Mate Experience & Old Town Walking Tour: Colonia del Sacramento

Learn mate tradition in the city's most storied colonial streets

A walking tour of Colonia del Sacramento's Old Town followed by a mate tasting and preparation lesson in Casa Abierta, a heritage house from 1875. The guide shares the history and curiosities of each landmark (the oldest church in Uruguay, the lighthouse, the Portuguese wall gate), and recommends restaurants and activities in the area. Small groups; approximately 2.5 to 3 hours total; live guide in English.

Step-by-step itinerary

Old Town tour and mate experience

• Visit the oldest church of Uruguay
• See the lighthouse and old chapel ruins
• Walk along the most famous street
• Explore the gate of the Portuguese wall
• Enjoy mate experience at 1875 house

The experience

The tour starts in the Old Town, where a local guide walks you through the streets and stops at the landmarks that shaped Colonia del Sacramento. You'll see the oldest church in Uruguay, the lighthouse and the ruins of the chapel beside it, the most famous street in the city, and the gate of the Portuguese wall. The guide explains the history and curiosities of each place, and by the end of the walking portion, roughly 90 minutes, you'll have a sense of how the city sits between its Spanish and Portuguese past.

After the walking tour, you move to Casa Abierta, a house built in 1875, where the mate experience takes place. Here you learn the origin and tradition of mate, how to prepare it properly, and the role it plays in Uruguayan culture. You taste it in the typical bowls, the way locals do. This is not a demonstration you watch. You're handling the gourd and the straw yourself, learning the ritual that connects the drink to everyday life in Uruguay.

Small groups keep the pace manageable and the guide's attention distributed. The whole experience (walking and tasting) runs 2.5 to 3 hours, short enough to fit into a day trip from Buenos Aires or a morning in Colonia, but long enough to move past the surface of the city and its culture.

What’s included

• The walking tour of the Old Town with a local guide in English.
• entry to Casa Abierta.
• mate preparation instruction.
• a tasting of Uruguayan mate in traditional bowls.
• explanations of mate's history, origin and cultural significance.

Before you book

Days and timesSundayDepartures at 11:00 and 14:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (16 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (10 to 15 years) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Idoia Cía

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to move beyond the landmarks and understand how Colonia's colonial streets connect to the present-day culture. The small-group format and the hands-on mate lesson (not just a sip, but the full ritual) make it a way to spend time with the city rather than pass through it.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 15 years); Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the oldest church in Uruguay, and where is it in Colonia?

The oldest church in Uruguay stands in Colonia del Sacramento's Old Town and is one of the first stops on the walking tour. The guide explains its history and significance as part of the city's colonial heritage.

How long does the walking part take before we get to the mate experience?

The walking tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. After that, you move to Casa Abierta for the mate preparation and tasting, which makes up the rest of the 2.5 to 3 hour total.

Do I actually prepare the mate myself, or just watch?

You prepare and taste the mate yourself in the typical bowls. The guide teaches you how to do it properly and explains the tradition and curiosities behind the drink as an important part of Uruguayan culture.

Is this tour accessible if I use a wheelchair or have mobility concerns?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible. All areas and surfaces in the Old Town route and at Casa Abierta are accessible. Public transportation options are available nearby, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

Can I bring a stroller or infant on the walking tour?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller throughout the tour. Service animals are also allowed.