Colonia del Sacramento is one of the most beautiful cities in Uruguay, boasting a romantic atmosphere and stunning architecture. For those considering a visit to this charming city, we’ve put together a guide with tips on how to get to Colonia del Sacramento from Montevideo, Punta del Este, and Buenos Aires. We’ve also highlighted the most common ways to reach the destination, including by car, bus, and ferry.
Discover your trip to Colonia del Sacramento
Montevideo is 180 kilometers (111.85 miles) from Colonia del Sacramento, and you can make this journey by car or bus.
Punta del Este is 310 kilometers (192.63 miles) from Colonia del Sacramento, and you can also travel by car or bus. If you go by bus, the trip will be divided into two parts: first to Montevideo, then to Colonia.
Buenos Aires is 60 kilometers (37.28 miles) from Colonia del Sacramento, and you can reach the destination by ferry crossing the Rio de la Plata.
If you plan to arrive by bus or ferry, purchase your ticket a few days in advance.
The ferry ticket from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento, with a same-day return, has a discount.
What’s the best way to get to Colonia del Sacramento?
To reach the destination, the main means of transportation are bus, car, and ferry. However, the best way to get to Colonia del Sacramento will always depend on your starting point, personal preference, and travel style.
- Car: the best option for those already in Uruguay. The drive from Montevideo or Punta del Este to Colonia del Sacramento is quite quick, and the roads are easy to navigate.
- Bus: the most economical option for those traveling through Uruguay. It’s very simple to reach Colonia del Sacramento by bus, departing from Montevideo or Punta del Este.
- Ferry: the best way to travel from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento. The ferry ride is quick and offers a pleasant experience.
Check out the best things to do in Colonia del Sacramento.
1. How to get to Colonia del Sacramento from Montevideo?
To travel from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento, your main options are bus and car. Each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages, so there isn’t a single best way to get to Colonia del Sacramento—just the one that best suits you and your trip.
The distance from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento is 180 kilometers (111.85 miles). For your trip, see where to stay in Montevideo.
By Car:
If you’re in Montevideo and traveling in a group, a good option is to rent a car to go to Colonia del Sacramento. In this case, you will cover a distance of 180 kilometers (111.85 miles) on the Ruta 1 highway.
The Ruta 1 is a well-maintained dual carriageway, so the journey will be quite smooth. This road has tolls, but when you rent a car, the toll tag is usually included. If it’s not a rented car, you’ll need to purchase a tag, available at the toll office.
By making this journey by car, your trip will be more flexible as you won’t be dependent on transport schedules. Moreover, you can make stops wherever you like and leisurely explore the landscapes along the way.
UPDATED PRICES IN 2024: The price for a liter of gasoline in Uruguay starts from UYU 62 (USD 1,60). To check the updated prices, visit the ANCAP website. Toll fees start from UYU 142 (USD 3,60), and for updated prices and where to purchase the toll tag, visit TELEPEAJE.
By Bus:
The bus is also an interesting way to travel from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento. This is a budget-friendly and very efficient option, as buses are usually comfortable, and this route has good schedule availability, with both direct and non-direct options.
If you choose to go to Colonia del Sacramento by bus, it departs from Tres Cruces Bus Terminal in Montevideo, with the main companies for this route being COT and TURIL. Bus schedules can be checked on the respective company websites, so just pick the best time and embark on this adventure.
TICKET PRICE IN 2024: Bus tickets from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento are sold starting from UYU 519 (USD 13,39). You can purchase the tickets on the COT, TURIL, and URUBUS websites, which sell tickets for both companies.
Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento
Leaving Montevideo for Colonia del Sacramento, you can select to book a day tour to enjoy and explore all the tourist attractions the city offers during the trip.
This tour includes pick-up from various hotels in Montevideo. When you arrive in Colonia del Sacramento, you will go with a guide to all of the major attractions. The day tour lasts 9 hours.
When traveling to Uruguay, don’t forget to purchase travel insurance for Uruguay, as it will ensure a much more peaceful and comfortable stay.
2. How to get to Colonia del Sacramento from Punta del Este?
For those in Punta del Este, the main options for getting to Colonia del Sacramento are also bus and car. Driving is the fastest and most comfortable option, and to reach the destination, you’ll travel 310 kilometers (192.63 miles) along Ruta 1, passing through several tolls.
If you plan to make this journey by bus, there is no direct route from Punta del Este to Colonia del Sacramento. Therefore, you should take a bus to Montevideo first and then board another one to your destination.
The companies COT, TURISMAR, and COPSA operate the route from Punta del Este to Montevideo, and the ticket starts from UYU 418 (USD 10,78). To go from Montevideo to Colonia del Sacramento, you have the options mentioned above. Tickets can be purchased directly on the companies’ websites or on the URUBUS website.
See where to stay in Punta del Este with tips on the best areas and hotels.
3. How to get to Colonia del Sacramento from Buenos Aires?
Colonia del Sacramento is about 1 hour by ferry from Buenos Aires, making it a quick, peaceful, and pleasant trip.
As it is a small city, it is possible to visit the main attractions of Colonia del Sacramento in one day, with enough time left to have lunch at a good restaurant, enjoy a sangria, and taste some delights of Uruguayan cuisine.
How to get from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento?
The most commonly used and practical way to travel from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento is by ferry, with the companies Buquebus and Colonia Express offering this service.
We have traveled with both companies, and the service is similar. We did not notice any difference in the services provided or in the quality of the ferries.
Therefore, we always choose based on price, as one company may be cheaper than the other depending on the date. So, I recommend that you research which company has the better offer for your travel date and choose the most economical option.
Both Buquebus and Colonia Express offer more than one type of ticket option:
- Standard tickets: you can purchase round-trip tickets for the days and times you want, or just a one-way ticket.
- Day tour: this is a package that includes round-trip ferry tickets (on the same day), a tourist bus or another experience, and travel insurance.
- Getaway and vacation packages: these packages include round-trip ferry tickets and accommodation in Colonia del Sacramento.
We have purchased both the day tour and the getaway package, and we loved both experiences. I recommend the Day Tour from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento for those with a tighter schedule and fewer travel days. But if you have the time, staying at least one day in Colonia to leisurely enjoy the charm and beauty of the city is a great choice.
Where to buy tickets from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento?
You can purchase tickets from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento online or in person at the agencies in Puerto Madero.
Even though they are in Puerto Madero, the terminals of Buquebus and Colonia Express are on opposite ends. The Buquebus Terminal is located at Antártida Avenue, 821, while the Colonia Express Terminal is at Elvira Rawson de Dellepiane Avenue, 155.
The option to purchase your ticket online and pay with a credit card has become quite convenient. This way, you don’t need to waste time going to the chosen agency in Puerto Madero, and you can buy your ticket in advance from the comfort of your home.
You can purchase your tickets and packages online on the official websites of Buquebus and Colonia Express or on reservation sites like Direct Ferries,  Civitatis and Get Your Guide.
How much does the ferry ticket from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento cost?
The ferry ticket price from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento changes very frequently. Additionally, the date of your trip and the chosen ticket option greatly influence the cost.
In our latest quote for 2024, we found the day tour starting at AR$62.000 (USD 60) per person and packages with a one-night hotel stay starting at AR$175,415 (USD 154) per person. Therefore, I recommend getting a quote from Buquebus, Colonia Express, Direct Ferries, Civitatis, and Get Your Guide to find the best price.
The prices for day tour packages vary depending on the included services, which can range from bike rental to lunch and a tour of the Old Town of Colonia del Sacramento, among other experiences.
The Buquebus website sells tickets in dollars. On the Colonia Express website, you have the option to purchase the ticket in Argentine pesos on the Argentine site or Uruguayan pesos on the Uruguayan site.
The ticket to Colonia del Sacramento usually costs less when you buy a round trip.
Read more: Best restaurants in Colonia del Sacramento.
How is the ferry to Colonia del Sacramento?
The ferry crossing to Colonia del Sacramento is very smooth, as inside the boat, you’ll find a snack bar, restrooms, comfortable seats, and even a small Duty-Free shop selling various cosmetics, electronics, fashion, and food at great prices. Moreover, during the journey, you can enjoy the beautiful view of the Rio de la Plata.
And don’t worry, as it’s a quite large boat, it hardly rocks. So, you won’t get seasick during the journey. If you prefer to use medication for motion sickness, choose non-drowsy options. Since this is a brief journey, you wouldn’t want to spend several hours of your day feeling sleepy.
Tip: To sit in a window seat with a good view, try to be one of the first to board the ferry, as the tickets don’t have assigned seating. Although there are seats for everyone, the best spots fill up very quickly.
What does the Day Tour ticket to Colonia del Sacramento include?
Our day tour ticket from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento included a snack, which could be consumed either on the way there or back, at our choice. The snack consisted of a sandwich, a cereal bar (it was quite large), and a bottle of water.
In addition to the snack, the ticket also included the tourist bus. It picked us up and dropped us off at the port of Colonia del Sacramento. Moreover, the tourist bus stopped at 10 specific points around the destination and passed every 30 minutes. This way, we could hop on whenever it passed and get off at any stop we wanted. Upon boarding, we received a city map showing the main attractions and the bus stop locations.
For tickets from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento, the agencies also offer other types of experiences, such as bike rentals, tours of the Old Town, lunch with wine, and more. You can choose the experience you want, but this will directly affect the ticket price.
If your trip to Colonia del Sacramento takes place on a sunny day, don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the sunset over the Rio de la Plata. Even if it’s from the ferry on your way back to Buenos Aires, the sunset is simply breathtaking.
Uruguayan Immigration
Since it is an international trip, when traveling from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento, you must go through Uruguayan immigration. Upon returning, you will need to pass through Argentine immigration again.
The immigration process is quite simple, but you must carry all the documents required by the immigration authorities of both countries.
Therefore, when traveling from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento, make sure to bring all the necessary documentation, including travel insurance for Uruguay. However, before purchasing insurance, check if your round-trip ticket already includes it, as the companies often include travel insurance in the Day Tour and vacation packages.
On weekends and at certain times of the day, the immigration lines, both in Argentina and Uruguay, tend to be quite long, especially in the morning, between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., and in the afternoon, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
We have traveled at different times, and even during peak hours, we never spent more than 20 minutes in the immigration line.
Did you like our tips on how to get to Colonia del Sacramento? Then check out where to stay in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO URUGUAY
Book your hotel in Uruguay in advance
To ensure the best stay in Uruguay, we recommend using Booking or Hotels.com, reservation sites we trust for all our trips. With a wide selection of hotels and the best available rates, you will find the perfect option for your stay, ensuring an incredible and economical travel experience. Our favorite hotels in Uruguay are:
- The Grand Hotel (Punta del Este)
- Charco Hotel (Colonia del Sacramento)
- Leading Hotels of the World (Montevideo)
For greater convenience, rent a car in Uruguay
Uruguay is a wonderful country to explore by car, offering stunning landscapes and charming cities. If your plan is to explore more than one city and maximize your comfort and freedom, renting a car is the ideal choice. The companies we recommend for car rentals are Discover Cars and Rental Cars.
Book your tours and experiences
Planning your tours in advance can save you a lot of time during your trip. Imagine being able to book all your activities directly from the comfort of your home and even pay with your credit card. The companies we use and recommend for booking tours and buying tickets are Viator, Civitatis, and Get Your Guide.
