Colonia del Sacramento Small-Group Day Trip with Ferry and City Tour from Buenos Aires
by Signature Tours
Choose from 2 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$500Overview
This full-day small-group trip begins with hotel pickup in Buenos Aires and a one-hour ferry crossing to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. Upon arrival, a professional guide leads a two-hour walking tour of Colonia’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in 1680. Visitors walk along cobbled streets and see colonial houses, plazas, and parks that reflect Portuguese architecture and the town’s unique layout. The tour includes a visit to Calle de los Suspiros, a narrow 18th-century street with stone walls and tile roofs, and the Puerta De La Ciudadela, the original fortified entrance built in 1745. Guests also climb the 26-meter Faro de Colonia del Sacramento lighthouse, dating from 1857, which stands on convent ruins and offers views over the Rio de la Plata. The tour finishes at the Basilica del Santísimo Sacramento, notable for its backlit altar and Portuguese-style brickwork. After the guided tour, participants have about three hours to explore Colonia independently. Options include visiting museums, craft shops, local cafes, and the yacht harbor, or having lunch on their own. The trip ends with the ferry ride back to Buenos Aires and hotel drop-off. Included are ferry tickets, hotel transfer, the city tour, and a guide. Food, drinks, and gratuities are not included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Barrio Historico
The day begins with hotel pickup in Buenos Aires, followed by a drive to the ferry terminal. The ferry crossing to Colonia del Sacramento takes about one hour, offering views of the Rio de la Plata. Upon arrival, the guide leads a two-hour tour of the historic center, highlighting the town's cobbled streets and colorful colonial houses built by the Portuguese in 1680. The guide explains Colonia’s layout, its differences from other Uruguayan cities, and points out local bars, restaurants, and plazas. After the tour, guests have approximately three hours for independent exploration before returning by ferry to Buenos Aires and hotel drop-off.
360 min
La Calle de los Suspiros
Starting at Plaza Mayor, this narrow street slopes down toward the Rio de la Plata. It features Portuguese-style cobblestones without sidewalks and a drainage channel formed by tilted building walls. The houses date from the early 18th century with stone walls, tile roofs, and ceramic floors. Only buildings with gabled roofs remain, with small wooden doors and windows.
15 min
Puerta De La Ciudadela
Constructed in 1745 on the orders of Portuguese governor Vasconcellos, this gate served as the fortified entrance to Colonia. It was part of thick defensive walls designed to protect the town from pirates and attacks by Spanish and English forces.
15 min
Faro de Colonia del Sacramento
Built in January 1857, this lighthouse has a white masonry circular tower with a dome painted in white and red radial stripes. It stands 26 meters tall on the ruins of the Convent of San Francisco, which are at its base. The lighthouse flashes two red lights every nine seconds and has a visibility range of 7.8 nautical miles.
5 min
Basilica del Santisimo Sacramento
This basilica is known for its distinctive altar featuring a backlit semi-circular alcove with a large monstrance used for displaying the Sacred Host. The exterior brickwork reflects Portuguese influence from the builders.
10 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Additional info
Colonia del Sacramento Small-Group Day Trip with Ferry and City Tour from Buenos Aires
by Signature Tours
Choose from 2 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$500Overview
This full-day small-group trip begins with hotel pickup in Buenos Aires and a one-hour ferry crossing to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. Upon arrival, a professional guide leads a two-hour walking tour of Colonia’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in 1680. Visitors walk along cobbled streets and see colonial houses, plazas, and parks that reflect Portuguese architecture and the town’s unique layout. The tour includes a visit to Calle de los Suspiros, a narrow 18th-century street with stone walls and tile roofs, and the Puerta De La Ciudadela, the original fortified entrance built in 1745. Guests also climb the 26-meter Faro de Colonia del Sacramento lighthouse, dating from 1857, which stands on convent ruins and offers views over the Rio de la Plata. The tour finishes at the Basilica del Santísimo Sacramento, notable for its backlit altar and Portuguese-style brickwork. After the guided tour, participants have about three hours to explore Colonia independently. Options include visiting museums, craft shops, local cafes, and the yacht harbor, or having lunch on their own. The trip ends with the ferry ride back to Buenos Aires and hotel drop-off. Included are ferry tickets, hotel transfer, the city tour, and a guide. Food, drinks, and gratuities are not included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Barrio Historico
The day begins with hotel pickup in Buenos Aires, followed by a drive to the ferry terminal. The ferry crossing to Colonia del Sacramento takes about one hour, offering views of the Rio de la Plata. Upon arrival, the guide leads a two-hour tour of the historic center, highlighting the town's cobbled streets and colorful colonial houses built by the Portuguese in 1680. The guide explains Colonia’s layout, its differences from other Uruguayan cities, and points out local bars, restaurants, and plazas. After the tour, guests have approximately three hours for independent exploration before returning by ferry to Buenos Aires and hotel drop-off.
360 min
La Calle de los Suspiros
Starting at Plaza Mayor, this narrow street slopes down toward the Rio de la Plata. It features Portuguese-style cobblestones without sidewalks and a drainage channel formed by tilted building walls. The houses date from the early 18th century with stone walls, tile roofs, and ceramic floors. Only buildings with gabled roofs remain, with small wooden doors and windows.
15 min
Puerta De La Ciudadela
Constructed in 1745 on the orders of Portuguese governor Vasconcellos, this gate served as the fortified entrance to Colonia. It was part of thick defensive walls designed to protect the town from pirates and attacks by Spanish and English forces.
15 min
Faro de Colonia del Sacramento
Built in January 1857, this lighthouse has a white masonry circular tower with a dome painted in white and red radial stripes. It stands 26 meters tall on the ruins of the Convent of San Francisco, which are at its base. The lighthouse flashes two red lights every nine seconds and has a visibility range of 7.8 nautical miles.
5 min
Basilica del Santisimo Sacramento
This basilica is known for its distinctive altar featuring a backlit semi-circular alcove with a large monstrance used for displaying the Sacred Host. The exterior brickwork reflects Portuguese influence from the builders.
10 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.