Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. Meaning that at no additional cost to you, We earn a small commission if you make a purchase. We only recommend companies we've used and trust and the income goes to keeping our site running and ad free. Read our full disclosures and privacy policy here.
Is Colonia Del Sacramento Worth Visiting?
Yes, and well, no. This is definitely not the most helpful answer, but deciding if going to Colonia Del Sacramento is worth visiting depends on a variety of factors. Mostly it depends on how many days you’ll be in the general area (Buenos Aires or Uruguay), what you enjoy doing when you travel, and when you are visiting. Below I will detail how to decide if visiting Colonia del Sacramento is worth it for you, how to get there if you decide to go, what there is to see when you’re there, and how much time you’ll need.
Why Should You Visit Colonia Del Sacramento?
I am going to be very honest with you, Colonia Del Sacramento is not worth visiting for everyone. It is a very quiet and historical town with not a lot to do in terms of activities. It is the perfect place for a history buff or someone who wants to take beautiful pictures or if you want to get away from a busy city.
If you have many days in Buenos Aires or Montevideo and want to get away or slow down, I’d say go for it! It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the oldest town in Uruguay. Found on the Rio de la Plata, this town was an important strategic place for resisting Spanish rule. Now it is incredibly well preserved for us to get a sense of its history.
When should you visit Colonia Del Sacramento?
You should visit Colonia del Sacramento during the high seasons. The primary reason is that this sleepy town will be completely deserted during the low seasons. It is primarily a tourist town!
The high season for Colonia is the summer. Given that it is in the southern hemisphere that means October/November-March/April. You will see most stores open and running during that time. I would not recommend going to Colonia during the winter.
How to get to Colonia from Buenos Aires
If you are visiting Buenos Aires you can take a quick ferry ride over to Colonia Del Sacramento. The ride is a comfortable 1.5 hours. You will need to go through immigration to leave Argentina and enter Uruguay so go with enough time. Uruguay does stamp passports if you like collecting those stamps!
The ferry company recommended arriving an hour early, but for us, that ended up being a long time waiting around. Since we didn’t have any luggage, we flew through security and customs. REMEMBER to bring your passport!!
There are three different ferry companies that will take you to Uruguay. Buquebus, Seacat, and Colonia Express all have ferries daily. Buquebus and Secat operate out of the same building. Colonia Express has its own terminal. Make sure you go to the right one.
You can also order the tickets ahead of time, I highly recommend doing this so you don’t risk the companies running out of spots. We took the ferry with Colonia Express, and we did both Argentina Immigration and Uruguay Immigration in the same room before getting on the ferry, which made arrival super easy on the Uruguay side – Just a quick customs X-ray scan and we were walking out of the terminal.
Also, note that there is a duty-free shop on board the ferry that also includes the basics of snacks and beverages. From Buenos Aires, Colonia is the first stop. The ferry will go on to Montevideo and Punta del Este next.
EXPERT TIP: If you’re prone to seasickness or motion sickness, bring medication to help manage that. Although our ferry ride out was beautiful, and we spent some time on the outside deck, the ride back was a lot rougher and several people were feeling the full effects of seasickness.
Getting back to Argentina
On the trip back, you’ll clear Uruguay immigration before hopping on the ferry, and then Argentina immigration and customs upon your return to Buenos Aires. We found that the process was a little bit slower on the return because everybody from the ferry was trying to be processed through at the same time, whereas it was a lot more staggered on the way out.
Things to do in Colonia Del Sacramento
You will want to make your way to the old town. On arrival, you can join a tour group/bus, rent a car, rent a golf cart, or walk around. The tour group/bus would be the most expensive option. The golf cart is the most fun. We opted for walking because it was such an incredibly beautiful day. It takes about 10 minutes to walk down to the old town.
TIP: Get a free map from one of the local tour companies. It will help you get around without using up too much of your phone battery. Plus they highlight historical sights with historical significance.
Additionally here are some of the highlights in Colonia:
- Walk around Colonia’s Barrio Histórico, filled with cobblestone streets and picturesque doorways
- Pop into the many different local shops at the Barrio Histórico
- Eat lunch or dinner at Charco Bistro
- Visit the Church Matriz, considered the oldest church in Uruguay
- Visit all 8 of Colonia’s historical museums on a single UR $50 ticket ($1.50 USD) available at the Museo Municipal
- Try some Uruguayan Chivito
How much time do you need to visit Colonia?
Colonia is quite a small town that is easily walkable. This makes it the perfect excursion away from the bustle of the city. With that said you can spend as little as four hours there.
I’d definitely recommend spending enough time there to have lunch and maybe the merienda (tea time). If you are making the trip out I’d recommend a ferry in the morning and returning with an afternoon ferry back.
Another thing to remember is that Uruguay has a different currency than Argentina. They have the Uruguayan Peso. Many places will accept USD or Argentine Pesos. But for the Argentine Pesos conversion to Uruguayan Peso will not be in your favor and you may end up overpaying.
So, is Colonia Del Sacramento Worth Visiting?
Ultimately that decision is up to you. But consider the time of year, how long you are in the general area, and if you’re interested in the historical aspect. If it is winter then it would not be worth visiting and you can check out some other places worth visiting here.
If you are looking to slow down, get some incredible history, and explore a town then I’d say go for it! Colonia can be worth the visit for you.
