The ferries that go to Uruguay
If you want to travel to Uruguay from Argentina, you either have to fly, take a ferry, or prepare to drive a very long way. If you would drive all the way from Buenos Aires to Montevideo without a ferry this would take about 9 hours.
You're lucky though, between Argentina and Uruguay you even have the fastest ferry in the world[1]Wikipedia: HSC Francisco. Meaning you can get there much faster and more convenient by ferry.
Also read our guide which covers the routes from the other way: from Uruguay to Argentina.Β
To get to Uruguay there are two connections you can use, operated by two companies. See the map for more info.
Ferry Information
The fastest connection to cross Rio de la Plata is the ferry to Colonia Del Sacramento from Buenos Aires in Argentina. You are there in about 1 hour. Here you can see why:
From there on you can either enjoy the small city (Colonia del Sacramento is a lovely place), travel further onwards into Uruguay, or take a bus (2 hours) to Montevideo.
On all the connections to Uruguay you have the possibility to choose a ‘fast' ship, when you book your travel it's super easy to see if you are on a fast ship or not. The price for fast ships is 40 to 50% more.Β
Timetable, availability, and compare prices
Our online booking module makes finding and booking your desired ferry crossing to Uruguay easy. All you have to do is enter your departure port, destination, and travel dates. The system will show you the best routes and possible alternatives. You can then choose the ferry that best suits your needs and budget. Have a great trip!
This route is really good to book through a comparison
On some ferry routes a comparison doesn't add a lot of value, on these routes however be sure to compare a lot. You can easily save 20 to 50 dollar by playing around with travel time / datse and ferry routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Buquebus and Colonia Express are the main ferry companies operating between Argentina and Uruguay. There not much other options.
Buenos Aires is the only city in Argentina with ferry services to Uruguay. There used to be ferry services from Tigre to Carmelo (Cacciola to Carmelo) and from Tigre to Nueva Palmira. But those routes are no longer operational.Β
Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo are the only ferry destinations in Uruguay.
A valid passport or ID is required to travel, and some operators may require additional documentation. You can read more about it: Ferry Travel ID Requirements.
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References
| ↑1 | Wikipedia: HSC Francisco |
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There are two main ferry companies that operate between Argentina and Uruguay: Buquebus and Colonia Express?
Hi Bradley,
Yes that's the two companies you have to choose from!