This guide is for you if you are staying in Montevideo and want a day in Colonia del Sacramento, the small colonial town on the River Plate to the west. It helps you decide between the bus and a private car, how long you really get in the old town, what to wear on the cobbles, and how to use the day if you are crossing to Buenos Aires.
What you are going to see
Colonia was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese commander Manuel Lobo, on the shore across the river from Buenos Aires. Spain and Portugal fought over it for more than a century, and it changed hands several times before it became part of Uruguay in 1828.
That history is what you walk through. The Barrio Histórico has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, recognised for its mix of Portuguese and Spanish building, its original street plan and how well it has been kept. The quarter is compact, and the day is built to let you slow down in it rather than rush between sights.
How the day is split
You leave Montevideo at 07:00 and spend about two and a quarter hours on Ruta 1 going west. Colonia is roughly 180 kilometres away. You are in the old town by about 09:15.
The morning goes on foot. You enter through the Portón de Campo, the old town gate, and walk the Calle de los Suspiros, the Plaza Mayor and the Basilica of the Holy Sacrament. At about 11:30 you reach the lighthouse. It went up in 1857, stands 26 metres tall, and was built on the ruins of the town's seventeenth-century convent of San Francisco. Entrance to the lighthouse is not included.
Lunch is at 12:30, in the old town or by the water, and you pay for it there. At 13:30 the car takes you along the river to Real de San Carlos, just north of the town.
The old bullring at Real de San Carlos has been restored. It is run by a concessionaire who gives guided visits, and the national tourism ministry has an exhibition on its second floor. If you want to go in, tell your driver; museums and entrances in Colonia are paid on the day.
You start back at 14:45 and reach your hotel at about 17:00.
By bus or by private car
You can do Colonia on your own. Buses leave Montevideo's Tres Cruces terminal through the day, and the direct ones take about two hours and twenty minutes, depending on traffic and weather. Others stop along the way and take longer. Buy your ticket a day or more ahead at weekends and on public holidays, because they fill up. In Colonia the bus terminal is a short walk from the ferry terminal. Check the timetable with the bus company before you travel.
What you lose with the bus is control of the clock, since you are tied to departure times at both ends, and Real de San Carlos, which is outside the town and easier with a car. A private car collects you at your door at 07:00, waits while you walk, and brings you back to your hotel rather than to the terminal. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
Crossing to Buenos Aires
Colonia is also a ferry port for Buenos Aires, and the crossing takes about an hour and a half. If you are moving on to Argentina, the day can end at the ferry terminal instead of back in Montevideo. Bring your luggage in the car, carry the documents you need to enter Argentina, and book your ferry for a sailing after the time we would reach the terminal. Tell us the sailing when you book.
This works well if you are travelling Montevideo to Buenos Aires anyway. You see Colonia on the way rather than as a separate day.
What to bring
- Flat shoes with a good grip. The old town is paved with uneven cobbles.
- Sun cream and a hat in summer, and a warm, windproof layer in winter. You are close to the water most of the day.
- A way to pay for lunch, the lighthouse and any museum.
- Your passport, if you are crossing to Argentina at the end of the day.
Who it suits
It is a good first trip out of Montevideo, and it suits anyone who likes old towns and slow walks. The drive is long, but it is on a good road, and you can ask for a stop on the way.
Think twice if anyone in your group has trouble walking on uneven ground, since the cobbles are the whole point of the place. Think twice too if you would rather have the coast and a beach. The Punta del Este and Casapueblo day trip goes east instead. Our guide to day trips from Montevideo compares the two.
Questions people ask
Can we stay longer in Colonia?
Yes. Ask when you book and we will price the extra time, or we can leave out Real de San Carlos and give you more of the old town.
Is there much to do in the afternoon?
The morning is for the old town. The afternoon is for the riverside drive and Real de San Carlos, or for a longer lunch if you prefer.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you get a full refund. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Decide whether you are coming back to Montevideo or crossing to Buenos Aires, and whether you want extra time in the old town. The pick-up, timings and what is included are on the Colonia del Sacramento day trip page, where you choose the size of your group and book. Groups of more than 16 travel in two vehicles; message us through the contact page.
