could have seen nothing else in the day I spent in Colonia and been absolutely elated. These flowering trees are at every turn and just get more and more stunning as you weave through the historic city centre.

Vintage Cars

I have read that there may be as many vintage cars in Uruguay as are in Cuba. Whether that is true is not, there is an abundance of vintage cars in Colonia del Sacramenta. They can be found throughout the city, with the most famed being in the historic centre.

La tapera de Enrique

🗺️De Solís 56, 70000 Col. del Sacramento, Departamento de Colonia, Uruguay

🕰️Daily 12p-5p

💵$$

La tapera de Enrique was the perfect lunch spot on my visit. Located on the perimeter of the Historic Centre, this cute little restaurant has a great patio, friendly service and delicious, fresh fare.

Waterfront/Promenade

When making your way from the ferry terminal to the Historic City Centre, or back, you can walk along the waterfront and take in some pretty spectacular views. There are several cafes and restaurants along the way, where you can stop and enjoy a bite or glass of wine while taking in the view.

Paseo del Arte

🗺️Gral. Rivera 325, 70000 Col. del Sacramento, Departamento de Colonia, Uruguay

🌐https://letscolourproject.com/bringing-back-colors-to-paseo-del-arte/

Paseo Del Arte was a happy random find using the camera icon on google maps. I love street art and as soon I saw this, knew I needed to go see it. It is a bit outside the historic centre (close to the ferry terminal) and was worth the slight trek to. The murals all tell unique stories and add a modern vibrancy to the area.

Return to Buenos Aires

I took the last ferry back to Buenos Aires from Colonia Sacramento, and though my experience may have been a one off, I don’t recommend it. It was VERY busy at the terminal (as the Buquebus ferry was at the same time) and the line to board the ferry was very long. Based off of my ferry on the way there, I waited in the line because I didn’t realize the boat was much larger (and more modern) than the one I came over on. There was no need to wait in the line, I would have had no issue getting a seat had I waited for the whole line to board first.

The line to go through passport control in Buenos Aires was also very slow (took over an hour, versus 10 minutes on the way out) due to fewer staff and the larger boat holding more passengers.

It was also very difficult to get an Uber at that time, though again, this may have been due to other events or circumstances… but I think it was due to the hour and the amount of people trying to get one to the terminal.

Other than these slight annoyances and hold ups, my day trip to Colonia del Sacramento was day very well spent and I highly recommend taking one if visiting Buenos Aires.