Uruguay water crisis: how did we get here?
Uruguay has some of the most abundant water sources in the world. But the capital was told we had water supplies for just 18 days.
I looked online for the price of tickets to travel by ferry from Buenos Aires to Montevideo in one week’s time.
Buquebus is the only company to offer a direct ferry service takes you directly from Buenos Aires to Montevideo and vice versa in just over two hours. It is cheaper to take a “ferry and bus combo” which involves a one-hour ferry ride to Colonia continuing by comfortable bus to Montevideo. This takes twice the time of the direct ferry.
Beware that Buquebus charges more during periods of higher demand. Theirs is the only site with dynamic pricing.
Company | Mode | Cost of cheapest one-way ticket (USD)* | Most expensive one-way ticket (USD)* | Duration of travel | Frequency (daily) |
Ferry and bus combo | 53 | 122 | 4.75 hrs | 5 | |
Ferry and bus combo | 73 | 149 | 4 hrs | 3 | |
Direct ferry | 131 | 296 | 2.25 hrs | 1-2 |
Note: I used a one-way rate because buying a return (two-way) ticket does not give you a discount. You will simply pay the equivalent of two one-ways.
* The prices were in Argentine pesos on Sep 15 2022. I converted them into US dollars and rounded them up using an exchange rate of apx 143 ARS to the dollar.
Guru’Guay offers this information as a guide and accepts no responsibility for prices or changes.
Cover photo by Fefo Bouvier
[This article was first written August 9 2016 however as lots of people read it, I keep it up regularly dated. For date last updated see top]
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26 Responses
Hi Karen,
Thank you for your website. Do you know how far out in advance Buquebus publishes ticket prices for the direct Buenos Aires – Montevideo ferry?
Thank you!
Francisco
Hey Francisco, in the past it’s typically been about 4 months. Cheers! Karen
Thank you!
I’m excited to come visit Montevideo in March with my family. We plan to take the ferry to Buenos Aires for about five days and I’m wondering how far in advance we should expect to book the ferry. I presume we can’t just show up. Should we book now for late March? Or wait until a few weeks before? Just got the Guru’Guay book and already love it; thanks for helping us plan our trip!
Hey Dan, you’ll definitely want to book. I don’t believe you can actually buy at the port. As there is dynamic pricing I’d say to monitor the price for a few days and then book. So glad you like the book! It would be amazing if you’d like to be the first person to review it in Amazon this year?! All the best, Karen
The article is not very clear to me: is this a passenger ferry only or can you take your car on the ferry? Surely there must be a difference in price just to cross the river or to take your car? Or do you have to drive all the way to BA if you want to go by car? Hard to imagine …
Hi Stefan, sorry about that. The ferries are for both cars and passengers. The prices we mention are for passengers only. The car and passengers are charged separately (Buquebus refers to the cost as ‘Bodega’, the deck for cars only). I looked at prices for a car for next week and it costs about the same as for one tourist-class passenger. Please note that most rental cars cannot be taken cross-border. Hope this helps. Best, Karen
Hi, very helpful info here!
I want to travel BA – Colonia or Montevideo by ferry in 2023. Question: On which of the ferries is it possible to sit “outside”, ie on an open deck during (part of) the crossing?
Cheers, Nachtmatthes (Germany)
My understanding is that only the extremely slow ferry to Colonia (5 hours instead of 50 minutes) is available for outside seating.
Does the bus have room for bicycles?
Hi Tim, yes it does. — Best, Karen
Boa noite.
Tem como ir com carro na balsa?
Pretendo ir de carro para Montevideo e de lá seguir de carro até Buenos Aires. E possível fazer a travessia do Rio da Prata de balsa?
Sim, é possível fazer a travessia de balsa como carro. — Karen
Hi WelshWitch – have things changed recently (writing on the 13th Feb from Gaiman, Welsh Patagonia!), Looking to go from BA to Montevideo very soon. Thanks!
Hi,
Used this company to book a return from Montevideo to Buenos Aires. It somehow is cheaper than booking directly from Colonia Express: $84 return
https://www.directferries.com
Lots of info but confusing. Any Idea of the cost and timing on 13 July from Buenos Aires to Colonies in USD.
Many Thanks in Advance
Chris, you can travel on Colonia Express leaving 8.15am and getting in an hour later for anything from around 600 pesos, which is about 20 USD. The Seacat boat leaves at 8am and costs a couple of dollars more. The websites show Argentina pesos or Uruguayan pesos as you will have noticed, not dollars. Best Karen
The exchange rate was around 14 pesos to the dolar not 24.Probably a small typo.
Hi Alexander – not a typo. At the time of writing the *Uruguayan* peso was 24 pesos to the dollar (current it is 30). You are referring to the *Argentine* peso exchange rate. Best, Karen
I took the Buquebus ferry from Montevideo to Buenos Aires on Mar 26 and paid a little over 1600 Uruguayan pesos or about $50 US one way for tourist class. It was comfortable enough and took 2 hrs. I was going to Eze to catch a flight. A black and yellow cab from in front of the terminal cost 400 Argentinian pesos or abput $28 US from the ferry terminal to the airport, if anyone is interested.
Are you know if is possible buy the cheapiest ticket in the plataform on the same day of boarding? Thanks
Hi Charles, I do not expect you can get the **cheapest** tickets at the port, as they are usually sold online (eg Colonia Express’ “web” tariff). For Seacat tickets you must go to their sales office (Córdoba 772, Buenos Aires) a few blocks away from the Buenos Aires ferry terminal – they do not sell tickets at the port. All the best, Karen
dont forget cacciola viajes http://www.cacciolaviajes.com departures from Tigre much better ride
Hi Ever, I have been planning to write something about coming to Uruguay via the Tigre Delta. It is picturesque, but significantly longer. More soon on that then, and thanks for the prompting. Best Karen
once we get to Buenos Aires. The direct ferry looks the best option for us
thank you for your quick reply and the information.We will use the taxis