Colonia del Sacramento Favorites

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Favorite thing: The sunsets in Colonia are spectacular and as good as any I've seen before. A popular place to catch the sunset is at the western end of the old town, from where there are good lookout points over the sea. There are some cafes here too where you can watch the sun go down with a cold beer, but most people just gather on the promenade. Another popular spot to take it in from is the top of the lighthouse in the old town, though you have to pay a small entrance charge for the privilege.

Favorite thing: On the walk from ferry terminal into town, you come across Colonia's main tourist office. It can be found in a rustic shed on the corner of Avenida General Flores and Calle Rivera and is open Mon-Sat 8am-8pm and Sun 9am-5pm.

phone number: 052 26141
e-mail: informes@colonianet.com
www.colonianet.com

Fortunately Colonia is small enough that you can explore it by yourself. The helpful staff is all too eager to offer maps and leaflets and even a friendly lunch recommendation. Talk to someone from the tourist office if you want a guided tour of the town - they can arrange it as well.

While you can change money on arrivel in Colonia, you'll really only need Uruguayan pesos (UR$) to buy stamps or make telephone call, elsewhere you can pay with Argentine pesos or US dollars; many prices are even displayed in dollars (1 US dollar = 19,7 Uruguayan pesos, April 2008).

Favorite thing: You will discover the colonial history of the city by visiting seven small museums. They are situated in Barrio Historico and can be visited in a couple of hours. This little museums consist of just one small building which are worth having a look, with a couple of exhibition rooms inside.

For your convenience, there is a common ticket which enables you to visit all seven museums for the price of 25 Uruguayan pesos (1,25 Us$, December 2007): Museo Municipal, Museo Indigena, Museo Espanol, Museo Casa de Nacarello, Museo del Azulejo, Museo Portuguese and Museo y Archivo Regional.

You start on Plaza Mayor where Museo Municipal and Museo Portuguese are located. Here you can also buy the ticket.

Museums are open daily 11:30am - 5:30pm.

Favorite thing: They have 2 offices. One near the Buquebus as you start to walk out of the port..on your right. They had no information for me, just a woman telling you ....I think where the downtown part of Colonia was. (There is a bank to get URU money right near there though if you need.) Go straight to downtown Colonia and use the bigger Tourist Center there.

Location, on the corner of General Flores St and Rivera St. They have maps of the old town, and maps of the rest of the city with other things to see. They speak minimal English, so Spanish comes in handy. You can also reserve a hotel here, but there are plenty to find just by walking past them and they are visible.

Location: Right on the main street, on your right side as you walk up the hill.

Favorite thing: They have two tourist info offices and I was extremely amazed at the fact that neither had staff on hand that could speak any English. I was interested in finding out about tours around the area, but all I got was some very blank stares and "no English"

Favorite thing: Even in November (Spring), Colonia felt warm and humid. However, I live in a desert area and suffer from humidity when others may not even notice it!
I had some trouble finding an ATM that would except my card. Went to several banks along Av Gnrl Flores before locating some that would cooperate.
There is a quick and no hassle cambio (Western Union) at Av Gnrl Flores 350 where you can exchange your dollars. The ATM exchange rate was only slightly better.
US dollars are readily accepted in Colonia and Montevideo. I saw many things priced in dollars and not pesos, which I thought was odd.
Save a LOT of money by buying your food/drinks in a store and avoiding
restaurants.
Very few internet places in town. Found one at Av Artigas y Rivadaria. Cost 5P for about 1/2 hour.
Avoid buying wine with your meal and save big bucks. It's good, but very pricey.

Fondest memory: Just walking around in old town, with its old ruins, flowers, blooming trees, cobblestones, riverfront, etc.
Carrying a good tourist map that shows the names of the ruins is handy. Nice to know what you're looking at.

Favorite thing: Colonia is such a small town that the only important thing to see there is the old colonial town. It is only few blocks from the Boat Pier.

The Day trip and city tour that they take you on is almost worthless. They take you thru some housing colonies and show you some dilapidated stadiums and the beach with is almost not worth seeing.

The restaurant where they offer a buffet is terrible with very little vegetarian selection and the food isn't that great even if you order stake.

So the additional money that you pay for the tour is really worthless. I shoud have known better.

Fondest memory: Most definitly The beautiful colonial town has to be my best memory. Its also a nice place to spend a few days laid back.

Very very cheap.

Favorite thing: The historic district is located at the southwestern corner of town right on the coast. It's really a great location with the water and quiet lanes and historic buildings. Plaza Mayor is the heart of the district where I snapped this picture of a tree covered in lichens (sometimes likened to an "old man's beard"). The scientific name for those green, stringy things is Usnea (thanks to andal13 for letting my know that!).