Montevideo to Colonia

[Travelight]

Has anyone ever taken a side trip from Montevideo to Colonia, Uruguay while in port in Montevideo. Is it too far?

[seemount]

The trip to Colonia takes about 2h 45 minutes each way, there are buses roughly every hour and they are quite comfortable. The main bus station is called Tres Cruces, and it is about a 20 minute taxi ride from the port. If your Spanish is up to it, you can get all details at the bus station website which is at http://www.trescruces.com.uy/ Colonia is a pretty little town on the River Plate waterfront and is very historical, being living evidence of the successive Spanish and Portuguese occupations during colonial times, up to the early 19th century. You need a couple of hours to do the really historic part which is called the Barrio Histórico, not more than 10 blocks by five, including the Plaza de Armas, the main square. But I'd say that to do it in a day is pushing it a bit unless you can get to Tres Cruces pretty early.

[emileg]

If you are staying in Buenos Aires before or after your cruise, another option is to take the ferry to Colonia from there. It takes about an hour and a quarter each way. The ferry line will also sell you tickets for a walking tour, which is worthwhile.