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Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, is a beautiful little the town at the Rio de l. a. Plata, only a quick boat trip from Buenos Aires. There are such a large amount of a laugh issues to do in Colonia del Sacramento, and it’s wild that you’ll experience a very simple day outing to a completely new nation!
If you happen to’d like to flee the loud, loopy setting of the massive town, Colonia del Sacramento will loosen up you straight away. With its beautiful ancient heart, a UNESCO International Heritage Web site, you’ll need to {photograph} the entirety in sight.
I firstly intended to consult with Colonia del Sacramento on my first outing to Buenos Aires, again in 2008 — however for quite a lot of causes, it didn’t occur. Now returning to Buenos Aires with my husband, Charlie, as a part of our South American honeymoon, we had been decided to consult with this time.
And what a gem of a the town Colonia is.
Based by means of the Portuguese in 1680, Colonia del Sacramento modified fingers between the Portuguese and the Spanish over the process a number of hundred years. Because of its strategic place at the Rio de l. a. Plata throughout from Buenos Aires, it was once a very powerful stronghold that each the Portuguese and the Spanish sought after to keep watch over.
Now a well-liked vacationer vacation spot, town keeps its colonial vestiges. Colonial del Sacramento is filled with ancient structure, cobblestone streets coated with tall bushes, adorable cafes, and distinctive museums.
And even if our December day was once scorching, humid, and grey, with a couple of rain storms thrown in, we fell in love with Colonia del Sacramento straight away. And there are a shocking choice of cool issues to do right here.
Listed below are the most efficient issues to do in Colonia del Sacramento — so you’ll maximize your day outing from Buenos Aires!
This put up was once revealed in Would possibly 2024 and was once co-written by means of Adventurous Kate and Hannah Cooper.
Day Travel to Uruguay from Buenos Aires
Are you making plans to consult with Colonia del Sacramento as an afternoon outing from Buenos Aires? A lot of humans do. It’s an excellent day outing vacation spot, and getting right here isn’t as onerous as you assume!
You have got two choices: ebook the ferry by yourself, or ebook a gaggle excursion.
Guide the ferry by yourself right here. Charlie and I tried reserving immediately with the ferry corporations, however our bills saved getting rejected as a result of we didn’t have native financial institution accounts. As a substitute, we had luck reserving via DirectFerries.
On the other hand, this staff excursion comes extremely advisable. It comprises round-trip ferry delivery, a two-hour excursion of Colonia, and unfastened time to discover independently. You’ll have a information to you should definitely get to the precise position.
Will have to you do that as a excursion or by yourself? In truth, I discovered this to be an attractive simple day outing to do on our personal, and the boat actually drops you off strolling distance from the ancient a part of Colonia del Sacramento, so it comes down as to whether you’d moderately have a guided excursion integrated or no longer.
Extra at the transportation choices underneath.
Do you wish to have to modify cash? Uruguay makes use of Uruguayan pesos, however we discovered that each and every position we visited took bank cards, so there was once little need for taking cash out.
Will you wish to have your passport? YES. You’ll completely want your passport, as you’ll be crossing borders.
Highest Issues To Do in Colonia del Sacramento
Discover the Barrio Histórico
One in every of my favourite issues to do in Colonia del Sacramento was once merely to wander throughout the streets of the Barrio Histórico. Stroll throughout the Puerta de l. a. Ciudadela, the ancient stone gateway into the outdated the town, to start your exploration. You’ll additionally stroll alongside a portion of the outdated town partitions across the gate.
All the Barrio Histórico is a UNESCO International Heritage Web site, and you’ll see many examples of well-preserved colonial structure in addition to ancient ruins as you walk the cobblestone streets.
You’ll duvet the entire Barrio Histórico on foot in a quite quick period of time as it’s fairly compact. That is the thriving middle of Colonia del Sacramento, and it’s the place you’ll in finding loads of cafes, eating places, boutiques, and memento retail outlets. Don’t pass over Plaza Mayor, which could have some native artisans promoting their wares.
Consult with Plaza de Armas
As you wander throughout the Barrio Histórico of Colonia del Sacramento, you’ll quickly hit Plaza de Armas. This central sq. is without doubt one of the maximum essential puts within the outdated the town (and “Plaza de Armas” is the identify of the primary sq. in lots of South American towns).
This sq. was once the hub of colonial existence masses of years in the past, and it’s the place you’ll in finding the Basilica del Santisimo Sacramento, sometimes called Matriz Church, which maximum historians consider is the oldest church in Uruguay.
After popping into the church for a fast consult with, loosen up on one of the most benches within the sq. or head over to Colonia Sandwich Espresso Store. This cute little cafe serves a lot of sandwiches, desserts, smoothies, and high quality espresso from excellent coffee machines. Charlie and I had scrumptious espresso frappes with dulce de leche — the very best cool deal with on a scorching day!
Wander the cobblestone streets
A part of what makes Colonia del Sacramento so captivating is its picturesque cobbled streets. Many of those streets date again to the seventeenth and 18th centuries. They’re a photographer’s dream, coated with colourful colonial structures draped with plants and vines.
Walking down the cobblestone streets of Colonia, you’ll really feel transported again in time. It feels atypical seeing the fashionable companies poke their faces out of the traditional structures!
An enchanting factor about Colonia (and Uruguay as a complete) is that its citizens are loopy about antique vehicles. In order you stroll throughout the streets of the town, it’s possible you’ll spot antique and vintage vehicles, which make for an excellent picture op.
Probably the most oldest streets in Colonia — and by means of a ways probably the most photographed boulevard — is Calle de los Suspiros, or Boulevard of Sighs.
Whilst there are a number of theories about how this boulevard were given its identify, its true starting place is unknown. On the other hand, this captivating and romantic boulevard is one you shouldn’t pass over in Colonia. You’ll surely need to get a couple of pictures right here.
Climb to the highest of El Faro Lighthouse
El Faro Lighthouse is the best level within the Barrio Histórico, and you’ll climb to the highest to soak up scenic perspectives over Colonia and the encompassing waters. Status at 112 toes, the lighthouse was once built within the mid-1800s at the ruins of an outdated convent.
Even if it’s now not in use, the lighthouse performed a very powerful position within the nineteenth and twentieth centuries serving to boats navigate the Río de l. a. Plata.
A price ticket to climb to the highest of the Colonia del Sacramento lighthouse is a cut price — about 25 UYU ($0.65 USD) — and the perspectives are surely price it.
See the ruins of the Convent of San Francisco
Whilst you’re at El Faro Lighthouse, ensure that to take a look at the ruins proper at the back of it. The Convent of San Francisco was once built by means of the Portuguese within the 1680s. On the other hand, a lot of it was once destroyed by means of fireplace in 1705.
The lighthouse was once later made out of the ruins of the convent’s tower. You’ll nonetheless stroll across the stone ruins of the remainder of the convent at the back of the lighthouse.
Be informed on the many museums
For this kind of small the town, Colonia del Sacramento is house to a shocking choice of museums! One of the simplest ways to take a look at the entire museums in Colonia is to buy a grasp price ticket for all the Museo de Colonia collections.
This comprises access into 9 other museums and collections round the town, together with the Spanish Museum, the Portuguese Museum, the Indigenous Museum, the Paleontological Museum, and extra. You’ll purchase a price ticket from the price ticket counter of any of the ones museums.
Tickets are simplest 150 UYU ($3.85 USD). Whilst you almost certainly gained’t have the ability to consult with all the museums in simply at some point except you barrel via them, you’ll pick out a number of that passion you probably the most. All the museums are lovely small, so that you don’t want a ton of time for every one.
Take a look at ice cream at Helados Dinezzo
If you happen to’re visiting Colonia del Sacramento on a heat day, there’s no higher method to cool off than with some scrumptious artisanal ice cream. I cherished the espresso ice cream I had at Helados Dinezzo, a small ice cream store positioned within the Barrio Histórico.
I at all times like to hunt out the most efficient ice cream on the town, and regardless that this one got here from my good friend Lauren‘s advice, I knew this was once reputable from the instant I noticed the coated ice cream bins. The ones are an indication of the very best quality gelato in Italy.
Different flavors to take a look at come with sambayon, interest fruit, Swiss chocolate, and banana cut up, which Charlie in point of fact loved. Vegan ice cream flavors also are to be had.
This can be a great spot to forestall for a mid-afternoon snack after you’ve been exploring town all day and need to relaxation for some time. Or, in our case, we waited out a surprising downpour right here!
Take a look at craft beer
I like that craft beer and microbreweries have grow to be so in style world wide! Colonia del Sacramento is house to a couple of brewpubs. Cerveceria Barbot, L. a. Choperia, and MBC Sacramento are the 3 absolute best choices on the town.
All 3 puts serve craft beers and a menu of bar meals.
Understand that each brewpubs are simplest open within the evenings, so that is absolute best for an in a single day consult with to Colonia. On the other hand, MBC Sacramento could also be open within the afternoons on Saturday and Sunday if you happen to’re visiting on a weekend day outing.
Origami Museum
Probably the most coolest and quirkiest museums in Colonia del Sacramento is the Origami Museum. I used to be shocked and extremely joyful to search out this tiny little museum within the middle of Uruguay. This can be a gem of a museum this is properly price a consult with in case you have the time.
It was once the primary museum devoted to origami within the Americas, and it provides a small however well-curated number of paper-folding artwork. You’ll purchase quite a few cool souvenirs, like origami kits within the form of various animals.
Tickets to the Origami Museum are 80 UYU in keeping with particular person ($2.05 USD) or 150 UYU for 2 humans. This can be a nice method to go the time in Colonia and be told extra about origami.
Have a scrumptious lunch
As a well-liked day outing spot, there are many nice eating places in Colonia del Sacramento serving lunch. If the elements is good, many eating places and cafes be offering out of doors seating very best for people-watching.
Charlie and I ate at Calma Coco, a adorable and quirky cafe with scrumptious, hearty salads and massive glasses of lemonade. It couldn’t had been a greater lunch for a scorching day!
This eating place is true within the middle of the Barrio Histórico, making it a excellent position to forestall after you’ve spent the morning sightseeing.
Different extremely advisable eating places in Colonia come with L. a. Florida, Charco Bistro, and Bohemia Bistro.
Like Argentina, Uruguay is well known for its red meat obsession. If you happen to’re searching for a excellent steak, Charco Bistro is without doubt one of the top-rated eating places on the town to take a look at.
Chill out at the seashores alongside Rio de l. a. Plata
Colonia del Sacramento is true at the waterfront, and there are a number of seashores close by. If you happen to’re visiting all through the summer season months, placing out on the seaside is a great way to loosen up and benefit from the sunshine.
The nicest seashores are north of the ancient heart. Even if there’s a small seaside, Playa Honda, on the town, there’s no longer a lot house and I wouldn’t imagine it a spot I’d love to sprawl out and sunbathe. Playa Urbano Balneário Municipal, which is north of Colonia, is a more sensible choice.
However in truth, not anything in Colonia holds a candle to Punta del Este or Uruguay’s different seaside cities at the Atlantic Ocean. Those are the most well liked seaside locations in Uruguay, drawing guests from everywhere South The usa. However if you happen to don’t have time to make it that a ways, a walk alongside the seashores of Colonia may also be a laugh.
Move wine tasting
If you wish to get out of the town and discover extra of the Uruguayan geographical region, a wine-tasting enjoy is an effective way to take action! Uruguayan wine is probably not fairly as well-known as that in their Argentinian neighbors, nevertheless it’s simply beginning to grow to be extra well known. Purple wine from the Tannat grape is instantly changing into the signature of the rustic.
This excursion from Colonia del Sacramento comprises pickup and dropoff on the town and transportation to an area vineyard. On the vineyard, you’ll be told extra about wine manufacturing in Uruguay and experience a wine tasting in addition to lunch.
If you happen to simplest have at some point in Colonia del Sacramento, I don’t counsel doing this because it takes part the day, nevertheless it makes an excellent task for an in a single day or weekend outing.
How A lot Time Do You Want in Colonia del Sacramento?
Colonia del Sacramento is a wonderful day outing from Buenos Aires. If you happen to’re visiting on an afternoon outing, I like to recommend permitting a minimum of 5 hours between your ferry drop-off and pickup to completely discover town.
We had been intended to have about 5 hours in Colonia, however our boat there was once not on time one hour, leaving us with simplest 4 hours on the town. It was once a bit bit rushed, and we general felt like 5 hours in Colonia would had been very best. (Understand that you wish to have to reach early on the terminal at the long ago, so it’s no longer 5 complete hours of sightseeing.)
If you wish to spend time lounging at the seaside or exploring bars or breweries on the town, you must allot extra time to your consult with by means of scheduling an previous ferry to reach within the morning and a later ferry to go away within the night time.
A lot of humans in a single day in Colonia, too! That’s an choice if you wish to spend extra time there. If you happen to’re a photographer, that is one of the best ways to get pictures of Colonia at first light and sundown. I’ve observed some blue hour pictures of Colonia which are simply beautiful.
I in point of fact love visiting in style day outing locations after the solar is going down, like Česky Krumlov and Mostar, as it will get such a lot nicer after the day-trippers go away.
Staying for one or two nights in Colonia could also be a good suggestion if you wish to discover extra past the ancient heart, like if you happen to sought after to consult with close by wineries or seashores.
The way to Get to Colonia del Sacramento from Buenos Aires
How do you get to Colonia del Sacramento from Buenos Aires? You’ll get to Colonia del Sacramento on a fast and simple high-speed ferry trip that takes only one hour and quarter-hour!
Two ferry corporations supply provider between Buenos Aires and Colonia del Sacramento: Buquebus and Colonia Categorical. Buquebus is the nicer choice of the 2, however Colonia Categorical is extra reasonably priced. For this kind of quick adventure, it doesn’t in point of fact topic which ferry corporate you select.
Each ferries go away from Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires; on the other hand, every corporate has its personal terminal, so you should definitely move to the precise one! The Buquebus terminal is ready a 10-minute power north of the Colonia Categorical terminal.
We had been advised to be there 90 mins early for the ferry, however that appeared slightly over the top. Even so, I’ve been burned sufficient on my travels that I wouldn’t dream of unveiling up later than that! (Additionally, there was once a Ache Quotidian within the ferry terminal serving Speculoos alfajores that had been SO GOOD.)
On busy days, the strains for passport keep watch over can get subsidized up, so it’s a good suggestion to reach early to your ferry so that you don’t have to fret about lacking it.
While you arrive on the ferry terminal in Colonia del Sacramento, you’re a few 10-minute stroll from the Barrio Histórico.
Ferry tickets in most cases value round $80 to $140 USD round-trip. You’ll need to ebook your tickets on-line prematurely, particularly if you happen to’re touring at a hectic time or at the weekend.
If you happen to’d wish to consult with Colonia del Sacramento as a part of a gaggle excursion, that’s additionally an choice. This full-day excursion comprises lodge pickup and dropoff in Buenos Aires, round-trip ferry tickets, a information to accompany you all day, and a two-hour strolling excursion in Colonia adopted by means of unfastened time to discover by yourself.
You’ll additionally go for a personal excursion from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento if you happen to’d favor having a non-public information.
If you happen to’re already in Uruguay, it’s simple to get to Colonia del Sacramento by means of bus. There are common buses from Montevideo, and it’s a few three-hour adventure. The bus terminal in Colonia is only a quick stroll from the Barrio Histórico.
The place to Keep in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
If you wish to spend greater than at some point in Colonia del Sacramento, those are the most efficient puts to stick for an in a single day or weekend getaway. Staying within the ancient heart is the place you wish to have to be.
Those are the most efficient homes in Colonia del Sacramento for each and every finances:
Most sensible-Rated Luxurious Lodge in Colonia del Sacramento: If you happen to’re searching for a sumptuous get away, Charco Lodge is the best scoring lodge on the town. This high-end boutique lodge provides sublime lodging and waterfront perspectives.
Most sensible-Rated Mid-Vary Lodge in Colonia del Sacramento: Posada Boutique Las Terrazas is a brilliant choice for a at ease mid-range lodge within the Barrio Histórico.
Most sensible-Rated Price range Lodge in Colonia del Sacramento: If you happen to’re on the cheap, Viajero Posada B&B is the most efficient position to stick on the town, with modest rooms and an excellent location.
To find offers on puts to stick in Colonia del Sacramento right here.
Highest Time to Consult with Colonia del Sacramento
When must you consult with Colonia del Sacramento? You’ll thankfully consult with Colonia year-round and experience your time there — in a similar way to how you’ll consult with Buenos Aires year-round and feature an excellent outing. Each puts enjoy summer season from December to March, and that is when the elements is the warmest.
All the way through the wintry weather, it might probably get fairly cool and windy in Colonia del Sacramento, regardless that it by no means snows right here.
If you happen to’re taking an afternoon outing from Buenos Aires to Colonia, I like to recommend averting Friday to Sunday if conceivable. This can be a in style vacation spot for Argentines to consult with at the weekends.
I’m at all times partial to visiting locations in shoulder season for the very best mixture of first rate climate and not more crowds. That may be in April, Would possibly, October, or November. Although if you happen to’re making plans on visiting extra of Uruguay, together with the mythical seaside cities, you’ll almost definitely be right here in the summertime!
Is Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay Price It?
I’m so happy that we prioritized an afternoon outing to Colonia del Sacramento! This the town makes the very best foil to busy Buenos Aires — it feels so calm and enjoyable, which is strictly what you wish to have after a couple of days within the giant town.
If truth be told, that is one in every of my favourite day journeys that I’ve taken in fairly a while. It’s such a very simple outing to do, in spite of being an afternoon outing to an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT COUNTRY, that I extremely counsel it to vacationers in Buenos Aires.
I’m hoping you will have a good time in Colonia del Sacramento!
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Have you ever been to Colonia del Sacramento? Any pointers?