Colonia del Sacramento — The Easiest International Day Trip from Buenos Aires
By Harris
One of the most interesting things about visiting Buenos Aires is that you can wake up in Argentina, take a boat across the Río de la Plata, and have lunch in Uruguay.
That's how easy it is to visit Colonia del Sacramento.
Colonia sits almost directly across the river from Buenos Aires, and fast ferries connect the two cities throughout the day. Colonia Express currently schedules multiple daily departures, with the crossing taking only about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
That makes Colonia one of the easiest international day trips I can think of.
Leave Buenos Aires in the Morning
You don't need to rent a car, fly anywhere or pack for another trip.
Book a round-trip ferry ticket, head to the ferry terminal in Buenos Aires and bring your passport because you are crossing an international border.
There are two major operators worth checking: Buquebus and Colonia Express.
Colonia Express departs from Puerto Madero Sur, and its current schedule includes morning departures that make same-day trips very practical.
The ferry ride itself is only a little over an hour.
Allow additional time for check-in and immigration. Buquebus, for example, currently recommends arriving two hours before departure, with check-in closing 25 minutes before sailing.
Then you cross the Río de la Plata and suddenly you're in another country.
And Colonia Is Perfect for a Day
This isn't a city where you need four days and a complicated itinerary.
The reason to visit Colonia is the Barrio Histórico.
Colonia was founded by the Portuguese in 1680 and changed hands repeatedly between Portugal and Spain. That history left behind an unusual mixture of Portuguese and Spanish architecture and street plans, and the historic quarter is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It's beautiful.
Cobblestone streets. Old stone buildings. Bougainvillea. Little restaurants and cafés. Vintage cars seemingly positioned specifically so you'll take pictures of them. And the Río de la Plata surrounding much of the old quarter.
You don't need to overthink it.
Walk through the old city gate.
Explore the Calle de los Suspiros.
See the lighthouse and the ruins of the old convent.
Walk along the waterfront.
Have lunch.
Drink a glass of Uruguayan Tannat.
Sit outside somewhere and remember that you're supposed to be on vacation.
That's basically the itinerary.
You Don't Really Need a Tour
This is one place where I'd be perfectly comfortable simply buying ferry tickets and going on my own.
Colonia's historic center is compact and extremely walkable. Once you arrive, much of what you've come to see is concentrated around the old quarter.
If you want the history explained to you, absolutely book a walking tour once you arrive. But I wouldn't necessarily pay someone to transport me from Buenos Aires as part of an elaborate excursion.
Book it: Walking tour of Colonia's old town
The ferry is the transportation.
Buy a morning ticket over and an evening ticket back.
For example, Colonia Express's current October 2026 schedule includes an 8:30 AM departure from Buenos Aires and evening returns from Colonia at 6:00 PM and 8:15 PM, giving you plenty of time in Uruguay. Schedules change seasonally, so check your specific travel date before booking.
Colonia or Montevideo?
This is the important distinction.
If you're already staying in Montevideo, you can certainly visit Colonia from there.
But if your trip also includes Buenos Aires, I'd visit Colonia from Buenos Aires instead.
Geographically, it just makes sense.
The direct ferry from Buenos Aires takes about 75 minutes. By comparison, Colonia Express's current combined ferry-and-bus connection between Buenos Aires and Montevideo takes about 3½ hours.
So I'd save one of my Montevideo days for Montevideo — or use it for wine country or Punta del Este.
Then, while staying in Buenos Aires, dedicate one day to Colonia.
An International Day Trip Without the Hassle
That's what makes Colonia so unusual.
You're not simply visiting another town.
You're visiting another country for lunch.
Leave Buenos Aires in the morning. Cross the Río de la Plata. Clear immigration. Spend the day wandering through a 17th-century UNESCO World Heritage city in Uruguay. Eat lunch, drink some wine, watch the river for a while and then take the ferry back to Argentina that evening.
You can be back in Buenos Aires in time for a late dinner.
And considering how Argentines eat, you might even be early.
If you're spending several days in Buenos Aires, Colonia del Sacramento is one of the easiest and most worthwhile side trips you can make.