A One-Day Cross-Border Trip: Uruguay's Colonia Del Sacramento Immersed in Old World Tranquility

I've always believed that the trip from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay is the most relaxing and worthwhile one-day cross-border tour in South America, bar none. If you have a free day in Argentina's capital, be sure to include it in your plans. ⸻ 🛳 How to board the ship from Buenos Aires? Which ferry company to choose? Ferries from Buenos Aires to Colonia: 📍Buquebus Terminal at Puerto Madero, very convenient to reach by taxi from downtown. Currently, the main companies operating the Colonia route are: Buquebus • The largest and most established company • Large, stable vessels • Cabins resemble mini cruise ships, with duty-free shops • Duration: about 1 hour 15 minutes • Ticket price: off-season $70–100; peak season fluctuates between $120–160 ⸻ 🕒 It is recommended to buy tickets in advance, as same-day tickets often sell out. ⸻ 🛂 How do Chinese passport holders enter Uruguay? Super easy Chinese passport holders can enter Uruguay visa-free if they meet any of the following conditions: • Hold a valid US visa (B1/B2/J/F, etc.) • Or hold a valid Canadian visa The entry process is very quick; it took me less than 10 minutes—stamp, welcome to Uruguay. ⸻ 🌿 How to explore after arrival? A one-day walking route in Colonia’s World Heritage Old Town It takes only 10 minutes to walk from the pier to the old town, very easy. Colonia is a famous colonial town with a Portuguese and Spanish mixed style, listed as a World Heritage site in 2000. Recommended walking route (2–4 hours at a leisurely pace): 1️⃣ City Gate & Watchtower Bridge • The most iconic entrance to Colonia, perfect for opening photos. 2️⃣ Calle de los Suspiros (Street of Sighs) • The best-preserved Portuguese old street in the old town, with atmospheric cobblestones. 3️⃣ Lighthouse (Faro) Climb for a View • A small lighthouse that offers a panoramic view of the entire old town and the Río de la Plata, highly recommended. 4️⃣ Main Square Plaza Mayor • Surrounded by art galleries and craft shops, quiet and full of history. 5️⃣ Riverside Walk Rambla Costanera • The most soothing stretch, the colors will make you think you’ve arrived in southern Europe. No worries about food and drink The old town is full of restaurants, bars, and cafes. The pace in Colonia really lets you instantly escape the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires. ⸻ 🌄 The beauty of Colonia: a kind of “Old World gentleness” If Buenos Aires is the “Paris of South America,” then Colonia is the hidden “Iberian old times” across the Río de la Plata. It has no large attractions, but every stone, every ancient tree, every quiet street softly tells you: slow down, life will be more beautiful.