Montevideo Trip Extensions and Overnights

October 20, 2026

Montevideo itself is a two or three day city. Anything longer is assembled from coach legs, a river crossing and nights spent elsewhere, rather than bought as one ready-made circuit. This page lays out three realistic ways to turn a short city stay into a trip of four days or more, with the distances and fares that decide which one fits. Prices are in Uruguayan pesos (UYU), and about 40 UYU make US$1.

Route	Where you sleep	Main legs
Southern loop	Montevideo, then Colonia	Coach from Tres Cruces, about 2 h 45, UYU 579 one way
Atlantic coast	Punta del Este or Rocha	Coach to Punta del Este, UYU 466, then a 4x4 truck to Cabo Polonio
Two capitals	Montevideo and Buenos Aires	Direct fast ferry, about 2 h 15 to 2 h 45 listed

Route one: a four-day southern loop

On the first day, cover Ciudad Vieja, take a grill lunch at Mercado del Puerto, then look at Palacio Salvo from Plaza Independencia and finish with sunset on the Rambla. Day two suits the museums, with a winery visit as an alternative. Bodega Bouza takes guests by advance booking only. On day three, take a COT coach to Colonia del Sacramento and stay the night. Montevideo has no ferry link to Colonia, so the coach is the direct option. On day four, ride back to Montevideo or cross from Colonia to Buenos Aires by Colonia Express. All coaches leave from Terminal Tres Cruces at Bulevar Artigas 1825, open around the clock. COT lists times and fares on its timetable page .

Route two: the Atlantic coast

A coach from Tres Cruces to Punta del Este takes about 2 h 30 to 2 h 45 and costs UYU 466 with COT. Beyond it lies the Rocha department, where Cabo Polonio is the best-known stop. Private cars and ordinary buses cannot enter the village. Travellers leave the road at the Ruta 10 terminal and ride an open 4x4 truck over the dunes, at UYU 470 round trip according to the Rocha tourism office. Tents and pets are not permitted. The wider Rocha coast, including Santa Teresa, lies roughly 290 to 300 km from the capital, so allow a night or two rather than racing back. Between June and August a lot of coastal hotels and restaurants shut for the winter. Summer fills quickly, so reserve beds early.

Route three: two capitals in one trip

The direct Buquebus fast ferry links Buenos Aires and Montevideo in about 2 h 15 to 2 h 45 by the listed timings, and some aggregator sites show up to 4 hours on other sailings. It lands at the port terminal on Rambla 25 de Agosto de 1825. Fares depend on class and date, so no single price applies. Passengers need a passport, and the direct sailings are reported to carry people without vehicles. Buquebus has been seeking a new terminal concession, so check where you will board and land before you plan connections. Colonia Express sells a combined bus and catamaran ticket via Colonia that takes about 4 h 30 to 4 h 45 in all. Both operators publish routes on their own sites: Buquebus and Colonia Express .

Dates, money and safety

Carnaval 2027 opens with a parade on Thursday 21 January, and the Desfile de Llamadas follows on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 February. Rates rise around those dates, so book rooms early. Hotels apply 0% VAT for non-residents who show foreign ID. Restaurants cut VAT from 22% to about 13% for card or electronic payment until 30 April 2027. Street crime occurs in Montevideo, so avoid walking downtown or near the port alone at night and at weekends, and use a taxi to reach the terminal after dark.

Choosing a base

Spend the first two or three nights in Montevideo, then move on by coach. Compare rooms on Booking.com for Montevideo .