After nearly a month in Uruguay, it was time to continue our South American journey to Argentina. Naturally, our first destination would be its vibrant capital city, Buenos Aires.
It’s possible to travel overland from Montevideo to Buenos Aires via the nearest bridge over the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos. But since this would take a full day on the road, the better choice is the ferry crossing.
Affiliation disclosure: By purchasing goods or services via the links contained in this post, I may be earning a small commission from the seller's profit, without you being charged any extra penny. You will be thus greatly helping me to maintain and keep enriching this website. Thanks!
Operated by two companies, Colonia Express and Buquebus, multiple ferries travel daily between Buenos Aires and either Montevideo or Colonia del Sacramento. The trip from Montevideo to Buenos Aires, depending on the service, takes between 2.5 and 4 hours. From Colonia, just over an hour. Since it’s quicker and cheaper—as well as because we shouldn’t forego the opportunity of visiting this charming, UNESCO-listed town—we took the latter option from Colonia.
Since we stayed in a nice guesthouse around the corner from the port (located here), we just popped by the day before our departure and purchased our tickets on the spot. But you can also book online here with either company. At the time of our trip in April 2025, the fare with Colonia Express came to 2030 UYU.
Our departure was at 10:30, and we were asked to be there an hour earlier. Boarding and immigration went fairly smoothly, save that they made me dig out my knife from the depths of my backpack and deliver it to the ferry staff for them to return it upon arrival.
The ferry was comfortable and straightforward. Inside, there were plenty of padded seats arranged airplane-style, with large windows offering views of the water for those who didn’t venture outside. We spent part of the trip on the open deck, where you can feel the wind and watch the horizon stretch endlessly in all directions.
The crossing over the Río de la Plata took just over an hour. The river here is so wide it feels more like a sea, but its famously muddy waters make it clear you’re not in the Caribbean. At first, there was nothing but brownish waves and sky. Then the skyline of Buenos Aires began to emerge on the horizon, growing steadily taller as you approach, like the city is rising up out of the water to meet you.
As we neared the Argentine shore, the ferry slowed down to navigate a narrow canal leading into the port area. The water here becomes calmer, and the buzz of Buenos Aires starts to feel close. We docked at the Colonia Express terminal in the Río Dársena Sur (location). Disembarking was quick and straightforward, and within minutes we were back on land, passports stamped, and ready to dive into the chaos and energy of the Argentine capital.
Accommodation & Activities in Buenos Aires
Stay22 is a handy tool that lets you search for and compare stays and experiences across multiple platforms on the same neat, interactive map. Hover over the listings to see the details. Click on the top-right settings icon to adjust your preferences; switch between hotels, experiences, or restaurants; and activate clever map overlays displaying information like transit lines or concentrations of sights. Click on the Show List button for the listings to appear in a list format. Booking via this map, I will be earning a small cut of the platform's profit without you being charged any extra penny. You will be thus greatly helping me to maintain and keep enriching this website. Thanks!
