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One Day in Colonia: An Amazing Day Trip to Uruguay from Buenos Aires

• June 23, 2023
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When visiting Buenos Aires, there are many opportunities for day trips. Spending one day in Colonia makes for an exciting day trip to Uruguay from Buenos Aires . This UNESCO coastal town offers charming streets to wander through and a variety of fun things to do. 

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Table of Contents

History of Colonia

Colonia is located in southwestern Uruguay with a history that dates back to the 1600s. It was first founded by the Portugues in 1680 as a strategic outpost to control the region’s resources. 

In 1777 the Spanish took control of Colonia after many years of unsuccessful attacks. By the 1800s Colonia fought for its independence from Spanish rule and finally gained it in the 1820s after the Spanish collapse. 

Throughout the years, Colonia has experienced economic growth and become an important port and trading center. Finally, in 1995, Colonia became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Present-day, it is known for its picturesque streets and colonial buildings. Visitors can enjoy the rich history and cultural heritage when visiting.

Why go to Colonia?

If you are like me, I love trying to cram in as much as possible during trips and explore as many new places as I can. Since we had over five days to spend in Buenos Aires, I knew I wanted to take at least one day trip during my stay. Therefore, I found out about Colonia! 

One day in Colonia is the perfect amount of time to spend exploring all it has to offer. It gives you a feel for Uruguay and is full of history. You will not be sorry taking a day trip to Uruguay from Buenos Aires. 

Currency in Uruguay

Uruguay is an interesting country as far as currency because they accept three different currencies: the US dollar, Uruguay Peso, and Argentine Peso . I just paid using my travel credit card for everything. 

How to get to Colonia

You have two options on how to take a day trip to Uruguay from Buenos Aires: Book a tour or book ferry tickets. Although it seemed very easy to take a day trip to Colonia on your own, I opted to book a tour because it was not that much more expensive.

Book a Tour

The easiest way is to book a tour. I ended up booking a tour just because it was easy and pretty much the same price as doing it on our own. Our $115 tour included ferry tickets, a tour on arrival, and lunch. The following are some tour options. 

• Colonia Ferry Tickets and Optional Tour
• Premium Day Tour to Colonia
• Small Group Tour to Colonia
• Day Trip to Colonia with Tangol Tours

On Your Own

You can also opt to book ferry tickets on your own. There are three different ferries that will transfer you to Colonia. In general, they are about the same price and offer the same things. 

Buquebus : $100 round trip

Colonia Express : $80 round trip

SeaCat: You can book in Buenos Aires as the website does not currently work

Once you buy your ferry tickets, you can add some of these other day tours or explore on your own. 

• Colonia Walking Tour
• Colonia Bike Rental
• Colonia Wine Tour

If I could do it again, I would book the ferry tickets on my own. While it was easy to book the tour package, I like exploring on my own better. I would also get a flexible ticket for returning to Buenos Aires so I could leave on any ferry. 

Transportation in Colonia

Colonia is a very walkable city. The main part of town is all in one area. If you want to explore further out, I recommend renting a golf cart, especially if you have a small group. This makes for a fun way to get around and you can rent them by the hour.

What is it like taking a Day Trip to Uruguay from Buenos Aires? 

First, you will need to get to the ferry terminal in Buenos Aires an hour and a half before your ferry departure time. We opted to take an Uber from our hotel because it was so early in the morning, but the bus and metro run near the ferry terminal. 

Next, you will need to check into the ferry. At check-in, they check your passports and your tickets to make sure all the information matches. After check-in, you will then go through security before getting to immigration. 

On the embarkation side (in Buenos Aires) you will go through Argentina immigration and then you will finally get to the waiting room. Once boarding begins you can get on the ferry. There are no assigned seats and there is a small shop and a place to grab food on board. 

It will take about an hour and 15 minutes to cross over to Uruguay. Upon arrival in Uruguay, you will go through customs and then you are free to explore Colonia! 

If you booked a tour as we did, you will head to the arrival hall and find the Colonia Express booth. After checking in here, they will have you wait for the rest of the group before starting a walking tour of historic Colonia. 

After the walking tour, you will have the rest of the day on your own. You can grab your included lunch at any time as they give you vouchers to redeem. Once you finish your one day in Colonia, you will do the reverse to head back to Buenos Aires. 

While it is a very long day and requires a bit of travel, it is worth taking a day trip from Buenos Aires to Uruguay. 

What to do During One Day in Colonia

One day in Colonia is the perfect amount of time to spend exploring this gorgeous city. The main attractions are all a part of the historic quarter and are easily accessible on foot. From the ferry terminal, it is just a short walk to this area.

Historical Colonia Railway Station

Your first stop during one day in Colonia will be the historical Colonia railway station, built in 1889. It was mainly used to transport goods from the port of Colonia to the capital of Montevideo. Today, the railway station is a museum and cultural center that gives visitors a good introduction to Colonia. 

San Miguel Bastion and the City Walls

The main entrance to the historic quarter of Colonia is across a drawbridge through the city gate (just like in the medieval times!). This is referred to as the San Miguel Bastion. From there, visitors can explore the rest of the historic area surrounded by the city walls. 

Street of Sighs

The Street of Sighs will be one of the first areas you encounter after entering the historical quarter of Colonia. This alley is lined with old houses now turned into shops. If you are tall, you will want to watch your head. 

The street of sighs is one of the original streets of Colonia. It is named due to the sorrowful sighs of the prisoners who walked down the alley to the nearby dungeons. 

Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament

Hours: Varies by day

This basilica was the main church of Colonia and one of the most important religious buildings. It originally was a small chapel but later expanded into the basilica it is today. Built in the 1700s, visitors can go inside to see the architecture and ornate decorations or attend mass. 

Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse

Cost: $1 USD

Hours: Thus-Sun: 10am-1pm, 2pm-5pm

Another must visit spot when spending one day in Colonia is the Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse. This is one of the major landmarks of Colonia. It first came to be in 1857 to guide ships into the port of Colonia. Throughout the years, it has been refurbished. Present-day, visitors can climb the lighthouse to take in panoramic views of the area. 

La Comandancia

Hours: Varies by Season

If you are looking for a lunch option during one day in Colonia, La Comandancia offers a wide variety of food for all. This restaurant was included with our prebooked tour and it definitely came with plenty of food! Note that you will pay extra for beverages. They also have lunch specials that come with several courses. 

Rent a Golf Cart

Cost: $40 and up

Hours: 9am-7pm

After lunch, partake in one of the most popular activities in Colonia: Driving around in a golf cart! All of the car rental shops rent golf carts by the day or hour. One of the best things about renting a golf cart is that it is an easy way to get out of the historic quarter and see more of the modern part of Colonia. 

We rented our golf cart from Thrifty Rental Car and did not have a pre-booked reservation. I would advise you to go first thing upon arrival so you can ensure you will get a golf cart. We ended up doing a two hour rental. Note that the driver must have a driver’s license. 

If you rent a golf cart, you can check out the following places during your one day in Colonia. Note that the driving rules are pretty much the same as cars -obey the speed limit, stick to the right because you will be slower, signal when turning, and follow all signage. 

Plaza de Toros Real de San Carlos

The Plaza de Toros Real de San Carlos is the former bullfighting ring in Colonia. It officially closed in 1912 after bullfighting became illegal. In recent years, it has reopened as a cultural center and a music/sports event arena. The stadium holds about 10,000 people. 

Colonia Sign

One of the fun stops along this route is the huge letters that spell out Colonia. This is a classic Instagrammable spot that is worth a quick stop. 

Visit the beaches

Although the water in Colonia may not look the prettiest, the beaches area a popular place for locals. Playa Ferrando and Playa Honda are two of the more popular options, but there are a ton of places to stop in between Plaza de Toros Real de San Carlos and the Historic Quarter of Colonia. 

Vinoteca de La Colonia

Hours: 12pm-11pm

To wrap up your one day in Colonia, stop at La Vinoteca de La Colonia. The cute small little wine shop offers a variety of Uruguayan wines by the glass at a super affordable price. You can also add cheese pairings to your wine pairings which make for the perfect midday snack. 

Final Tips for One Day in Colonia

If you have more than one day in Colonia make sure to check out the Portugues Museum, the Municipal Museum, and the Colonia de Sacramento craft market. If you have more time to spend in the area, you can opt to add a visit to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. There are buses that frequently leave to head to Montevideo from Colonia.

One day in Colonia makes for an amazing day trip to Uruguay from Buenos Aires. The smaller walkable historic center gives visitors a break from the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires. You will not be sorry spending a day in this charming UNESCO site. 

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How to Have a Fantastic Day Trip to Colonia, Uruguay from Buenos Aires

Hi all! Welcome to your guide for a day trip to Colonia, Uruguay!

Colonia is a Portuguese colonial town and UNESCO World Heritage Site that is easily accessible from Buenos Aires, Argentina . You’ll simply board a ferry in Buenos Aires, and in an hour and a half you’ll arrive in the lovely town of Colonia.

In this post you will find an itinerary and everything you need to know for an exciting day trip to Colonia.

Let’s get right into your guide for a day trip to Colonia, Uruguay!

Day Trip to Colonia – Travel Guide

Transportation from buenos aires.

From Buenos Aires, getting to Colonia is super easy.

First, purchase your ferry tickets here . This site is great as it allows you to compare ferry prices for different ferry companies. I booked the night before my trip, and round trip tickets were $70. If you book earlier these prices will likely be lower. I chose to take the Colonia Express Ferry, as their prices were the lowest and the departure times were the best for my schedule. They have ferries that depart Buenos Aires in the morning and return in the evening.

When booking your ferry tickets, I recommend planning to spend at least 5-6 hours exploring Colonia. It’s a good idea to leave Buenos Aires in the morning and return in the evening.

The Colonia Express ferries were very comfy and clean. Onboard you can exchange money and they also have a Duty Free style store! I found the store prices to be pretty expensive, but most of the products were imported from the U.S., so the up-charge makes sense.

Exchanging Money in Colonia

Colonia is more expensive than Buenos Aires, however, it is not overly expensive by any means.

Although you can exchange money in Colonia, it’s much easier to do it on the ferry. The exchange rate will be slightly less favorable, but it is a much easier process and you won’t have to spend time upon arrival searching for a place to exchange your money.

Alternatively, you can always get Uruguayan pesos from an ATM in Colonia, just be sure to notify your bank beforehand.

Tip: I don’t recommend exchanging a lot of money, especially if you’re only spending the day in Colonia. Most all places took credit cards, but it’s good to have cash just in case.

Eat – Restaurants in Colonia

Colonia is filled with tons of restaurants and cafes to choose from. Many are located on the water and offer beautiful views.

On the walk from the ferry terminal to the center of the old town you will come across tons of restaurants on the main street (Avenida General Flores), however, most all of these restaurants are extremely touristy and don’t have the best reviews. Instead of stopping at these restaurants, wait until you reach the old town (about ten minutes walking from the ferry terminal) and you will find tons of restaurants to choose from.

Due to the fact that Colonia is a tourist destination, these restaurants are targeted to tourists as well, however, unlike the restaurants on the main street many of the restaurants closer to the center of town don’t have pushy hosts and picture menus.

Colonia Restaurant Recommendations:

• Colonia Sandwich Coffee Shop – a great stop for a coffee and a quick snack
• La Beduina Deli & Café – a lovely spot for an afternoon sandwich and coffee
• Lentas Maravillas – a cafe with great coffee + food
• La Comandancia – a cute and funky restaurant for lunch or dinner with outdoor seating
• La Bodeguita – pizza with an amazing view of the water
• Chopería Mastra Colonia – a craft beer hangout with bar food

Activities – Fun Things to do in Colonia

Colonia is a small town, but there are plenty of activities and sites to see to fill up an afternoon or overnight trip.

Visit the Museums

There are eight museums in Colonia for tourists to visit and they’re a fantastic way to learn about the fascinating history of the city!

Start at the Museo del Período Histórico Portugués where you can pick up a map and pay the entrance fee of 50UYU ($1.30 USD).

This entrance fee will allow you access to all eight museums in the town – so it’s a great deal! Even if you only want to visit one or two of the museums, you can’t go wrong with buying the museum pass.

Climb El Faro

Located near the Museo del Período Histórico Portugués you’ll see El Faro, a lighthouse from the 1850s. You can climb to the top and from there you’ll have impressive views of the town and el Rio de la Plata.

Visit the Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento

This church is so beautiful inside and out! It’s definitely worth stopping by and taking a look around. We visited just before Christmas, and in the crypt of the church was the most incredible nativity scene I’ve ever seen!

Relax in the Plaza 25 De Agosto

After a long day of exploring Colonia, it’s nice to take a rest in one of the many parks. I recommend Plaza 25 de Agosto , as there is lots of shade and also benches to sit on. Bring a book and some snacks and spend some time here before walking back to the ferry terminal.

There are tons of other parks all around Colonia that are beautiful as well! Check out the parks next to the church and in front of La Vivienda Portuguesa Museum!

Do Some Shopping

Colonia has many touristy shops that are perfect for buying souvenirs. Spend some time exploring the many stores and checking out the local products!

I collect paintings from each destination I visit, and although there were not many stores that sold artwork in Colonia, I was able to find a beautiful painting, painted by a local artist.

In addition to buying souvenirs, I always love to go to local supermarkets and buy candy and treats that are specific to the country!

On your way back to the ferry terminal you’ll pass multiple supermarkets, so stop by, pick up some treats and spend the rest of your Uruguayan pesos before returning to Argentina.

Take Photos

This one sounds obvious, I know, but Colonia is really a photographer’s dream! There are so many beautiful streets, buildings and natural landscapes to photograph.

It’s also a great place to take Instagram photos! Colonia is bright and colorful, and such a fun place to take pictures.

Spend the Night

In addition to being a great place for a day trip, Colonia makes for a wonderful overnight getaway.

There are numerous lovely hotels in the town to stay in, and spending the night allows you more time to explore the area.

Hotel Recommendations:

• El Viajero Colonia Hostel & Suites ($)
• Hotel Italiano ($)
• Posada Plaza Mayor ($$)
• Posada Boutique Las Terrazas ($$)
• Don Antonio Posada ($$)
• Charco Hotel ($$$)

So there you have it! I hope this guide for a day trip to Colonia has been helpful to you! When visiting Buenos Aires , Colonia is an amazing addition to any itinerary.

It’s truly one of the most beautiful towns I’ve visited, and a day trip from Buenos Aires is a great way to visit Uruguay during your time in South America.

If you have any questions, or anything to add to this post, let me know in the comments!

Lastly, I appreciate you sharing this post with someone you know who would love Colonia, Uruguay!

This post includes affiliate links. Read our disclosure  here .

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15 comments.

Nice article

This is a nice read, Thank you Kate!

Kate, I love the conciseness of your articles. Straight and to the point while inviting at the same time! Thank you for sharing your experiences, Colonia is now on my list of places to see!

Kate, maybe you can add a country to your list and pull this out of under “Argentina”….

So pretty and great info! Would love to visit.

South America is high on my list. I never really had Uruguay on my list of places to try to see, but these pictures are stunning. Thank you for sharing!

I would love to visit Uruguay sometime! Your pictures definitely reminded me of my time in Colombia in the small colonial pueblos — such cute places! P.S. I loveeee pumpkin ravioli and get it anywhere I can! Yumm!

I have never visited any countries in South America. But I have added Argentina, Chile and now Uruguay to the list. Thanks!

I’m a total nerd, so I got super excited when I read that Colonia has eight museums to visit. I can’t believe that paying one fee will get you into all of them!

Uruguay looks like a great place to visit-the pumpkin ravioli looks delicious I need to try it at some point. The museum pass looks like a great deal-so much to see for such a great price. Thanks for sharing

Colonia looks like a beautiful day trip from Buenos Aires and it’s a great way to get a little taste of Uruguay. Thanks for sharing it, Argentina is high on my list so it’ll come in handy.

You had me at UNESCO World Heritage Site! This is definitely going on my list now, thanks for sharing!

That is the part of the world that I really wish to visit. Colonia seems like a lovely place to explore. Saving this for when I go!

What a great trip – in one day to visit another country and return! The streets of the town look very pretty!

Argentina is on my list and I’d love to do a day trip to visit Colonia! I agree, it looks like a gorgeous town to take photos in!

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• Departure from Montevideo in Semi-sleeper bus
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Day Tour + snack on board - Colonia del Sacramento - Uruguay

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• Av. Elvira Rawson de Dellepiane 155, Buenos Aires, Argentina The local partner will send you the reservation number via email after booking. Please have in mind that this tour involves international border crossing and customs. Please arrive at the Ferry Station 1 hour and 30 minutes before the departure time.
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Similar experiences

• jancE2835NK 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Known rip off I had a terrible experience with Colonia Express. Something went wrong during my booking that needed help from customer service. When contacting them they turned out to be extremely unhelpful. It should have been a simple fix, but they seemed to be totally unwilling to do anything at all. In the end I had to buy new tickets (and thereby pay double). I understood from locals in Buenos Aires that Colonia Express has a terrible reputation of ripping people off like that. Read more Written March 31, 2024
• Y1027DLrachelg 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Lovely day! The ferry wasn't as busy as it seemed it would be (ticket were listed as sold out) and there were tons of empty spaces. We got there over an hour early for customs and that was really quick for us. You clear to Uruguay before the boat there and clear to Argentina before the boat back, so that's super helpful that everything is taken care of once you get to the dock. Views were okay on the way over (river is very polluted and brown), but the day itself was wonderful. Worth it for a fun day outside of BA to be around less crowds. Make sure you bring bug spray! It was very buggy all around town. Read more Written March 30, 2024
• 50cab50 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Book well in advance Tried to book and pay online for all sorts of activities in ARG, but the Colonia Express was the only one that worked! I printed off my invoice/bar code and it all worked smoothly - thank you Colonia Express. We thought about turning up early at the port to look around/watch boats etc but so glad we didn’t as there was literally nothing there but an ugly port. We did arrive 90 minutes in advance, and sat around a fair bit. You can get a coffee and an alfajora but we didn’t. Very little to do at the port, and no activity to watch (apart from people checking in with dogs and cats). Fun to watch cats on leads being exercised on the boat, but maybe we were lucky that day. We did a half day trip to Colonia (12.50-20.30) which was plenty for a meal and a wander. The artisan market right next to the ferry terminal/old railway station is very nice. Book tickets well in advance as they sell out (I booked about 6 weeks in advance and full day tickets had already gone!) Read more Written March 29, 2024
• Afrikaphile 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent ferry service Excellent ferry service. I arrived about 75mins before, straight through check in and customs within 15 minutes. Boat on time, comfortable. Same on way back, no problem at all. Colombia is pretty, but tbh there’s not so much to do there (especially in a thunderstorm!). Struggled to fill the day, but a pleasant experience nonetheless. Read more Written March 13, 2024
• darrenw893 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Average If you have too much time in Buenos Aires this going to Colonia de Sacremento is probably worth it but not on this trip This "trip" is just a return ferry trip and the times are fixed We didn't use our return trip but instead paid extra to come back with another company rather than sit around for 4 hours a) with nothing to do and b) meaning that we would have got back to Buenos Aires too late to eat Read more Written March 9, 2024
• Whistledown 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Nice ferry ride to Colonia I can only review the boat ride from Buenos Aires to Colonia and back. Relatively easy booking on line. Nice big ferry on way to Colonia and smaller ferry on return - both ferries had comfortable seating, outside space for photo ops and duty free shop. Both were on time departures and arrivals. Read more Written March 7, 2024
• bierenwater 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles boat extremely overbooked and no refund Horrible experience.The boat was extremely overbooked. They wanted to reschedule us but we just wanted a refund as we ran out of time. We only wanted to see the town that day and we had to work later as well. They would not give us a refund and told us to email them. We just got an answer that the will not refund us!! We are extremely upset and contemplating to hire a lawyer as this is a very principle matter to us. No boat,no service,no refund....... Read more Written February 29, 2024
• zaheraali 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Scam at Colonia Express in Buenos Aires We arrived at the port and bought the ferry tickets at the counter of Colonia Express two hours before the departure. She asked us to pay 147000 Argentina pesos for two tickets which was lot more then what we saw online before leaving our hotel. I questioned her. She said it is because now close to boarding time. I ask her what if we take evening ferry? She said, even then we will have to pay 147000. Also, she said even if you book online now you will pay 147000 pesos. We trusted her words and unwilling paid 147000 pesos. At boarding hall just to satisfy my doubts, I checked online price and sure enough it was 47000 per person total 94000. I went to all the way upto last screen to see if there was any additional fee. And there was non. I believe this was tourist trap. Not good for Colonia Express business reputation. Read more Written February 13, 2024
• DaiRod 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles An excellent day trip and country This was an awesome day trip across the river from BA to Uruguay. Easy As to do and enjoy the day. Got to visit a lovely city and tick off another country. Boat are modern and comfortable. The check-in and immigration process is os simple and straight forward. Stress free for South America. Colonia is cute and pretty. Rent a gold cart for 2 hours (no more is needed) and wander the old town. The day is easy to fill in and enjoy. Read more Written February 1, 2024
• frasercameron 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Nice day trip spoiled by waiting for immigration on return Ok going BA to Uruguay. Went through both sets of immigration controls in 5 mins. Crossing completed in 90 mins. Attractive old town where all restaurants take USD, pesos, real as well as credit cards. But problem was Argentina immigration on return with queues lasting 45 mins plus. They should sort this out eg doing both controls on Colonial side. Read more Written December 11, 2023
• jamesfY3473MC 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Comfortable ferry to Colonia, lines not too bad on our visit We took the ferry one way, from Buenos Aires to Colonia, so can't comment on the bureaucracy on the return. There was a queue at the terminal in BA, where we had to clear both Argentinian and Uruguayan customs/passport control. But at least when we were there, it moved fairly quickly. The boat ride itself was perfectly comfortable, and you exit in Colonia at a terminal just a short walk from the old town. After an afternoon in Colonia, we got a regular bus from another company on to Montevideo. The bus terminal is just down the street from the ferry terminal, and you can leave your luggage either at the baggage check at the bus terminal (if it is open), or at a viajes business across the street, which will do baggage check. The bus to Montevideo was very modern and comfortable. The only downside is that it made very frequent stops en route to Montevideo. Not sure if that is true of all bus services, or if the Colonia Express and Buquebus busses do the same thing. Read more Written November 4, 2023
• ianmN1344OW 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Bureaucracy gone mad The ferry part is fine. The time required before and after the ferry journey going both ways is ridiculous. Our trip back to Buenos Aires today was 1 hr 20 mins. We waited in various queues on the Colonia side taking 1 hour to board and then on arrival in BA we queued for immigration for 1 hr 30 mins. It's not worth doing a day trip to Colonia. It's a nice chilled place but not worth the hassle of getting there and back in the day. Read more Written October 19, 2023
• ghaelen 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Crazy queues. Avoid!!!! Queues are astonishing. Avoid this ferry company at all costs. It takes more time to queue than to cross the river. Read more Written October 13, 2023
• mattmR8904QT 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Avoid - operator canceled, book your own ferry ticket, and go have fun. Operator canceled this tour. We booked river crossing passage ourselves. Once we arrived in Colonia we saw the highlights previously identified in our own search. The city is easily explored on foot. The people and food are great, though the food is more expensive then Argentina. You clear Uruguayan customs in Argentina, and it is no big deal. Read more Written August 25, 2023
• pastywhitescot 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles No wifi on ferries No wifi on the ferries so once you are out of range of land better have something to read. You have to arrive 90 min before departure from BA (to clear both immigrations) and an hour before on Colonia side. Left on time. Read more Written August 10, 2023

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Day Trip Guide:

Colonia, Uruguay

Destinations   »   South America   »   Uruguay

Uruguay Guide:

Day trip to colonia.

Dates Visited: November 2018

• See the Colonia Sign
• Climb the Lighthouse
• Visit Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento
• Wander through El Centro
• Grab a bite to eat

Where to stay in Colonia

Taking a day trip to Colonia from  Buenos Aires, Argentina  is super easy since it's only about a 1.5 hour ferry ride between the cities. We will go over how to get to Colonia, Top 5 things to do, and our all-in-all recap of the day.

Coincidentally, we ended up in Buenos Aires during the  G20 summit  so we met quite a few Argentine citizens that were escaping to Uruguay for the weekend. This made for a a bit of a hectic departure to the small historic town. Nonetheless, once we were there the town seemed quiet enough for a tourist destination and the city itself was absolutely beautiful.

How to get to Colonia

We took the ferry from the Buquebus terminal in BA for our day trip to Colonia. Their office is located on Av. Antártida Argentina 821, about a 40 minute walk from our Airbnb in Recoleta. We compared prices with Sea Cat and Buquebus to find the best deal. You can usually do one of three things with either company:

• Only Round Trip Ferry round trip from Buenos Aires to Colonia
• Round Trip Ferry + a walking tour of the town
• Round Trip Ferry + walking tour of the town + lunch

Both Seacat  and Buquebus  are reputable ferry companies that we found in Argentina that run back an forth between Buenos Aires and Colonia. Below are a breakdown of their prices and what they offer. Spoiler alert: we ended up choosing Buquebus, mainly because we booked the tickets last minute and SeaCat had already sold out for the day we needed to go.  SeaCat actually seemed to have a better value for your money .

• Return Ticket: Depart Buenos Aires ➳ Return Colonia
• Guided walking tour of the Historic District
• Small Lunch onboard the Ferry
• Ticket for the Tourist Bus from port to El Centro
• Guided walking tour of Historic District
• Ticket for the Touristic Bus tour of old town

5 Things to do in Colonia

The historic district of Colonia is super small - making it the perfect day trip from Buenos Aires. We opted to do a walking tour, which turned out to be a bus tour due to the rain. It lasted about 15 minutes so we were able to get a lay of the land and briefly learn about the history of the city.

The bus dropped us off in the middle of El Centro, the main part of historic Colonia. The guide recommended we go to the Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse first to get a better view of the city from above.

1. See the Colonia Sign

Well you made it to Colonia, why not take a picture of the sign to let everybody know where you went. In all honesty, it's really not that much to see since you're looking at it here. However, there are some cool beaches just to either side of the sign. Anyway, if you decide to do the walking tour through Buquebus then this will be one of the stops.

2. Climb the Colonia Lighthouse

The perfect spot to begin your day trip to Colonia is the historic lighthouse. Construction of the Sacramento del Colonia Lighthouse finished in 1857. At the time it was of great importance for ships navigating through the tricky Río de la Plata. It's now open to the public everyday from 10:00am - 12:30pm and 2:30-6:30pm. However, it will close during rainy weather because the steps are quite slippery when wet.

The cost to climb to the top is 30 Uruguayan Pesos (less than $1 USD) and the ticket is good for the whole day which is absolutely worth it. From the top of the lighthouse you can basically see the whole town and pick the major spots you want to hit.

3. Visit Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento

A short walk from the main square, and visible from the top of the lighthouse, is the Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento. It’s beautiful on the outside, no doubt. But make sure you take the five minutes to walk inside and enjoy the art and statues along the sides of pews.

Open to the public and free of charge, it is actually part of the  UNESCO World Heritage site which encompasses the old city of Colonia. The church's parish is one of the oldest in the country, established in 1680 where they gathered in a makeshift mud ranch. However, the present day church dates back to 1810 and has been restored several times. The most recent restoration took place in 1976 [1] .

4. Wander through the streets of El Centro

Colonia is an absolutely gorgeous city. Pair this with the fact that the main part of El Centro is quite small and walkable, and you have yourself a perfect spot for a day trip. Founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, this small city is packed full of history. It traded hands multiple times between the Spanish and Portuguese over the years and is now listed as a UNESCO World Hertiage site.  [2]

We highly recommend taking at least a few hours to just wander the cobblestone streets as part of your day trip to Colonia. You may find some great artisan crafts in its small shops or stalls along the streets. Whether you're window shopping or looking for a great place to eat, you are bound to find either of these within a five block radius.

5. Grab a bite to eat

The restaurant, El Drugstore, was recommended to us as one of the best places to eat in Colonia. In all honesty, it was a bit overpriced and the food was fairly decent. We figured we would give it a try since we had heard such good things. The free bread and sauce you get with an order was actually our favorite food we got, but their 12 page menu has endless choices.

However, the atmosphere and location of the restaurant are definitely make it worth a visit. It's actually right across the street from Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento so you could easily kill two birds with one stone and see both quite quickly.

Nonetheless, our favorite food we got was some gelato on the way back to the shuttle taking us to the ferry terminal.  You can practically find this delicious dessert anywhere, but we found a nice little place on Gral. Flores, the main strip of El Centro in Colonia.

From our experience, we like to use  Hostel World  to check out potential hostels, then check other booking websites like  Booking.com  to make our reservations. Sometimes we also message hostels directly to get a better price. We also like to use  Airbnb  to book accommodations if its a better deal than hostels. Clicking on either of the icons will give you a deal with either of the sites, but are affiliate links so we earn a small commission.

If you want to do more than just a day trip and are looking for somewhere to stay in Colonia, we don't blame you. We really wish we could have stayed for longer than a day, it's definitely a relaxing seaside town with loads of history. Below are a few places of where to stay in Colonia in case you decide to stay a bit longer.

Viajero Colonia Hostel

Dorms: $12.00+ USD

Private Rooms: $44.28+ USD

Amenities: Free Wifi, Self-Catering Facilities, Bar/Restaurant, Luggage Storage, Tours/Travel Desk, Outdoor Terrace

Hostel and Suites del Rio

Dorms: $15.00+ USD

Private Rooms: $59.00+ USD

Amenities: Free Wifi, Kitchen, Tours/Travel Desk, 24 Hr Reception, Security Lockers, Adapters available

La Casa de Teresa

Private Rooms: $32.00+ USD

Amenities: Free Wifi, Free Breakfast, Bicycle Parking, Self Catering Services, 24 Hr Reception, Luggage Storage, Outdoor Terrace, Coffee/Tea, Free City Maps

If you're in Argentina (especially Buenos Aires) it's definitely worth making the day trip to Colonia. To be completely honest, we were itching to add another passport stamp to our collection and weren't expecting much. However, after talking to a few Argentine citizens living in Buenos Aires, they seemed quite fond of Uruguay in general.

One woman from BA even told us that she thought Uruguayans are much more cultured than Argentines. She was taking the ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia, and then a bus onwards to Punta del Este , or East Point. Only a four hour bus ride from Colonia, this small resort town on the Atlantic is a popular destination for many Argentines. It seemed like almost everybody riding our ferry was heading there to escape the G20 for the weekend. After hearing such great things, we wish we would have stayed a few days longer in Uruguay so we could have made the trip down there.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bas%C3%ADlica_del_Sant%C3%ADsimo_Sacramento,_Colonia_del_Sacramento
• https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Colonia

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