Expanish Volunteer Blog
Volunteer in Buenos Aires and discover Colonia, Uruguay!
If you are volunteering in Buenos Aires, there is a beautiful weekend getaway, located in Uruguay and only a boat ride away. Colonia is a small and peaceful town located on the shore of the Rio de la Plata, and is a great place to relax, enjoy the serenity of a riverside town, and discover culture and tradition in Uruguay.
Colonia del Sacramento, a world heritage site, is the oldest town in Uruguay and has a population of about 23,000 people, adding to the peacefulness and quiantness of the town. Besides wandering down its small, narrow, cobblestone streets, enjoying the delicious cuisine, or taking picture perfect photos, there are a few worthy sites to see in Colonia:
· Porton de Campo – the City Gate and wooden drawbridge
· Basilica del Sanctisimo Sacramento – a beautiful stone basilica, built by the Portugese in 1808.
· Lighthouse and convent ruins
· Iglesia Matriz – Uruguay’s oldest church
· Downtown – Tourist shops and restaurants
· Beaches – Colonia’s beaches are perfect for the summer sun
Colonia is very small from one end to the other allowing visitors to discover it by foot, bicycle, or moped. The town’s people are very accommodating to visitors, accustomed to their presence, and service is good and very friendly, and affordable.
Colonia can be reached by boat from Buenos Aires, in either one hour (fast ferry) or three hours (slow ferry). Colonia can also be a convenient place to visit for those volunteering in Buenos Aires and needing to renew their visa (every 90 days) as the cross over to Uruguay in back, even same day, will renew a visa for another term. (Check your specific country requirements beforehand.)
