Overview
The little port of Colonia is the oldest town in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fought over by the Spanish and Portuguese for a century, sturdy fortifications suggest Colonia’s history has been as turbulent as it is long. The old part of town is a faded clutter of terracotta roofs and narrow cobbled streets, shaded by sycamores, reminiscent of old Lisbon. For a few hours daily, Colonia springs to life as a modern army of day-trippers arrives from Buenos Aires. The rest of the time, it’s a typically peaceful Uruguayan backwater.
Even sleepier Carmelo, an hour from Colonia, has long been a popular spot for a game of golf or relaxation by the River Plate. Nowadays, Carmelo is also being discovered by gourmet-seeking visitors as it awakes to its new-found reputation as a centre of Uruguay’s burgeoning wine industry.
Holidays Colonia and Carmelo
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.
Group - Discovery
Argentina / Uruguay / Paraguay
Jabiru: Wildlife, wine and Jesuit Missions
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)
Private Journeys
Argentina / Uruguay
Self-drive Uruguay: Classic highlights
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)
Private Journeys
Argentina / Uruguay
Signature Uruguay: Land of vintage charm
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation . Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you’ll relax in utter comfort.
Where to go when - our guide to Colonia and Carmelo
The weather in Colonia and Carmelo is wide and varied
Once a former smuggling staging post, the peaceful little port of Colonia is the oldest town in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The pretty cobbled streets are shaded by sycamores, the vintage cars and faded terracotta roofs give it a feeling of timelessness. Even sleepier is Carmelo, perfect for gourmet-seeking visitors and now the centre of Uruguay’s burgeoning wine industry. Both have mild climates with rain spread throughout the year and can be visited year round.
View our Colonia and Carmelo weather guidePapagaio
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