Day Trips to Uruguay from Buenos Aires

An excursion to Uruguay from Buenos Aires takes you to discover the beauty and charm of the neighboring country. Usually , if you travel to Uruguay from Buenos Aires you will have to board a ferry or a catamaran to cross the Rio de la Plata to Colonia de Sacramento, one of the main tourist destinations in Uruguay.

As for the duration of the tour, generally, a trip to Uruguay from Buenos Aires lasts at least one day. But all in all, this tour is an exciting experience to get to know the rich Uruguayan culture and history, as well as some of the best things to see and do in Buenos Aires.

Escape the hustle and bustle and stress of the city to get to know the tranquil Uruguayan city of Colonia del Sacramento by booking this day tour of the city, departing from Buenos Aires. Your adventure will begin on a ferry that will take you across the La Plata River to Colonia del Sacramento.

Once there, you will be able to appreciate the beauty of its monuments and the ancient and modern architecture. Also, being a historic town, it is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Your guide will help you explore its streets and tell you captivating stories that will take you back in time as you get to know the city. After the tour, you will have time for lunch and then you can continue to see the beauty of the city along the coast, with free time to visit local museums, pottery stores and jewelry stores.

Details of interest

• Price: about 200 euros per person.
• Duration: about 9 to 12 hours.
• Means of transport: by private car and ferry.

On this trip from Buenos Aires to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, you will discover the beauty of this city for a full day, departing from Buenos Aires. The ferry ride will be leisurely and will take about three hours to the other side of the Rio de la Plata. During the trip you will be able to see incredible views of the city and the coastline.

After arriving at the port, your guide will tell you all about the history of Montevideo while giving you a one and a half hour sightseeing tour through the city. You will also have the opportunity to visit the main sights of the region such as the Solis Theater, Independence Square and the statue of the military leader Jose Gervasio Artigas.

In the early evening, you will embark on the ferry ride back to Buenos Aires, where your guide will drop you off at your hotel or accommodation.

Details of interest

• Price: about 440 euros.
• Duration: about 16 hours to complete the trip.
• Means of transportation: by private car, boat and on foot.

To book a tour from Buenos Aires to Uruguay you have different options available:

• Search for tour agencies that offer package tours to visit Uruguay: they usually include the ferry or plane, plus transfers between the airport and Buenos Aires and other places; they even include accommodation and entrance fees.
• Hire private or customized tours for an even more exclusive experience.
• Plan and book every step on your own: you will need to research the schedules and prices of flights, ferries and buses from Buenos Aires to Uruguay, as well as book hotels and attractions separately.

In the latter case, the best recommendation is always to plan ahead, especially during high season, to avoid possible availability problems and high prices. In that sense, it is also advisable to book your transfer to/from Buenos Aires Airport in advance.

The time it takes for an excursion to Uruguay from Buenos Aires depends basically on the amount of places you want to visit, the specific place you are going to reach (either Colonia or Montevideo) and also on the means of transportation you use when traveling.

• A ferry ride from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento can take about an hour.
• If you prefer to continue to Montevideo, you should know that the bus or cab ride from Colonia to the capital city can take a little more than two hours.
• In caseyou want to visit the beach of Punta del Este, it would take you about an hour and a half from Montevideo to this place.

In short, you should expect the trip to take about a full day, so signing up for an excursion from Buenos Aires is a good option to choose if you visit the city with enough time to spare.

If you are wondering what kind of things you are going to see during this type of tours to Uruguay from Buenos Aires, you have to know that part of what you are going to see will be a great variety of tourist and historical sites that are very popular and worth visiting at your leisure.

One of the most common activities when visiting Uruguay is to visit the Old City of Colonia del Sacramento, as well as the Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament.

If you travel to the capital of the country, Montevideo, you cannot miss Plaza Independencia and the Old City. Also, if you travel to Buenos Aires for 5 days or more and you have enough time, I recommend you to visit the beach of Punta del Este, located approximately one hour from Montevideo.

• Plan your trip in advance: research the schedules and prices of ferries, buses, planes and other means of transportation that will take you from Buenos Aires to Uruguay, as well as accommodation and tourist attractions.
• Explore the less touristy places: it is a way to live an immersive experience and get to know the local culture. But always try to do it with the company of a tour guide, so as not to miss any important details.
• Consider the weather and the season of the year in which you are going to travel: for this I recommend you to read a bit about the best time to visit Buenos Aires and also Uruguay, because sometimes the weather and the time of the year can affect the itinerary.
• Wearcomfortable shoes that allow you to explore, so you will travel in total comfort, taking into account that you will probably have to walk a lot in each place.
• Try the local Uruguayan food: considering that this country is known for its delicious food and wines.

The cost of an excursion between Buenos Aires and Uruguay may vary depending on the type of transportation and accommodation you choose, as well as the attractions you expect to see during your visit.

• Traveling by ferry to Colonia del Sacramento: it can cost around 40 to 60 euros per person, although these prices may vary according to the time of the year and the company you have chosen.
• Traveling by bus from Buenos Aires to Montevideo: you will have to pay around 25 to 35 euros per person and the trip usually takes around 6 to 8 hours.
• Traveling by plane from Buenos Aires to Montevideo: flights can have an average price of about 100 to 150 euros per person. These prices can vary considerably according to the airline you choose and the time of the year you want to travel.

On the other hand, accommodations in Uruguay can cost approximately 30 to 70 euros per night. As for tourist attractions, some of them are free, while others can cost between 5 and 10 euros per person. In short, a guided tour between Buenos Aires and Uruguay can cost around 200 to 400 euros per person.

There are several towns and villages in Uruguay that you can visit during an excursion from Buenos Aires, but depending on your personal interests, the length of the trip and the itinerary proposed by the tour guide, these may vary.

In general, I would like to name a few places that you could visit during a guided experience to Uruguay.

Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia del Sacramento is a historic city located right on the coast of the Rio de la Plata, which borders Argentina.

This city is known mainly for its large number of Spanish and Portuguese colonialbuildings. Also within the city you can visit amazing places like the lighthouse and the naval museum.

I also recommend you to get lost in its cobblestone streets, look at each of its houses and, of course, take countless pictures during your tour around the town.

Montevideo

Without needing any introduction, Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay. So, as you can imagine, it is the nerve center of the city, as well as being considered an important cultural and artistic center of South America.

One of the things you have to do is to visit the Old City of Montevideo, which is the ideal place to walk around and enjoy the colonial architecture of the region.

I also recommend you to take a walk along the Rambla de Montevideo, which is a very nice seaside promenade where you will surely love to take wonderful pictures.

Punta del Este

Punta del Este is an internationally known beach located on the east coast of Uruguay. If there is something you can't miss when visiting this place is its lively nightlife.

Of course, you can't miss swimming in its waters and taking pictures next to the emblematic Fingers of Punta del Este, which you have surely seen before.

• Uruguay offers a wide variety of tourist experiences, from world-renowned beaches to historic cities and beautiful rural landscapes, making it a destination that satisfies all tastes.
• This country is very close to Buenos Aires and its access is really easy. That is why it is one of the excursions you should include if you travel to Buenos Aires for 3 days or less.
• ** Uruguayan history and culture is very rich**, thanks to its colonial cities that still preserve a lot of monuments and museums that will help you to have a clearer vision of the southern region.
• Uruguayan cuisine is world famous thanks to its focus on meat, wines and local products.
• Uruguay is a relatively affordable tourist destination when compared to other places in South America or the world.