Uruguay – Colonia del Sacramento

9 April 2025

 

How often do you get to visit another country in less than a 75-minute ferry ride? Pretty seldom I would think. Just across the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires lies picturesque Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay; a charming, cobblestone-covered town that feels like stepping back in time. It seemed the perfect place for a daytrip as well as a great opportunity to add another country to our bucket list.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, it was founded by the Portuguese in 1680 and is one of Uruguay’s oldest towns. Its Barrio Histórico is an irregular colonial-era nucleus of narrow cobbled streets, occupying a small peninsula jutting into the river. Pretty rows of sycamores offer  protection from the mid-day heat. The whole historic quarter is a fascinating blend of architectural styles, a result of its history of changing hands between Portuguese and Spanish control until the Declaration of Independence in 1825.

The highlights of our walking tour:

How often do you get to visit another country in less than a 75-minute ferry ride? Pretty seldom I would think. Just across the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires lies picturesque Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay; a charming, cobblestone-covered town that feels like stepping back in time. It seemed the perfect place for a daytrip as well as a great opportunity to add another country to our bucket list.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, it was founded by the Portuguese in 1680 and is one of Uruguay’s oldest towns. Its Barrio Histórico is an irregular colonial-era nucleus of narrow cobbled streets, occupying a small peninsula jutting into the river. Pretty rows of sycamores offer  protection from the mid-day heat. The whole historic quarter is a fascinating blend of architectural styles, a result of its history of changing hands between Portuguese and Spanish control until the Declaration of Independence in 1825.

The highlights of our walking tour:

Calle de los Suspiros - there are different theories regarding the origin of the name of the Street of Sighs—that it was the final path of prisoners condemned to death and taken to the river to be shot, or that it was named for the sound of the wind blowing off the river, or that this was where the brothels of Colonia were located in the 1900s.

The Lighthouse - built in 1857 on the ruins of an old convent and offering great views across the river.

The Origami Museum - showcasing original works by renowned origami artists from all over the world.

The Promenade - leading to the Bullring, once a Spanish military enclave and today an event venue with an art gallery, a museum, a souvenir shop, a restaurant and a café.

The 18th century Church of San Benito – featuring a portrait of the Black Saint.

Colonia also boasts a number of fine white powdery sand beaches, perfect for taking a post-lunch siesta. This was interrupted by the sudden arrival of the rain and it was time to head back for the ferry.

It is not surprising that the town is inundated by visitors from Buenos Aires at the weekend/holidays; this is a calming, peaceful place where time seems to have stood still.