The back story
Colonia del Sacramento: across the river to Uruguay
A ferry across the Río de la Plata to the Portuguese-founded town of Colonia, its cobbled historic quarter on the World Heritage list.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsColonia del Sacramento faces Buenos Aires across the Río de la Plata. It was founded by the Portuguese in 1680, in UNESCO’s words, and disputed with Spain for a century; its Historic Quarter, a peninsula of cobbled streets, low houses and a lighthouse, has been on the World Heritage list since 1995.
Getting there
By ferry with Buquebus (buquebus.com) or Colonia Express (coloniaexpress.com). Uruguay is another country: take your passport and allow time for passport control at the terminal.
The Historic Quarter
The cobbled streets of the peninsula, the Calle de los Suspiros, the lighthouse and the old city gate; visitor information on colonia.gub.uy.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsBuquebus and Colonia Express sail from Buenos Aires to Colonia; take your passport.
Our advice: stay for the sunset over the river, and book the late ferry back.
Why it's on our list
- Getting there
- The Historic Quarter