Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento
Traveler rating
3.2/5
Based on 37 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento worth booking?
Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento is a 10-hour experience in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from $83 per person. It scores 45 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.2/5 rating across 37 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 45 / 100
- Rating
- 3.2/5 (37)
- Duration
- 10 hours
- From
- $83 per person
Colonia Express is a ferry company that connects Argentina and Uruguay in just one hour. Our day tour to Colonia del Sacramento offers you the chance to explore Uruguay while enjoying a scenic river journey. In just a few hours, you can create unforgettable memories. Join us and choose from our various day tour options. We can’t wait to welcome you on board!
What you get
About this experience
Colonia Express is a ferry company that connects Argentina and Uruguay in just one hour. Our day tour to Colonia del Sacramento offers you the chance to explore Uruguay while enjoying a scenic river journey. In just a few hours, you can create unforgettable memories. Join us and choose from our various day tour options. We can’t wait to welcome you on board!
What's included
Included
- All Fees and Taxes
- On-board restrooms
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Walking Tour
What you'll see and do
Colonia del Sacramento
Tiempo libre en la ciudad Caminar por el Barrio Histórico de Colonia del Sacramento Es el primer sitio de Uruguay declarado Patrimonio Mundial por UNESCO, en 1995. Fundada en 1680 por el portugués Manuel Lobo, la ciudad pasó de dominio portugués a dominio español varias veces, hasta la Declaratoria de Independencia en 1825. Estos sucesos hicieron de la capital coloniense un crisol de estilos arquitectónicos en el que conviven edificaciones de estilo colonial típicamente portugués y viviendas de porte español. Caminar por sus empedradas e irregulares calles permite rememorar la historia, y disfrutar de un paisaje único con vistas privilegiadas del Río de la Plata. Sus casas, sus calles empedradas, sus típicos faroles, y sus atardeceres mágicos seducen a los visitantes desde siempre. El Portón de Campo, la Calle de los Suspiros, el Faro, las Galerías de Arte y la historia que atesoran sus Museos son solo algunos de los atractivos a descubrir
600 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Buenos Aires
Board your ferry at the Colonia Express Terminal. The activity provider will send you the reservation number via email after booking. This tour involves international border crossing and customs. Please arrive at the Ferry Station 1 hour and 30 minutes before the departure time.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Board your ferry at the Colonia Express Terminal. The activity provider will send you the reservation number via email after booking. This tour involves international border crossing and customs. Please arrive at the Ferry Station 1 hour and 30 minutes before the departure time.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 12 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Colonia Express
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 37 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
4 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
37 verified traveler reviews for Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Smooth sailing with Colonia Express
Since there were so many bad reviews of CE I got a little anxious to take the boat. But I had a very good experience. I booked a day return trip from BA to CdS, with departure 8:30 and return 16:30. Without any other additional program. It was good enough time to explore the town and have a lunch before heading back to BA. Since I was travelling alone I wanted to go back before dark. Woke up the thunderstorm and lightning on departure day, and wonder if that would affect the trip. The ferry left on time as planned and had a very smooth sailing over to CdS. Spent the day there and had a very smooth sailing back to BA. On both sides I arrived 1,5-2h before departure, and the immigration process went well on both sides. The terminal in CdS is just a 10min walk from the town. The terminal on BA was easily accessible with an uber. When I arrived back I decided to walk to my hotel instead of taxi and it went well. Just followed the canal until I had to turn for my street. Would definitely recommend to take a day trip over to Colonia del Sacramento, even if raining! Beautiful historic town. And easy accessible with Colonia Express.
Response from the operator: Dear Passenger, Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us. Your comments help us improve our services. We are pleased to know that you enjoyed our services and look forward to welcoming you on board again in the future. Sincerely, Colonia Express
via Tripadvisor
Worst Company
Do Not buy your tickets outside of Argentina because I got ripped off really bad. They charged me 227.00 to my credit card when it was supposed to be 150.00 RT for 2 tickets. I cancelled within the time period of 24 hrs. I actually cancelled in 2 hrs after I made the reservation still 2 months later nothing yet. Do Not order online from this company Wally
Response from the operator: Dear passenger, We deeply regret that your experience with us was not satisfactory. We value your comments and are implementing the necessary measures to optimize our processes and prevent similar situations from recurring. We remind you that you can use our complaints email: reclamos@coloniaexpress.com, where you can send any additional requests or comments. Thank you again for sharing your experience. We will work to provide you with better service in the future. Sincerely, Colonia Express.
via Tripadvisor
Avoid Colonia Express, Strongly Recommend BuqueBus Instead!!!
I booked Colonia Express' day tour from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento for May 5th, 2025 on April 7th, 2025. Their incompetent customer service staffer, Laura Gomez asked me to change or cancel the booking within 24 hours of booking; otherwise, there would be no refund, so I followed her advice and requested a schedule change via their WhatsApp chat (as I was sure they would not honor my request if I sent it via email, but the WhatsApp message would exactly indicate that I sent the request within the 24 hour time frame as WhatsApp would indicate the exact time of message sent; furthermore, you cannot find information of how to contact them to request a change or a refund on their website), but they would try every possible way to ignore you. See the attached photos. Then, their another incompetent staffer, Ines Larse, insisted that I must have "called" them for any request or complaint, exactly opposite to what Laura Gomez advised. Ines Larse then harassed me by calling me with a wrong gender title after I repeatedly explained to them I felt insulted when they put a wrong gender in my boarding pass. If anything does not go as planned, you would easily feel miserable with Colonia Express, and they will never assist you as I can guarantee you. It doesn't only apply to international tourists but to Argentine nationals. I eavesdropped on a conversation between an Argentine woman and her foreign friend in front of the Colonia Express shop in Galerías Pacífico in the late afternoon of May 7th, 2025, and the woman warned her friend against using Colonia Express. Even though you sent your messages in English, they would only respond in Spanish, and they would dishonor any information you input in English as if they would only honor Spanish information for any complaints. Due to my extremely horrific experience with them, I strongly advise any future travelers that they avoid them with absolute confidence. BuqueBus runs more stable, comfortable, luxurious ferry services, though their prices are affected by these superior facts to Colonia Express. However, would you really want to risk all the potential headache you would experience with Colonia Express for just a few ARS difference? If you insist on using Colonia Express services, I would like to recommend the following : 1. Pay via credit card, and do not pay in cash ever. This will safeguard your rights, and if anything goes wrong, you can have chargeback from your credit card company. 2. Do not book long in advance. Their ferry tickets hardly sell out. They sometimes offer discount codes, so use the code them if you can. Please try not to change your booking and spare yourself any trouble. For any troubles with them, minimize correspondence with them for less disgusting experiences and go straight to the credit card chargeback option. 3. They are notorious with sudden change of services (change of ship types, no-show of tour guides, etc.), so be prepared for that. They caused a trouble on me as they made a mistake and did not correct my gender in the boarding pass. Even if it was their fault, they would ask you to pay to correct their mistake (changing my gender information in the boarding pass in my case). 4. If you are really on a budget, you may not book their tour. Instead, you can just buy ferry tickets only and help yourself for sightseeing with the tour information booklet that is available on the Visitor Information counter in the ferry port in Colonia del Sacramento. Most street vendors and restaurants in Colonia will accept international credit cards, except for nationally run museums. Money exchange options are also available around the tourist areas in Colonia.
Response from the operator: Dear Passenger, We sincerely regret that your experience did not meet your expectations. At Colonia Express, we strive to provide quality service and clear communication, and we take your feedback very seriously. Please rest assured that your comments have been shared with the relevant teams to help us improve both our customer service and operational processes. We would like to remind you that our complaints email is available at reclamos@coloniaexpress.com, where you can send any additional requests or comments. Thank you again for sharing your experience with us. We are committed to working hard to provide you with better service in the future. Best regards. Colonia Express.
via Tripadvisor
Smooth Ride on the Ferry and Bus
The ferry ride was smooth and enjoyable, then we took the bus to Montevideo where the bus seats were better than the airplane ride to Buenos Aires
Response from the operator: Dear passenger, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience. We’re pleased to know that you found the ferry ride smooth and enjoyable, and that the comfort of the bus journey to Montevideo exceeded your expectations—especially when compared to your flight experience. We look forward to welcoming you on board again in the future. Kind regards, Colonia Express.
via Tripadvisor
Easy day Trip
Bought the tickets some weeks in advance online. I could not use my North American cards directly with the site, had to use one of those online agents. I wanted to make sure we had our times available, and the process worked out. We had a 8:30 departure and 18:00 return. Checking in and boarding is a bit of a show, be prepared to stand in line. Seats are very comfortable, bathrooms available. We had the walking tour included from Colonia, it was a slow pace and covered all the highlights. Very little English in this part of the world. Our credit card worked at all the places, interesting there was a 10% discount by using cards. We changed $20 US to Uruguay currency to enter some of the attractions. The return voyage had way fewer people and we actually left 5 minutes early. Getting off the boat in buenos aires we took a cab and got scammed. Beware and ask the price before you get in. I didnt want to wait for Uber as there were 100 other people doing that - so I guess I paid the price. 10,000ARS uber to the port, 57,000ARS return with scam taxi.
Response from the operator: Dear passenger, we understand what you're telling us. We appreciate and value your comments to increase our efforts to improve the quality of our service and improve where necessary. Best regards, and we remain attentive, Colonia Express.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 13
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 45
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Buenos Aires.
How much does Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento cost?
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Prices start at $83 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Buenos Aires usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento take?
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Plan for about 10 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Buenos Aires is not rushed.
Is Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 45 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.2/5 across 37 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Buenos Aires, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 10-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento?
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Around 13 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Buenos Aires can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Buenos Aires and add a light layer if any part of the 10-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Buenos Aires within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Buenos Aires?
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On Outty we rank every Buenos Aires experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Argentine Cooking, Wine & Beef Tasting at Argentine Experience, Historical Sherpa Food Tour of San Telmo with Street Food, Drinks, Cooking Class with Empanadas Steak & Flan by Argentine Experience. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Buenos Aires?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Buenos Aires?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento?
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Included: All Fees and Taxes; and On-board restrooms. Not included: Food and drinks; and Walking Tour. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento?
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Board your ferry at the Colonia Express Terminal. The activity provider will send you the reservation number via email after booking. This tour involves international border crossing and customs. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap; and Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Buenos Aires. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Day Tour in Colonia del Sacramento?
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Across 37 reviews averaging 3.2 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, photo opportunities, organization. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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