I recently had the chance to visit a small town in Uruguay that I had never heard of. That town’s name is Colonia del Sacramento, and I loved every minute of exploring this quiet and quaint little place. There is so much history in Colonia del Sacramento to be discovered and explored. Here is a travel guide and a list of the best things to do in Colonia del Sacramento if you are planning a trip to Uruguay.
Colonia del Sacramento was founded by the Portuguese in 1680, making it one of the oldest towns in Uruguay. The Portuguese and Spanish disputed over this territory for over a century and the control changed hands several times. Thus, leaving behind a city with beautiful and unique influences from both Portugal and Spain. Stepping on the historic quarter’s cobblestone streets is like taking a step back in time.
A trip to Uruguay would not be complete without visiting Colonia del Sacramento and all it has to offer. It is perfect for day trips, or staying for multiple days.
- Where is Colonia del Sacramento?
- How to Get to Colonia del Sacramento
- Currency in Uruguay
- Tips for Visiting Colonia del Sacramento
- The Best Things to do in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
- Plaza de toros Real de San Carlos (Royal Bull Ring)
- Walk the historical streets
- Get Bortolot ice cream
- Eat at the Charco Bistro
- Colonia sign
- Watch the sunset on the river
- Basilica del Santisimo Sacramento
- Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse
- Old Wall
- Calle de los Suspiros (The Street of Sighs)
- Museo Cars
- How Much Time is Needed in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay?
Where is Colonia del Sacramento?
Colonia del Sacramento is located on the North shore of the Rio de la Plata (Silver River), facing Buenos Aires, Argentina.
From the city, you are able to take a 1.5-hour ferry ride across the river to visit Buenos Aires. Unfortunately, we did not take this trip because we only had three days planned to spend in Colonia, and it did not make sense with the current Covid regulations. At the time of our trip, Argentina required a negative PCR test upon arrival, and another was required to return to Uruguay. We would have loved to do this if we had more time!
How to Get to Colonia del Sacramento
We flew into Uruguay’s capitol city, Montevideo and we were actually able to get a direct flight from Miami, Florida! From there, we rented a car and spent 4 days in Montevideo exploring the city. Then we stayed in Punta del Este for a week before heading to Colonia. From there, it was about a 4-hour drive (2.5 hours from Montevideo). The drive might sound long, but this scenic route offers beautiful coastal and countryside views. Upon arrival in Colonia, there was plenty of free street parking within historic quarter.
Currency in Uruguay
Uruguay’s main currency is the Uruguayan Peso. One U.S. dollar is equivalent to 38.73 Pesos. However, we found that most places accepted, or even preferred U.S. dollars. You can also pay with an international credit card almost anywhere. While traveling, it is a good idea to have some pesos if you do need to pay in cash. Despite the exchange rate, we found that prices of meals and goods are similar to the U.S.
If you are curious about current exchange rates, do a quick Goolge search to find the updated currency exchange.
Tips for Visiting Colonia del Sacramento
- It is easy to get around by car, and very worth it to be able to drive wherever you want to go.
- Many people speak a little English; however, it is good to know some basic greetings and etiquette in Spanish if you are planning a visit.
- Don’t worry, everyone we met was very friendly and we felt very safe everywhere we went. Uruguay is one of South America’s safest countries.
The Best Things to do in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
Plaza de toros Real de San Carlos (Royal Bull Ring)
Plaza de toros Real de San Carlos is a bull fighting ring that was built in 1909. Due to the prohibition of bull fighting, it was forced to close only three years later in 1912. Only 8 official bullfights were held in the stadium. The building was abandoned for a over a century.
In 2021, a restoration project began, and it is now a cultural center for music events. They have done a wonderful job with the restoration project, making it look as similar as possible to the original architecture. They offer tours of the inside where you can learn about the history and restoration. Our tour guide only spoke Spanish, but another woman working there gave us a quick rundown of the history of the building. The staff was very accommodating to try and make sure our questions were answered. Despite understanding little of the tour, we enjoyed walking around, reading the signs, and viewing the inside of the building.
Walk the historical streets
As I mentioned earlier, the historical streets of Colonia del Sacramento are amazing. We spent a whole day just walking around the historical quarter and of course taking hundreds of photos because everything is so picturesque. It is easy to feel like you traveled back in time while wandering down the cobblestone streets.
Get Bortolot ice cream
If you know me, I LOVE ice cream, so of course Bortolot was on my list of things to do! We stopped in more than once to get some delicious ice cream. The Pistachio flavor was my favorite. I totally forgot to take a picture in all of my glory, so the above featured image is not Bortolot.
Eat at the Charco Bistro
The Charco Bistro is on of the best restaurants in Colonia del Sacramento. It is located along the river, with a great view to have dinner and drinks. We did not make reservations, but it may be wise to do so during weekends or busy seasons. I ordered a poke bowl, and it was delicious!
Colonia sign
You can’t have a visit to Colonia del Sacramento without stopping for a picture with the Colonia sign. It is located along the Rambla, which is a sidewalk that runs along the coast of the Rio de la Plata. We enjoyed riding bikes along this scenic sidewalk, and there are also small beaches to stop at along the way.
Watch the sunset on the river
One of my favorite things to do is watch the sunset. The river, which faces Buenos Aires, is a perfect position to catch the sun going down over the water. Funny story- One night we found a spot to relax near the river for the sunset. Jake went to set up a time-lapse on his Go Pro, and when he bent down, he ripped his pants right down his backside! Luckily, he had a flannel shirt in the car that he was able to wrap around his waist before we went to dinner.
Basilica del Santisimo Sacramento
This is the oldest church in Uruguay. The Roman Catholic parish was created in 1680, when the city was founded. However, the current church dates back to 1810, with its last restoration taking place in 1976. We did not go inside, but it was neat to see this old architecture and snap some photos.
Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse
The Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse is built on the old ruins of a convent, dated back to 1690. The lighthouse began construction in 1845 for sailors navigating the Rio de la Plata (Silver River). You can pay a small fee to walk up inside of the lighthouse, which offers marvelous views of the city and river.
Old Wall
The old city gate was built to protect the town during years of fighting between the Spanish and Portuguese. Part of the ruins are preserved, and you can walk up to the top of the wall. It makes you think about the soldiers that once stood there to protect the city from invaders.
Calle de los Suspiros (The Street of Sighs)
The street of sighs is one of the most photographed streets in Colonia. There are several theories on how this street got its name, but there is no definite reason. One theory is that criminals were hung at the end of the street, but there are no records to back this up. Another theory is that prostitutes used to line the streets to tempt the sailors coming into the city. No matter how the Street of Sighs got its name, it is a beautiful historic street that is definitely worth stopping for.
Museo Cars
If you are into classic cars, there is car museum a few miles out of town. When entering the museum, it replicates the feel of walking down the street in the early 1900’s. There are hundreds of restored cars on the left, and there are exhibits on the right set up to look like you are walking into a room of the past, such as an old barber shop or dentist office. We enjoyed walking around and checking it all out.
How Much Time is Needed in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay?
We spent 3 days in Colonia, and this was a good amount of time to fit in all of the sights. Colonia is a small city, and we were able to walk the entire historic district in one day’s time. As I mentioned earlier, if we would have been staying a few more nights, we would have taken the ferry over to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
I hope you find this guide helpful, and if you are planning a trip, I hope you have as much fun as I did!
-Morgan
Be sure to watch our YouTube video featuring Colonia del Sacramento!
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