Three Days in Uruguay

I’ll admit, before coming to Uruguay, I knew nothing about this country other than the fact that it was more European-like than the other South American countries. While planning for my trip to Argentina, I saw that Uruguay was fairly close to Buenos Aries, just an hour away by ferry, to be exact.

Just an hour away? New stamp in the passport? I was sold. 

Getting to Uruguay from Buenos Aries

You’ll need to purchase a ferry ticket. This can be done online ahead of time or at the terminal (Av. Antártida Argentina 821, Buenos Aires). I’m one of those guys that likes to pre-plan everything, so I went ahead and bought my ticket online.

The ferries stop in Colonia Del Sacramento, which is only an hour away, or Montevideo, which is about 5 hours. A few go all the way to Punta Del Este, an expensive beach town 7.5 hours away. 

The last ferry leaves at 6:55 PM and only goes to Colonia Del Sacramento; however, there are several buses that leave for Montevideo throughout the day from Colonia Del Sacramento, usually on the hour. The last bus is at 9:00 PM, but always double check as things change! 

The nice thing about taking the ferry is that you complete all the customs processing before you actually get on the ferry. As soon as you receive your exit stamp out of Argentina, you will turn to the counter across and receive your entry stamp for Uruguay although you are still in Argentina. This is also the procedure for when you exit Uruguay. 

*You should arrive early and get in line early if you want a seat on the ferry. They sell way more tickets than seats, so if you’re in the middle of the pack, like I was, you will be standing the entire ride. 

Colonia Del Sacramento 

This small, historical city is a popular day trip for Argentinians given its proximity to Buenos Aries. Its historic quarter, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the highlight of the city, but if I’m being honest, there isn’t much here to keep you entertained beyond half a day.

The one perk about this city is that it is small enough to walk, so you don’t have to rely on any form of transportation. You can even walk here from the ferry terminal.

In about 4 hours you can see the entire tourist area comfortably, and the town is pretty easy to navigate (you can get a local map from the ferry station or a hotel). I spent exactly half a day here before making my way to Montevideo. 

Montevideo 

From Colonia Del Sacramento I took the bus to Montevideo, a 2.5 hour ride for about $10. 

Coming from Buenos Aries the previous week, Montevideo seemed a bit dull, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Montevideo is a quiet capital city with very little to offer, but that shouldn’t deter you from visiting. There are some places in the city that are unique and pretty cool to check out.

Barrio Sur and Palermo

These neighborhoods were historically populated by Afro-Uruguayans, but have been gentrified over the years. However, a lot of neat street art still remains intact.

Old City

This is where I stayed during my time here. Here you’ll find some the most photogenic shots of the city, as well as many government buildings. 

Promenade

This offers the best sunset views of the city and makes for a pleasant walk. You’ll find tons of locals here catching the sunset while drinking Yerba Mate. 

Street Market

If you walk around long enough, you’ll find mini markets during the day selling mostly fresh produce, as well as items such as socks and shoes. This seemed to be the best place to catch everyday life in Montevideo. 

Two days in Montevideo is perfect, just enough time to see everything there is to see. You could even do it in one day if you wanted to. 

Is Uruguay Worth Visiting?

For sure! I am of the mindset that every country is worth visiting, as each culture is unique and has something different to offer. While Uruguay is nowhere near as exciting as its neighbor Argentina, I still enjoyed myself and would return again to see some of the beach cities that are highly regarded. If you’re in Argentina and have some extra time to spare, I definitely recommend you slide on over to Uruguay.