A Day Trip from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay

Buenos Aires is a colorful, sexy city, rich in culture, things to see, experience, and eat; in other words, Buenos Aires is the hotspot of South America. Packed with bustling people, chic shopping streets, phenomenal restaurants, and nightclubs that rage until dawn, Buenos Aires is a city that never sleeps. And while you’re there, you’ll surely be among the sleep-deprived.

After days of nonstop exploration in Buenos Aires, a bit of rest and relaxation will be much-needed. Combine your trip to Buenos Aires with a visit to Iguazu Falls and a day trip to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, and you’ll be in for the Latin American trip of a lifetime.

A day trip from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento will allow you to swap the city’s hustle and bustle for a slow-paced day of exploration in an entirely new country. Tell me, what could be better than that?

How to take a day trip to Colonia from Buenos Aires

Background info about Colonia

Founded in 1680 by Portugal, the Historic Quarter of Colonia del Sacramento made the UNESCO World Heritage List. So that means that it must be important, right? As a strategic riverfront port, the Portuguese and Spanish disputed over Colonia del Sacramento for around a century, but finally, Spain came out victorious.

Nowadays, Portuguese-Spanish colonial buildings still remain, hence the name Colonia. These aging buildings’ façades tell a story of two cultures colliding, and today, we can roam through the original winding cobblestone streets, admire the centuries-old architecture, and just relax. A day trip from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento will be a day well spent in a quaint, historic town, strewn with old cars, canons, bright flowers, and lively paintings.

How to get there

Situated along the Río de la Plata and just across from Buenos Aires, Colonia del Sacramento is just a quick ferry ride away.

Buquebus operates ferries between Colonia del Sacramento and Buenos Aires multiple times daily, serving as your gateway to Uruguay. From Buenos Aires, you can opt to take a 3-hour ferry ride (the cheapest option) or a 1-hour ferry ride (the more expensive option) to Colonia del Sacramento.

Via Internet search, you can also find other companies that offer guided tours in conjunction with a Buquebus ferry ticket.

What to do in Colonia del Sacramento

Once you’ve arrived in Colonia del Sacramento, stroll over to the Historic Quarter, or el Barrio Histórico.

If history’s your thing, take a guided walking tour of the Historic Quarter to grasp exactly what happened during the colonization of Colonia del Sacramento. Even if you’re not a fan of history, I still recommend taking a tour. Undoubtedly, you’ll learn something interesting.

Plus, this could be your only chance to spend a day with an Uruguayan and ask anything about Colonia, or Uruguay in general.

Take some time to sit on an old bench and appreciate the colonial views. While you sit there, you’ll notice crumbling stone buildings in many shades of pink, blue, and yellow, picturesque streets, and little shops selling precious handmade trinkets. In that moment, you’ll be more than happy that you chose to visit Colonia del Sacramento.

As you walk through the town, explore the shops, visit the old church, and stop in for some pizza or pasta (Italy has heavily influenced this area of South America – especially culinarily).

Lastly, before you hop back on the ferry, make sure you climb to the top of Colonia’s lighthouse to overlook all of Colonia del Sacramento and the Río de la Plata: the perfect way to end the day.

If you have time for a day trip from Buenos Aires, Colonia del Sacramento’s old-world beauty and charm will leave you feeling nostalgic, yet relaxed and happy to have come.