Outings and excursions · Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento in a weekend
Photos: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Two unhurried days to walk the Historic Quarter, climb the lighthouse and watch the sun set over the Río de la Plata.
Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680, and for more than a century Spain and Portugal fought over it. That history left an old town that UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site in 1995, for the way Portuguese, Spanish and post-colonial architecture blend in its streets. It is a city made for walking, and a weekend is enough to see it without rushing.
Day 1: the Historic Quarter
Start early, before the day-trippers arrive. The cobbled Calle de los Suspiros (Street of Sighs), lined with 18th-century houses, is the best-known postcard; the Plaza Mayor and the remains of the original colonial core are close by.
The lighthouse, built in 1857, stands on the ruins of the 17th-century convent of San Francisco Javier. It is 26 metres tall, still in use, and after a narrow spiral staircase it offers a view over the whole old town and the river.
In the afternoon, the quarter has several small museums (the Portuguese, Municipal, Tile, Indigenous and Spanish museums, among others) that explain why the city changed hands so many times. Before dinner, the sunset over the Río de la Plata is part of the plan.
Day 2: beyond the old town
The waterfront invites a walk or a bike ride north, with river beaches and open views. It is a good day for a slow lunch and a last stroll through the streets you missed.
Tips
- Wear comfortable shoes: the cobblestones are charming, but tiring.
- Opening hours and fees for the lighthouse and museums change with the season: check them on arrival.
- Colonia faces Buenos Aires across the river and is a popular getaway from there and from Montevideo.
