The day trip from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento is one of the most sought-after excursions for those visiting the capital of Argentina. This is due to the proximity of the Uruguayan city to Buenos Aires, making it an incredible destination full of charm and culture.
When visiting Buenos Aires, it’s worth taking at least a day trip to explore Colonia del Sacramento, and in this article, we’ve gathered all the tips for this journey.
Day trip to Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is a small city in Uruguay, located along the banks of the Río de la Plata. It boasts an unbelievable history, beautiful architecture, charming streets, good restaurants, and excellent hotel options (discover the best hotels in Colonia del Sacramento). Moreover, the destination is about 1 hour away by ferry from Buenos Aires, making it a quick, peaceful, and enjoyable journey.
Being a compact city, you can discover Colonia del Sacramento’s key attractions in a day. You’ll still have time to dine at a quality restaurant, savor a sangria, and indulge in some Uruguayan culinary delights (see restaurants in Colonia del Sacramento).
How to get from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento?
The most common and practical way to travel from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento is by ferry (see how to get to Colonia del Sacramento), and the companies that provide this service are Buquebus and Colonia Express.
We have traveled with both companies, and the service is similar. We didn’t notice any difference in the services offered or the quality of the ferries.
Therefore, we always choose based on the price because, depending on the date, one company may be more affordable than the other. So, I recommend that you research which company has a better offer on the date of your trip and select the cheaper option.
Both Buquebus and Colonia Express offer more than one type of ticket:
- Regular tickets: You have the option to buy round-trip tickets for your preferred dates and times, or opt for a one-way ticket.
- Day trip: This is a package that includes round-trip ferry tickets (on the same day), a tourist bus or another experience, and travel insurance.
- Short getaway and vacation packages: Include round-trip ferry tickets as well as accommodation in Colonia del Sacramento.
We have already purchased the day tour and the getaway package, and we loved both experiences. I recommend the day tour for those with a tight itinerary and a few days of travel. But if you have the time, staying at least one day in Colonia and leisurely enjoying all 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 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.
On our last trip to Buenos Aires in 2022, we paid AR$70,000.00 for a package for two people. It included round-trip tickets to Colonia del Sacramento and a one-night stay in a well-located 4-star hotel.
In our latest quote for 2024, we found the day tour starting at AR$40,205 (USD 35) 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, 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.
TIP: The ticket to Colonia del Sacramento usually costs less when you buy a round trip.
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 is included in the day trip ticket to Colonia del Sacramento?
Our day tour ticket from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento included a snack, served on the ferry either on the way there or back, according to our preference. The snack consisted of a sandwich, a cereal bar, and a bottle of water.
In addition to the snack, the ticket also included the tourist bus, the bus that picked us up and dropped us off at the port of Colonia del Sacramento.
The tourist bus made stops at 10 specific points in the destination and passed every 30 minutes. This way, we could catch it whenever it came by and get off at the point we wanted. Upon boarding the bus, we received a city map with the main attractions and the stops it made.
But when purchasing your ticket from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento, agencies offer other types of experiences, such as bike rentals, a tour of the Old Town, and lunch with wine, among others. You can choose the experience you want at the destination, but it directly influences the ticket price.
What do we think about the day trip to Colonia del Sacramento?
This is a must-try excursion for those visiting Buenos Aires. Besides being a charming city with amazing cuisine, the opportunity to visit another country on the same trip in a simple and fast way makes everything even more interesting and feasible.
Even before arriving in the city, you will be greeted with a beautiful view of the Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse and Old Town. After disembarking, you can enjoy all the charm of flower-lined and tree-lined streets, buildings with unique architecture, charming museums, restaurants, and the local charm and culture, exploring places like Calle de los Suspiros and Portón de Campo.
If your trip to Colonia del Sacramento is on a sunny day, be sure to enjoy the sunset over the Río de la Plata. Even if it’s from the ferry back to Buenos Aires, the sunset is simply enchanting and one of the best things to do in Colonia del Sacramento.
Uruguayan Immigration
As it is an international trip, when traveling from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento, you need to go through Uruguayan immigration. Upon return, you must go through Argentine immigration again.
The immigration process is straightforward; however, you need to have all the required documents for immigration from both countries.
So, when traveling from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento, make sure to bring all the necessary documentation, including travel insurance for Uruguay, which is essential for any trip. But before purchasing, check if your round-trip ticket includes insurance, as companies often include travel insurance in the day trip and travel packages.
During weekends and specific times of the day, the immigration queues in both Argentina and Uruguay can get quite lengthy, particularly in the morning from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and in the afternoon from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
We have traveled at different times, and even during peak hours, we didn’t spend more than 20 minutes in the immigration line.
