Argentina Things to Do

Separated by a mere sliver of Atlantic Ocean – the Rio de la Plata, or ‘river of money’ in local lingo – neighboring Uruguay makes a popular day trip from Buenos Aires. Daily ferries run from the Argentine side to the nearest port town of Colonia del Sacramento, but high speed ferries also run the jaunt to the capital, Montevideo, further along the coast.

Buenos Aires, bustling and modern, is the Argentine capital and an endlessly fascinating urban landscape to explore. But you might find yourself pining for a quiet, colonial city, with strollable streets and perhaps a historic city center so lovely and well preserved that it’s been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Welcome to Colonia del Sacramento, the oldest city in Uruguay. Though it lies across the Rio Plata from festive Buenos Aires, it makes for an easy day trip from the Argentine capital.

For the first time in decades, a passenger train will link the capital of Argentina and Uruguay, offering a scenic, and historic, alternative for travelers between the two countries. Service began this September, with Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner among the first 25 passengers, a trip that culminated in the border city of Salto, where she was met by Uruguayan President José Mujica.