Colonia is a photographer’s dream – quiet cobblestone streets, rusting classic cars and colorful, crumbling colonial buildings. The former Portuguese settlement and Unesco World Heritage site is 50 km from Buenos Aires by ferry. The town’s location made it a haven for smugglers and was later succeeded to Spain in the 1700s.
Frequent ferries make it a popular day trip from Buenos Aires because the ATMs allow withdrawals in USD, which is heavily coveted in Argentina due to high inflation. The standard rate is 8.78 pesos while the current blue dollar rate for the black market is 12.8 pesos per dollar.
Rustic classic cars line the streets of Colonia for decoration.
My favorite, funky lunch spot in Colonia: El Drugstore
Calle de los Suspiros, the Street of Sighs
Another decorative classic car in Colonia
The modern lighthouse in Colonia’s harbor
A cobblestone street in Colonia’s Barrio Historico
How to get to Colonia, Uruguay from Buenos Aires
Logistics: Frequent ferries operated by Colonia Express, Seacat and Buquebus take a little less than two hours from Buenos Aires. The later also offers slower boats. Prices are cheaper in advance. Some operaters require you to book online, but don’t be fooled by the cheap fares. The main expense are the taxes added at checkout. I booked online a week in advance and paid $500 pesos roundtrip. I met other travelers who paid $700-$1000 pesos last minute at the ferry office in Buenos Aires. Prices valid for March 2015.
Tips:
- Beware of ATM limits. ATMs allow withdrawals of USD in $300 increments and charge $6 USD/transaction. (To avoid ATM fees, refer to Travel Banking 101.) Your bank might block your card here because it’s a high fraud area. My card got blocked twice in three days.
- Pay with a VISA credit card to avoid paying tax. The VAT is not included on foreign credit card purchases in restaurants until July 31, 2015. This saved me roughly 18%. Refer here for official information.
- Eat at Buen Suspiro. This cozy restaurant on Calle de los Suspiros has the best food in Colonia. They specialize in picadas, large shared appetizer plates. They take VISA credit cards so take advantage of the VAT discount!
