Quaint historic coastal town and UNESCO World Heritage Site
Colonia del Sacramento, to give it its full name, is a small and scenic town on the southern coast of Uruguay, on the banks of the River Plate and straight across the water from Buenos Aires. It is a colonial settlement as its name suggests, founded by the Portuguese in 1680 and is now a World Heritage Site.
Colonia was the second last stop on our 2005 South America trip, we stayed here for a night after getting the bus from Montevidéo, and before getting the fast boat to Buenos Aires across the River Plate. I felt very relaxed in Colonia, it was a really chilled out place and very nice for taking photos in. Aside from chilling out, we also hired scooters and a golf cart, all the better to explore the old streets of the old town.
Ageing vehicles seem to be a feature of Colonia, adding to the rustic feel of the place. We encountered these ones at Punta Santa Rita, overlooking the river.
Just around the corner were more old vehicles by the restaurant Mercado del Puerto. We had heard that there was in fact a place which combined the two, and you could eat your lunch sitting in a 1930s gangster car, but we didn’t find it.
A fine example of a Peugeot 203, which was produced from 1948 until 1960. I couldn’t tell you whether this is an early or late model.
Another classic sits in the street, this one I’m unable to identify what it is unfortunately.
The picturesque streets were great for little postcard-scene photos, although a bit bumpy to explore by scooter. This is Calle de Solis.
The next picturesque street along is Calle de los Suspiros, the Street of Sighs, one of the most famous in the old town.
A broader but still very quiet street leading away from the old town. It being the dead of winter, the trees were mostly bare.
A thatched cottage was a surprise sight, I didn’t think there were many of these outside of merry old England.
A little out of town we came across El Alamo beach, with the mist rolling in. This is the view from Mirador Rambla Cristobal Colón.
Looking back towards the old town from the Mirador, the chimney of the Bastión del Carmen Cultural Centre is prominent, and the round tower of Bastión de Santa Rita is just visible on the right. The twin white towers of Basilica del Santísimo Sacramento can also be seen, and I’ve no idea why I didn’t get a closer photo of it.
The eerie green glow from these lamps gave an interesting effect as we wandered home after dinner.
On our way down to the ferry terminal to catch the catamaran to bustling Buenos Aires, we left behind the tranquillity of Colonia and Uruguay.
Created 2006 | Updated 2018, 2025
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