Colonia del Sacramento is a small city in Southwestern Uruguay that sits across the water from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Once a Portuguese settlement, Colonia is well known for its cobblestone streets, beautiful historic quarter, and colonial Spanish and Portuguese architecture. It’s located about two hours West of Uruguay’s capital city Montevideo, and is about a one hour ferry ride across the water from Buenos Aires. We fell in love with its historic charm, walkable city centre, and gorgeous waterfront. If you’re looking for a charming and picturesque destination in Uruguay, keep reading for our lesbian guide to Colonia del Sacramento!
What To Do
Explore the Barrio Histórico
Colonia’s historic quarter is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is a must see when visiting the small city. This area was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century, and is full of cobblestone streets and beautiful architecture. Take some time to stroll around the old town and look out for the City Gate, the Basilica of the Holy Sacrament, and the Colonia Lighthouse.
Relax in Plaza Mayor
Colonia’s main square sits in the centre of town lined with trees, and is a beautiful place to sit and people watch. Be sure to spend some time here soaking up the sun and enjoying the views!
Visit the El Faro Lighthouse
Colonia’s iconic lighthouse is certainly worth a visit. You can pay a small fee to climb up to the top and enjoy stunning views of the Rio de la Plata. It dates back to the 1850’s and is located on part of the ruins of an ancient convent.
Discover the Old Harbour
Colonia has a beautiful waterfront with walking paths, a small pier, stretches of sandy beach, and stunning views. Be sure to walk down to the harbour and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. You might even see some rowers on the water.
Take a Walk down Avenida General Flores
In the heart of the city, this main street is where you will find most of the shopping, cafes, and restaurants. It’s not just a popular spot for tourists, but is also very busy with locals. It’s certainly worth it to go for a stroll, and enjoy the lively environment.
Where to Stay
Colonia del Sacramento is very small, and most accommodations are right in the centre of town. There are only a couple of chain hotels, and there are plenty of smaller inns and boutique hotels all for very reasonable prices. If you choose to stay somewhere near the old town, you will be within walking distance to all of the sites! If you’re looking to book hotel accommodations, our favourite tool is Hotels.com. It’s easy to search within a certain price range, and filter for the amenities that you like. They also have a great reward system – for every ten nights you book, you receive one night free. Outside of hotels, there aren’t a lot of accommodation options in Colonia. We were able to find an Airbnb for our stay, but there weren’t many apartments to choose from. If you enjoy using Airbnb like we do, it’s definitely worth taking a look to see what’s available! We found a full one bedroom apartment with a kitchen and patio for $33CAD/night. If you’ve never used Airbnb before, click here to set up a profile and save on your first stay!
Where to Eat & Drink
Colonia is very small, but there are plenty of cafes and restaurants scattered around the city centre and the old town. Don’t be afraid to go exploring down the side streets to find a cute patio for a meal or a drink. We did notice that there isn’t a lot of diverse cuisine, and we struggled to find plant based options and really healthy food. Our favourite spot that we came across which was on the Avenida General Flores, was called Irene’s Natural Foods. Be sure to check it out for lunch or dinner if you’re looking for something vegan! If you don’t have any dietary restrictions, some popular places to eat include Charco Bistro, El Buen Suspiro, and Lentas Maravillas. And if you’re looking for a nice cocktail, head to Gitana Gastrobar. This one is also a perfect spot to watch the sunset, which is absolutely gorgeous in Colonia!
Lesbian Friendly
Uruguay has some of the most progressive laws regarding LGBTQ+ people in all of South America, and possibly some of the best in the world! Same-sex marriage was made legal in 2013, and they’ve had discrimination protections in place since 2003. Click here for more on how lesbian friendly the country of Uruguay is. We felt very safe exploring the city of Colonia as a same-sex couple, and had no issues at all while we were visiting. We held hands and showed affection in public, took photos kissing in the street, and booked an Airbnb apartment with a local host as an open lesbian couple. We never felt the need to hide our relationship for safety reasons, and we found the locals to be very warm and welcoming to us. Because Colonia is so small, there really isn’t a “gay scene”. If you’re looking for gay culture in Uruguay, it will definitely be best to visit nearby Montevideo! In Colonia, the city is quiet and quaint, and you won’t find any gay bars or rainbow crosswalks. But that being said, it’s a very welcoming place and is certainly a lesbian friendly spot to visit in Uruguay. If you’re looking for a picturesque destination with old historic charm, don’t hesitate to add Colonia del Sacramento to your list!
How to Get Here and How to Get Around
Ferry
To get to Colonia del Sacramento from Buenos Aires, Argentina, you can take a ferry across the Rio de la Plata. There are a few different companies to choose from, but in our opinion the fastest and best option is Buquebus. You can book your tickets online in advance, and they have several sailings per day so it’s easy to choose a departure that works with your schedule. The sailing time from Buenos Aires to Colonia is approximately 1 hour. Be sure to arrive at the Puerto Madero terminal in Buenos Aires at least an hour before departure time (the ticket says to arrive two hours before, but nobody actually does). Once you arrive, you can check in with an agent and check any larger pieces of luggage. After check in, you’ll head upstairs and go through exit immigration for Argentina, as well as entry immigration for Uruguay. There is also a nice waiting area with a cafe before you board. When you arrive in Colonia, you’ll be about a 10-15 minute walk from everywhere in town!
Bus
Getting to and from Colonia by bus is also very straight forward. Most likely, you’ll be going to or coming from Montevideo, and there are multiple daily bus departures with Turil and Cot. If your schedule is flexible, it’s no problem to buy your ticket at the bus station when you arrive, but we’d recommend purchasing your tickets ahead of time online to ensure you have a seat. If it’s a weekend or holiday, then you should definitely book ahead of time, as buses can get busy! The buses are inexpensive, tend to be on time, and have wifi, so the three hour trip to or from Montevideo will be very comfortable.
Walk
Colonia del Sacramento is very small and walkable. If you’re able to, exploring the city centre and the old town is great to do on foot! Nothing is too far, and you can easily see the main sights all in one day.
Taxi
Since Colonia is so small it’s unlikely that you’ll need a taxi, but there are taxis available if you want one. If you’re arriving at the ferry terminal or bus station with luggage, you can easily find a taxi to take you to your accommodations. Be sure to have your taxi driver run the meter rather than offer you a flat rate.
Golf Cart
Driving around town in a golf cart seems to be popular way for tourists to explore! There are several rental companies around town, and they are easy to find, especially near the bus station and ferry terminal. You need your driver’s license in order to do a rental, and there’s no need to book advance. You can rent by the hour or by the day, and it’s a fun way to get around town!
Has anyone else fallen in love with Colonia del Sacramento? Let us know in the comments!
2 comments
Really interesting! Uruguay! Who knew?!
We were so pleasantly surprised by the incredible laws in Uruguay! Stay tuned for more info on the country, including our guide to Montevideo and our How Lesbian Friendly is Uruguay post!