Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 24 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO worth booking?
Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO is a 9-hour experience in Montevideo, Uruguay, from $585 per person. It scores 69 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 24 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 69 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (24)
- Duration
- 9 hours
- From
- $585 per person
Live Colonia del Sacramento – Full Day Tour with Local Guide We are a family business passionate about sharing the best of Uruguay with travelers from all over the world. Our goal is to create a relaxed and friendly environment so that you not only enjoy the day, but also get a friend in Uruguay. Visit the charming town of Colonia del Sacramento on a full-day excursion from Montevideo. Explore its cobblestone streets, explore historic sites and immerse yourself in centuries of rich heritage with your local guide. We will visit the Cologne Rambla with its sign and the Real neighborhood of San Carlos where we will visit the old Bullring of Cologne You will have time to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant if you wish and why not some time to shop for city souvenirs
What you get
About this experience
Live Colonia del Sacramento – Full Day Tour with Local Guide We are a family business passionate about sharing the best of Uruguay with travelers from all over the world. Our goal is to create a relaxed and friendly environment so that you not only enjoy the day, but also get a friend in Uruguay. Visit the charming town of Colonia del Sacramento on a full-day excursion from Montevideo. Explore its cobblestone streets, explore historic sites and immerse yourself in centuries of rich heritage with your local guide. We will visit the Cologne Rambla with its sign and the Real neighborhood of San Carlos where we will visit the old Bullring of Cologne You will have time to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant if you wish and why not some time to shop for city souvenirs
What's included
Included
- Private transportation
- On-board WiFi
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Experienced local guide
Not included
- Lunch
What you'll see and do
Colonia del Sacramento
The historic city of Colonia del Sacramento, founded in 1680, evokes images of ancient Lisbon for its Portuguese-style architecture and winding streets. Colonia is located in the southwestern part of Uruguay, on the River Plate, and in 1995 UNESCO declared it to World Heritage Site. You can visit Colonia easily by ferry from Buenos Aires in just a day trip, and this is one of the reasons that make its beaches a popular destination of great tourist attraction for Argentines. Among its main monuments are the Church Matrix, which is the oldest in the country, the Municipal Museum and a port dating from the seventeenth century that merges harmoniously with the river.
180 minutes here
Puerta De La Ciudadela
It was built in the year 1745 by order of the Portuguese governor Vasconcellos who at that time was leading these lands. In its origins the Door was the portico of entrance to Colony, protected at that time by a strong military of thick walls that were frequent target of pirate attacks, Spanish and English.
15 minutes here
La Calle de los Suspiros
It is born in the Plaza Mayor and continues on a slope to the Río de la Plata. It is a narrow street with Portuguese characteristics, cobbled with a wedge and without sidewalks. The sides are tilted towards the center to form a drainage channel. The houses, built in the first half of the 18th century, have stone walls, tile roofs and ceramic floors. The doors and windows are small and made of wood, although only houses with a gabled roof are preserved.
15 minutes here
Faro de Colonia del Sacramento
It was built in January 1857. It has two red flashes every nine seconds. It is a circular tower of white masonry with a dome with white and red radial stripes. It has a unique structure with a square base and a cylindrical tower that reaches the lantern. It was built on one of the old towers of the Convent of San Francisco, whose ruins are at the foot of the lighthouse. Its height is 26 meters and has a luminous range of 7.8 nautical miles
15 minutes here
Basilica del Santisimo Sacramento
The Basilica has a most unusual altar feature for its time and even now; an back lit semi-circular alcove that features a very large monstrance (receptacle for displaying the Sacred Host or Blessed Sacrament). The outside brickwork shows the Portuguese influence of its builders.
15 minutes here
Plaza de toros Real de San Carlos
The Plaza de Toros Real de San Carlos is located in the Real de San Carlos area, 5 km from the historic neighborhood of Colonia del Sacramento, capital of the department of Colonia, Uruguay. It is the only place that remains in Uruguay and was erected with a Mudejar style, very similar to the bullring of Spain, preserving arches and some circumference details. It is a work done by the Argentine architect José Marcovich and the engineer Dupuy. It was inaugurated on January 9, 1910 with eight official runs, although there were more than eighty, because the space for shows was still used even under the prohibition of running by President José Batlle and Ordonez in 1912.
10 minutes here
Rambla de Colonia
Stop at the Colonia Cartel to take some beautiful photos of our tourists with the memory of their visit to the city and also to enjoy the landscape of the Río de la Plata
15 minutes here
Granja Colonia
Visit to the Pencil Museum and Granja Arenas (Wines and Cheeses)
30 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Options you can book
Colony up to 29 pax.
Trip Day to Colonia Duration: 8 hours: 8 to 10 hours Bottled Water Mini Bus Wifi Pickup included
Cologne for 6 passengers
Duration: 10 hours Mini Van Hiunday or similar Pickup included
Cologne up to 15 passengers
Mercedes Benz Mini Bus Pickup included
Cologne up to 8 passengers
Mini Van up to 8 passengers: Hiunday Staria or similar Pickup included
Cologne up to 4 passengers
Sedan Car: Nissan Sentra / Toyota Corolla Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- pt, en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Blanco Tour Uruguay
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 23 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
5 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
23 verified traveler reviews for Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Day trip
It was a great day tour with Andres and Carolina. They were right there to pick us up when the ferry landed and Carolina showed us all around the Old Town of Colonia and she gave us lots of interesting information about the town. Her English was excellent and suggested a place for lunch that was superb called Charco and after lunch they took us to a lot of terrific hidden places outside the downtown area before dropping us back off at the ferry. It was a captivating day and the two of them were so kind and inclusive to us. We loved it.
Response from the operator: Dear Gale, Thank you so much for your lovely review. We’re very happy to hear you enjoyed your day in Colonia del Sacramento with us. It’s great to know you enjoyed the Old Town, the hidden places, and lunch at Charco. Thank you for your kind words. We really appreciate it and hope to see you again soon in Uruguay. Best wishes, Andrés
via Tripadvisor
Fun day exploring Uruguay with Belen
We had so much fun exploring Colonia and Montevideo with Belen and Andrew. They are patience and listen to each of our request and questions from the 15 of us. We definitely will choose them again if we were to visit Uruguay again.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It was truly a fun day for us too — exploring Colonia and Montevideo with your group of 15 was a joy. Belen and I loved how curious and engaged everyone was. Your group made the tour easy always smiling, asking great questions, and bringing great energy! We’re really happy to hear you’d choose us again. Whenever you come back to Uruguay, we’ll be here and ready for another adventure together. Warm regards, Belen & Andrés
via Tripadvisor
Lovely Christmas Eve day in Colonia Del Sacramento
Really enjoyable trip from Montevideo to Colonial del Sacramento, with our excellent guides Andres and Belen! We toured Montevideo with Andres and Belen and had another fun day learning more about this small but very interesting country. They picked us up on time at our hotel in Montevideo. Our drive to Colonia in the very comfortable van included a rest stop at Granja Colonia - a quite unique museum with the owner’s collection of pencils, keychains, ashtrays, locks and perfume bottle. Belen is very knowledgeable about architecture and colonial history and gave a really engaging tour of Colonia del Sacramento. We were pleasantly surprised that so many of the shops and restaurants were open on Christmas Eve. We thought we would only get to walk around the Historic Quarter and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Highly recommend!
Response from the operator: A beautiful day enjoyed with the entire group we really enjoyed it with you and we appreciate your beautiful words of gratitude Andrés
via Tripadvisor
Wonderful Experience From Beginning to End
Where do I even begin? Andres is a treasure of Uruguay. This was actually our second tour with him during the week we spent in the country (1st time visitors), and he took such good care of us. Andres picked us up from our hotel in Montevideo and took us on the 2 hour ride to Colonia and back. Aside from the general things that you hope for in a day trip (punctuality, careful driving, historical knowledge of the surroundings), Andres was also very warm and friendly, and he was so attentive to all our needs. Plus, we had great conversations. You can tell that he loves his country and loves what he does, and he takes tremendous pride in both. Additionally, I must mention Karen, who handled the walking tour while we were in Colonia del Sacramento. She was a wonderful guide with a great depth of knowledge and a warm personality. Our time with her was relaxed, enjoyable, and very enlightening! Lastly, I want to give extra thanks to Andres for snagging us a last-minute reservation at El Tio for the same evening as our tour, which was also the last night of our trip as well as Thanksgiving in the US. He personally called the restaurant owner and was able to arrange for us to get the only remaining spot available that night. And we're so happy that he did! The dining experience at El Tio was magnificent, and it was a great way to wrap up our stay. Thank you, Andres, for your knowledge, the unexpected lovely gifts, your thoughtfulness, and your kind heart. Thanks to you, we love Uruguay that much more.
Response from the operator: I have no words to thank you for your words towards us....... A big hug
via Tripadvisor
Fantastic day in Colonia del Sacramento
A wonderful day trip to this UNESCO world heritage site. Andrês picked us up on time and we travelled in style whilst viewing some of the beautiful countryside. Karin our guide was very informative and had great knowledge of the town and it's history being a local of many years. We had a lovely lunch in the old square and Andres took us to a great museum and farm on the way back. Overall a great experience and highly recommended, thanks guys
Response from the operator: Was a pleasure meet you and enjoy the day in Colonia Thanks for your sincerely words to us A hug !! Andrés
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $585 to $950
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 8
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Blanco Tour Uruguay, who run 8 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 67.8.
See everything Blanco Tour Uruguay runsWhy this scores 69
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Montevideo.
How much does Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO cost?
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Prices start at $585 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Montevideo usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO take?
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Plan for about 9 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 Montevideo is not rushed.
Is Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 69 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 24 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Montevideo, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO?
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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 Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 9-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO?
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Around 8 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 Montevideo 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 Montevideo and add a light layer if any part of the 9-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO 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 Montevideo 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 Montevideo?
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On Outty we rank every Montevideo experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Museo Andes 1972 / Crash Memorial Admission Ticket, Full Day Punta del Este, Montevideo Electric Bicycle Tour. 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 Montevideo?
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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 Montevideo?
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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 Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO?
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Included: Private transportation; On-board WiFi; In-vehicle air conditioning; and Experienced local guide. Not included: Lunch. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 102 listed pickup locations in and around Montevideo. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO offered in?
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It is offered in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO?
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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 Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; and Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO?
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Across 24 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, food and drink. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
What booking options are available for Discover Colonia del Sacramento–Private City Tour UNESCO?
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There are 5 options to choose from, including Colony up to 29 pax., Cologne for 6 passengers, Cologne up to 15 passengers, Cologne up to 8 passengers. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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