Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia del Sacramento, on the River Plate opposite Buenos Aires, is one of the oldest towns in Uruguay and one of its most charming, a UNESCO gem founded by the Portuguese as a smuggling port and long fought over with the Spanish. Its beautifully preserved historic quarter, the Barrio Historico, is a romantic maze of cobbled streets shaded by plane trees, lined with colourful colonial houses, old ramparts, a lighthouse and river views, a tranquil, atmospheric place to wander, and a hugely popular day trip by ferry from Buenos Aires.

What you actually see

• The Barrio Historico - the cobbled old town of colonial houses.
• The Calle de los Suspiros - the famous Street of Sighs.
• The lighthouse and ramparts - the old defences and river views.
• The riverside sunset - the sunset over the River Plate.

When to go

October to April, the warmer months, for the best weather; the old town is loveliest strolling in the golden light of late afternoon, and sunset over the river is beautiful. It is a very easy day trip by fast ferry from Buenos Aires, or a stop between the Argentine capital and Montevideo.

Honest expectations

It is small and, being an easy day trip from Buenos Aires, can be busy with day-trippers, especially at weekends; staying overnight lets you enjoy the old town once they leave. It is a place to wander, relax and photograph rather than a site of major attractions, seen in a few hours. Its romantic, atmospheric cobbled quarter, though, is genuinely charming.

Nearby

Montevideo and, across the river, Buenos Aires are within easy reach.