Colonia del Sacramento Day Trip: UNESCO Old Town Walk

Walk the cobblestone streets of a 1680 Portuguese settlement, then climb a lighthouse built on convent ruins.

This full-day walking tour departs Buenos Aires with hotel pickup, ferry crossing and a professional guide who leads a 2-hour exploration of Colonia del Sacramento's UNESCO-listed Old Town before releasing you for three hours of independent exploration. The tour includes the Basilica del Santísimo Sacramento, the Convent of San Francisco ruins, and the 26-meter lighthouse where you can see across the Río de la Plata. Ferry tickets, guide and transport from your Buenos Aires hotel are included; a current valid passport is required on the day of travel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day tour of Colonia del Sacramento

• Hotel pickup in Buenos Aires
• Drive to ferry station
• Ferry ride to Colonia del Sacramento
• 2-hour guided walking tour of Old Town
• Visit Plaza Mayor and Calle de los Suspiros
• See city walls and historic lighthouse
• Visit Basilica del Santísimo Sacramento
• Explore ruins of Convent of San Francisco
• Free time for lunch and shopping
• Ferry back to Buenos Aires
• Return to hotel

The Experience

Your day starts with pickup from your Buenos Aires hotel and a drive to the ferry terminal. The one-hour ferry crossing to Colonia gives you time to watch the Río de la Plata open up as you leave the city behind. Once you arrive, your guide meets you and leads a 2-hour walking tour through the historic center—a compact grid of cobbled streets and colonial buildings founded by the Portuguese in 1680 and now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The tour takes you down Calle de los Suspiros, a narrow street with Portuguese characteristics where the houses tilt toward the center to form a drainage channel, their small wooden doors and windows original to the 18th century. You'll see the Plaza Mayor, the city's main square surrounded by museums, cafes and galleries, and visit the Basilica del Santísimo Sacramento, where an unusual backlit alcove holds a large monstrance—a design that shows the Portuguese influence of its builders. The Convent of San Francisco ruins sit at the base of the lighthouse, a 26-meter white tower built in 1857 with red and white radial stripes. Climbing it gives you panoramic views across the river and back toward Buenos Aires.

After the guided portion ends, three hours are yours to spend as you choose. Many visitors head to one of the plazas or flower-filled parks, grab lunch at a local restaurant, or browse the art and craft shops and museums scattered through the Old Town. The yacht harbor is also worth a walk. When it's time to return, you board the ferry back to Buenos Aires and your guide brings you back to your hotel, completing the full 12-hour day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Buenos Aires.
• round-trip ferry tickets to Colonia del Sacramento.
• a 2-hour guided walking tour of the Old Town led by a professional guide in English or Spanish.
• entry to the lighthouse and access to the Basilica del Santísimo Sacramento and Convent of San Francisco ruins.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Signature Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide to cover the main sites and museums, then free time to explore cafes and galleries on your own terms.

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Top questions

How long is the ferry ride from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento?

The ferry crossing takes one hour each way, so you spend two hours total on the water—one going and one returning to Buenos Aires.

What is Calle de los Suspiros and why is it worth visiting?

Calle de los Suspiros is a narrow, cobbled street that runs from the Plaza Mayor down toward the Río de la Plata. Built in the 18th century with Portuguese design, its houses have stone walls, tile roofs and small wooden doors and windows; the street itself slopes toward the center to form a drainage channel, and it is steeped in local legend.

Can I climb the Colonia lighthouse, and what will I see from the top?

Yes, you climb the 26-meter lighthouse built in 1857, which stands on the ruins of the Convent of San Francisco. From the top you get panoramic views across the Río de la Plata and back toward Buenos Aires.

How much free time do I have to explore Colonia on my own?

After the 2-hour guided tour ends, you have three hours to explore independently—enough time to visit museums, eat lunch, browse art shops, or relax in one of the plazas before boarding the ferry back to Buenos Aires.

What do I need to bring to travel on the ferry?

A current valid passport is required on the day of travel. At the time of reservation, you'll need to provide your full name, date of birth, passport number and nationality so the ferry tickets can be purchased.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes, this is a kid-friendly tour suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the mix of guided walking and free exploration time works well for families.