Discover the Charming Allure of Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, on a Day Trip from Buenos Aires
- That's How We Travel
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
Summary. From Buenos Aires, take a simple day trip to the delightful town of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. Board a 75-minute ferry across the Río de La Plata to arrive early, allowing you ample time to wander the cobblestone streets, join a walking tour, shop in the quaint downtown area, and savor a delicious meal.
[This blog is part of our 10-days in Patagonia trip].
Getting there. From our Airbnb, we took an Uber and reached the Ferry Building at 9:00 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. ferry on the Colonia Express. Arriving early was advised because clearing customs can be time-consuming. [Don't forget your passport!] We were almost the first ones there, so we might have been able to arrive a bit later, but it was convenient to clear security and have our passports stamped before the line grew long. Inside the ferry port, there's a nice spot to enjoy coffee and free Wi-Fi. The ferry itself was quite pleasant, offering views of Buenos Aires as it departed the dock.
About Colonia del Sacramento. This small town, with a population of about 13,000, has a rich history of alternating between Spanish and Portuguese rule, followed by a short period under Brazilian control before Uruguay gained independence in 1828. The historic area of the town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring charming cobblestone streets constructed by the Portuguese in the 17th and 18th centuries.
First Stop Lunch. After disembarking from the ferry, we enjoyed a leisurely walk to a restaurant named El Otro Portion. We had heard about this place from another travel blogger, and it truly lived up to the hype. The restaurant offered an excellent menu featuring fresh dishes inspired by Uruguayan cuisine. It turned out to be one of the best meals of our entire trip—on the very first day! We highly recommend this spot.
Walking tour. After lunch we walked over to La Fuente Portuguesa to meet our tour guide for a 90 minute walking tour of central Colonia. This inexpensive tour offers a great snap shot of the City's history.
The start of tour is just outside of Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento and Ruínas das Casa dos Governadores Portugueses. The Basilica is an early 19th century Catholic Church that sits adjacent to the Ruins of the Governor's House from the 17th century.
Walking through this charming place. The tour proceeded through the town, and we appreciated the small details like the flowers scattered everywhere.
Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse. Next we cross a town square where vendors sold handmade goods. At the corner of the square was a historic lighthouse from the 1850s.
La calle de los Suspiros ("Street of Sighs"). Colonia's most known street has various theories regarding the origin of its name. One suggests that criminals were hanged at the street's end. Another proposes that prostitutes would gather along the street to entice sailors. A final theory involves a lover who was killed on this street, uttering a final sigh to call out to her partner.
Following the walking tour, we took a break at a gelato shop before heading back to the Ferry building. During the return trip to Buenos Aires, we enjoyed a sunset view of the city's skyline.
Video of Whole Day. We haven't advanced to posting fancy edited videos but here is one which is compilation of our day in Colonia del Sacramento.
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