The cheapest way of renewing a visa by making the voyage to Colonia, Uruguay, from Buenos Aires is to do so via a company called Colonia Express, who have a number of offices in the centre of the city.
What Cheap Deals do Colonia Express Offer for Travelling to Uruguay?
At time the of writing it is possible to buy a return trip from Buenos Aires to Colonia in Uruguay for the small sum of 36 pesos. When comparing this price to that of Buquebus (see below) which is the other main server for ferry crossings, this price is outstandingly good.
What´s more, it is not a promotion. It is the price anyone pays when choosing to travel on the cheapest option available, called the WEB ticket. Colonia Express do offer what they call Express, Executive and Classic for more, but the crossing is such a short journey (just over an hour) that it really isn´t worth it.
What is Important to Remember About Booking a Crossing to Uruguay With Colonia Express?
The only important thing to remember is to book in advance. This is the way in which the cheap deal is secured. Sometimes it is possible to buy a 36 pesos ticket the day before travel, but it is not always this way. Tickets get sold fast because of their good value and therefore it is worth being a little organised if on a budget.
If Crossing to Uruguay With Buquebus, How Much Will it Cost?
Even when trying to book a single crossing, in advance and being flexible with date and time, the cheapest ticket that ever appears to be available through Buquebus is nearly 100 pesos. Therefore, it seems ridiculous that anyone ever actually crosses with them.
They do offer and annual ticket for a set price for commuters, but this offer is still fairly expensive in comparison to Colonia Express, even though both companies offer a service almost identical.
What is There to Do in Colonia, Uruguay if Only Going For a Day Visit to Renew a Visa?
Once in Colonia, there isn't a huge amount to do and if the weather isn´t very good, it can make for a very dull and depressing trip really. However, when the sun is out, Colonia is a very pretty town and worth a day´s visit if already in Buenos Aires. Equally as a means of renewing visas, it is an extremely hassle-free option.
Huge expanses of water can be seen from almost anywhere in Colonia, because the town has not been built upwards and so the landscape views are good. The smaller sailing boat pier is very pretty and if enjoying an ice-cream (which is as good in Uruguay as it is in Buenos Aires) then a few hours sat looking out across the water, enjoying a dulce de leche frozen treat is not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
Now that Colonia del Sacramento (the town´s full title) has been made a UNESCO Heritage Site, everyone can feel safe in the knowledge that the beauty of this town and its ruins is going to be protected. The cobbled streets that speak back of colonial times gone by offer the traveller a way of seeing what things used to look like.
The castle walls and huge drawbridge would make spectacular settings for a film (albeit a very small one on a low budget) and lots of little shops, cafes and businesses have started popping up in and around the ruins, allowing Colonia´s past to mix delicately with it´s more modern and touristic present.
Stay for a Night in Posada de la Flor in Colonia
Even though a day is enough to explore the sight of Colonia, there´s no real need to rush there and rush back. Stay a night in Posada de la Flor.
This little posada is just beautiful and the owner is lovely. The patio is a charming place to see and read and up on the roof is a gorgeous terrace with views across the water. It´s a real sun trap too and therefore if catching some rays is on the to-do-list, Posada de la Flor provides a quiet place in which to do it.
The breakfast is included and it is a full-on buffet breakfast. Toast, cakes, biscuits, medialunas, jam, dulce de leche, cream cheese, tea, coffee, fresh orange juice and home-baked hot bread are served between 7am and 10am. It is very easy to sit there for four hours, reading the paper and gorging until you cannot gorge anymore.
Suggested Itinerary for a Trip to Colonia
- Book IN ADVANCE a return ticket with Colonia Express (leave in the morning of the first day and come back in the evening of the following).
- Check-in to Posada de la Flor upon arrival.
- Walk around the colonial ruins of the town and then enjoy an ice-cream by the water.
- The following day, enjoy a lazy breakfast in Posada de la Flor.
- Spend the best part of the day soaking up some sun on their roof terrace.
- Have a little look at some of the artesanal food shops along the main stretch (maybe bringing home a little something for friends).
- Catch a late afternoon ferry back to the bustling streets of Buenos Aires.
After following that itinerary, returning fresh and ready for work yet again is guaranteed.
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