Route
Montevideo ──── coach west, ~177 km, ~2 h 50 ──── Colonia del Sacramento
│
Barrio Histórico ─ lighthouse ─ riverfront
Colonia del Sacramento sits on the east bank of the Río de la Plata, directly across the water from Buenos Aires. The Portuguese founded it in 1680 as a smuggling outpost challenging Spanish control of the river. The old quarter, the Barrio Histórico, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, with uneven cobbled lanes, low whitewashed houses, plane trees and a quiet that is hard to find in a capital.
COT runs ordinary coaches from Montevideo, including a morning service that takes about 2 hours 50 minutes. Buy a ticket at the terminal or online in advance, and check the current timetable, since services change. A coach on the Monday after the race lets you sit down for three hours, which suits the legs.
May in Colonia
May is autumn. Days are cool at 13 to 18 °C, with fresh nights and some rain. The town is quiet in the low season, which suits a recovery stay, but a few seasonal restaurants and shops may be closed. Bring a jacket and shoes with grip, since the cobbles are damp in the morning.
Night one: the old quarter
The recovery walk is the Plaza Mayor 25 de Mayo, at the heart of the Barrio Histórico, and the streets around it, which are flat. The cobbles are rough, so wear shoes with a cushioned sole. The Calle de los Suspiros, the Street of Sighs, is a short lane of tilted stone houses that every visitor photographs. The lighthouse, built in the nineteenth century on the ruins of a convent, offers views over the river from the top of a spiral stair. The climb is steep, so save it for the second day, when legs have had a night's rest.
For a bed, the Plaza Mayor Hotel faces the main square, and the Posada del Gualeguay is a small inn nearby. Both are close to the historic quarter, and rooms are modest in size. Check availability on their own sites, and ask about breakfast times.
For dinner, El Drugstore on Calle Vasconcellos is a long-established restaurant that serves river fish and grilled meat. Reserve ahead, and check its opening hours for the day you travel.
Day two: the riverfront and home
Walk the riverside promenade, the Rambla, which is flat and open to the wind off the water. The Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento, the oldest church in Uruguay, sits on the square. Take a mid-afternoon coach back to Montevideo.
Getting home
Carrasco airport (MVD) is east of the city centre, and the coach arrives at Tres Cruces terminal. Allow at least an hour for the transfer, and do not pair a late return with a tight flight. Check the coach schedule at the terminal before you set off.