sidetrip to Colonia: worth it?
 

As part of my BA mini-vacation/mileage run, I was thinking about taking a trip on the ferry to Colonia del Sacramento. Is it worth the trip? Since I will only be there 3 days, I don't want to spend a whole day somewhere else, maybe a few hours at most. I'll admit that getting a Uruguayan stamp in my passport is a big reason I'm considering visiting.

While I admit that I haven't done a day trip to Colonia yet, it seems to get mixed reviews. From what I have been able to gather, it makes for a pleasant relaxing day, but if you have any expectations about it being a great destination with some sort of wow factor beyond the passport stamp, you might be disappointed.

But if it was me and I was only going to be in BsAs for three days, I probably wouldn't waste one of them on the trip (unless I was pretty sure that I wasn't coming back anytime soon).

If you want to keep your options open, just plan to do a same day trip on the high speed ferry on your last full day. And don't buy your tickets until the day before in the unlikely event that you decide that you have seen all BsAs has to offer.

Colonia was pleasant enough as a day trip, and quite picturesque. We were in BA for 11 days or so, the trip to Colonia was a nice relaxing break. I wouldn't call it spectacular or a must see, however -- it all depends on what you're looking for. If you do go, don't bother with a taxi -- it's an easy 10 minute walk from the ferry terminal.

Colonia is fine, but nothing special, and if I only had 3 days in BA I wouldn't give one of them up just to see it. There is so much to do and see in BA you will want every second of your time there! I wish I had planned more time there when I was in Argentina in March!

I echo the sentiments of the previous posters. I did a day trip to Colonia (in part for the bragging rights of having visited Uruguay), but I did it on my second long-weekend trip to Buenos Aires. You will have far too much to do in 3 days in BsAs to spend a third of that in Colonia.

I am not clear if this is your first trip to BAires.
If it is, then don't waste you time with Colonia.
If you have been to BAires before, then a side trip to Colonia is not a bad idea. I would get the "first class" seat on the fast ferry and would not take a tour. You can walk into town, have a nice lunch and just chill out. Next time I go, I would rent a bicycle or a scooter in the port and then see the town.
I thought it was interesting, the architecture is different than BAires and you do get your passport stamped, not once but twice.
There is also a duty free shop on the ferry. Nothing special though.

If you pick a nice day weather wise it certainly is worth going to see.If you are into photography there are some interesting sights to snap, we found it very relaxing walking about the historical part and stopping for a coffee.

it is an expensive ( by Argentine standards) high speed ferry , immigration etc,, and Uruguay is more expensive than argentina. There is nothing special there and quite boring. You can rent a minibike and ride around and then wonder why you did this trip.. "Bragging rights" what is there to brag about.
Stay in BsAs and have fun.

I also did a day trip to Colonia, and I found it to be worth the trouble. Its
a nice change of pace compared to BsAs and its pleasant. I did manage
to get a few good snaps from that place.

If I had to do it again, I think I would.

do it
 

do it. the boat ride is quick and painless. nice little town to spend 4-5 hours.

Yes, but given the OP will only be in BsAs for three days, is it worth it to him to use up a day for 4-5 hours in a nice little town?

Thank you, I doubt the OP will be so bored with only 3 days in Buenos Aires that he would need to spend the better part of a day visiting Colonia. You can't even enjoy the river on the fast ferry, you can't see out.

Sam

I thoroughly enjoyed my scenic side trip to Uruguay. Then again, I was in South America for over two weeks. Colonia is very scenic and ejoyable with a lighthouse to climb, cozy restuarants and shops along cobblestoned streets. The Sheraton resort just outside of Colonia was awesome. However, if you only have three days, I would stay in Buenos Aires.

what is awesome about a half empty, average hotel in the middle of nothing, and if OP is only spending few hours what does he/she need a hotel for.
There is no way i understand anyone recommending especially to someone with only 3-4 days in BsAs that a day to Colonia is a good thing. Oh I forgot the stamp in passport thing.
I must be very strange as I only get stamps where they insist on stamping....

I detect a bit of BA's bias coming out here. :D

I wouldn't dream of advising someone who may never visit this part of the world again not to fit in a trip to Colonia even though they only have three days in BA.To be honest they could have three weeks in BA and not have enough time to take it all in so using one of their three days to sample another country is fair game in my book and won't make much difference to their memories of the city.

Personally, I would rather fly over to Montevideo for the day and get a truer sample of Uruguay life there.

I certainly do not think it is anywhere close to BA bias :D just the reality of the OP's trip. AAU states that "I don't want to spend a whole day somewhere else, maybe a few hours at most." Short changing a brief visit to BA just to cram in a quick trip to "sample" another country for a couple hours seems an injustice to both. That kind of traveling reminds me of the old Bob Hope movie, "If it's Tuesday this must be Belgium". Horrors ;)

sam

:D

Ah yes the famous "ten countries in a week" coach tours of Europe mainly supported by retired citizens wearing beige clothing who are escorted and led by the hand from airport-coach-hotel-coach-hotel-coach-hotel.......airport.Then they go home and say they've done Europe. :D

I wasn't suggesting that the OP should stay there; only that I had stayed there. By the way, it was completely sold out the one night I stayed.

The only reason to go to Colonia is for the music.

Colonia is a good place to visit if you like to shop for antiques.

You're married man, Alex: no rich old ladies for you!

I'm back from BA. I didn't go to Colonia. The fast ferry was more expensive than I ever thought it would be, also runs less frequently in the winter. Even the fast ferry takes about an hour each way.

just got back...
 

I just got in this morning from a six days/five nights trip to BA and vicinity.

It was a wonderful time all around.

Monday, we took the fast ferry (tourist class was perfectly decent for the 50-minute ride each way) to Colonia. It was a beautiful day (but a chilly morning). I viewed this side trip as a relaxing, though not spectacular, escape from fast-paced, noisy, exciting BA.

There are a few briefly interesting museums, some good little restaurants, a church, old walls to walk, a lighthouse to climb, and souvenirs to buy. I left after about six hours satisfied I'd spent my time well and seen most everthing there was to see.

Would I have done it on a three-day visit? I'm not sure. But on a six-day visit, it was a good experience.