Cross the River Plate to Colonia, Uruguay
Travel by boat from Buenos Aires to explore the port Colonia, one of Uruguay’s most charming and evocative historic towns.
Travel across the coffee-coloured River Plate from Buenos Aires to Colonia, Uruguay, by speedy, comfortable public boat.
Upon reaching the low-key Uruguayan side, you’ll immediately notice a dramatic slowdown in pace. Pretty Colonia del Sacramento is one of Uruguay’s oldest towns and certainly its most atmospheric. The ochre-washed and exposed-stone architecture of the historic quarter reflects its long history, during which Colonia changed hands between the Spanish and Portuguese no less than eight times.
These days the town has a much quieter feel, and its tree-studded cobbled lanes, overlooked by low terracotta-roofed houses, are a great place to wander along. Adding to the back-in-the-day atmosphere there are many classic cars, still very much in use, parked alongside the high wooden doors of the sometimes crumbly colonial buildings.
On your guided walking tour along Colonia’s winding streets, you’ll survey the 17th century convent, the old theatre, the whitewashed lighthouse and the evocatively named Street of Sighs, stopping off for lunch on the way.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.
Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.
Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.
