Few countries combine so well in the same trip. Just take a boat and cross the Rio de la Plata to go from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento, in Uruguay, a journey that takes just one hour. The connection between the capitals is also simple: just 2h15 by boat. Proximity that allows for several itineraries that join Argentina and Uruguay on the same trip – and even in the same week.
Did you buy a ticket to Buenos Aires and have time to spare? Take the opportunity to also get to know Uruguay. Will you fly to Montevideo? If you want, it’s easy to take a trip to Argentina. You can do this and return to catch your flight back from the same city. Or you can already buy your tickets with multiple destinations, for example, arriving through Buenos Aires and returning through Montevideo.
The following itinerary examples are designed for those who purchased tickets in this way, but there is no problem if your outbound and return flights are from the same city. Just be careful to return to your point of origin a day before your flight, so as not to run the risk of missing it due to a delay.
See too:
• How to plan a trip to Argentina
• How to buy tickets with multiple destinations
Buenos Aires
How to cross between Argentina and Uruguay
You have two options. You can go from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento, a city built by the Portuguese, when they tried to dominate the eastern side of the river, in the area that later became Uruguay. As said before, this is the shortest trip, lasting around an hour, and also the cheapest.
Several companies connect Uruguay and Argentina. The one we used (and recommend) was Colonia Express, which usually has the best prices. The best-known option is BuqueBus, which has two types of boats: fast ones, with 1-hour trips, and slow ones, with 3-hour trips and which transport vehicles. And there is also Seacat, which also does not transport cars and works more or less according to the Colonia Express scheme.
Here you can book your ticket in advance and include an optional walking tour of the city. Try to buy tickets in advance, especially if you are traveling on holidays, as the price varies depending on demand.
You can choose to spend the day in Colonia, which is a very pleasant city, and from there take a bus to Montevideo, a trip that takes 2h30. Those who prefer can do everything by boat, without stopping in Colonia and jumping from one capital to another. In any case, don’t forget that you will go through immigration before boarding, so bring your documents (current ID in good condition or passport).
Read too: How to go to Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento
Argentina and Uruguay: five-day itinerary
Five days is the ideal time to get to know Buenos Aires, but I understand the thirst for more countries stamped in the passport. Therefore, if you have five full days – already discarding the days you will use for travel – you can combine Argentina and Uruguay on the same trip.
In this case, I would dedicate three days to Buenos Aires. Take advantage of your time in the city of Buenos Aires to take a tour of the center, visit Casa Rosada, visit Palermo’s restaurants and wander around Recoleta and Puerto Madero. You’ll be wanting more when you take the boat to Uruguay.
See too:
• What to do in Buenos Aires: the main attractions
• Buenos Aires on foot: itinerary in the city center
• Where to stay in Buenos Aires
Did you cross the border? You can get off in Colonia, spend a few hours in the city and continue on to Montevideo. Or you can go directly to Montevideo, with more time to enjoy the Uruguayan capital. The five-day itinerary is only very busy for those who have not purchased a ticket for multiple destinations, as I explained above. In this case, it is best to choose just one Uruguayan city.
Montevideo
Seven day itinerary
After seven days things got better – I would spend four nights in Buenos Aires and take the boat to Colonia. In this case, the question is whether to spend a night in the historic city or just enjoy the sunset – which is unmissable – and head to Montevideo. Ahh, in the Uruguayan capital, don’t miss the center (if it’s Sunday, stop by the Tristán Narvaja fair). Take a tour of the Old Town, head to Mercado del Puerto and – if you have the breath – go down the Ramblas by bike. End the day by drinking mate in front of the sea, or better yet, on the edge of the Rio de la Plata.
See too:
• What to do in Montevideo, Uruguay
• Where to stay in Montevideo
Ahh, it’s obvious, but it doesn’t hurt to say: the itinerary is also simple if you arrive via Montevideo. Just take the bus to Colonia and from there the boat (book in advance) to Buenos Aires.
Is there time left? You can also include a day trip from the two capitals. The most common options are Punta del Este, which is 120 kilometers from Montevideo, or a trip to Tigre, just 35 kilometers from the center of Buenos Aires.
See too: Day trip to Tigre and the Paraná Delta, near Buenos Aires
Tigre, Argentina
12 day itinerary
The base itinerary is the same, but two more days allow you to add places. With this time you can leave five days for Buenos Aires, one of which is for the day trip to Tigre. One day (with an overnight stay) would be to Colonia, while three days would be to Montevideo. The remaining three days are for the coast. If you choose the Argentinean, the closest resort to the capital is Mar del Plata, which is five hours from Buenos Aires.
See too: 7 travel itineraries around Argentina
A little corner of Cabo Polonio (Photo: Shutterstock)
If you choose the Uruguayan beaches, know that there are options beyond Punta del Este. To start, an alternative is to make a stop in Piriápolis, which is right in the middle of the way – 90 km from Montevideo and 40 km from Punta del Este.
A little further away, but highly recommended by those in the know, is La Paloma, which is 220 km from Montevideo. It is the typical small town of the region, with a beach with rocks and a lighthouse. Finally, there is Cabo Polônio, a refuge for sea lions and alternative people, not necessarily in that order. The city is just 250 km from Montevideo.
Travel insurance for South America
Taking out travel insurance is essential, even for countries as close as Argentina and Uruguay. No matter how close it is to home, it is best to travel protected so as not to suffer from unforeseen events.
The good news is that it is possible to take out good travel insurance for around 10 reais per day. To do this, we recommend using a search engine like Seguros Promo, which compares the main insurance companies and ensures that you find the best value for money, according to your needs.
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