Overview
Take a trip to Colonia on your Uruguay Vacation
Colonia, located in southwestern Uruguay, facing Buenos Aires, is the country’s oldest city. It serves as the capital of the Colonia Department and is renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage Listed historic quarter which should be visited on Uruguay vacations.
The city was originally established as Colônia de Sacramento by the Portuguese in 1680. Its strategic location in the Rio de la Plata region allowed the settlement to become a successful smuggling port resulting in control of Colonia being contested at various times between Spain and Portugal. The area was given the designation “Villa” (village) in 1809 before achieving the status of “Cuidad” (city). Between 1822-1828, Colonia was subject to Brazilian control before Uruguay gained independence. After independence, Colonia continued to expand in the north and the east but maintained its original historic centre, Barrio Histórico, as built by the Portuguese.
Languages
SpanishCurrency
Uruguayan Peso (UYU)What do the experts say?
The Festes Majors are summer festivals held in the villages of Andorra. Each festival is unique to the village, with its own distinct style.
The Pyrenean Mountain scenery and tax-free shopping are two of my favourite things about travelling to Andorra.
I love learning about Nicaragua's culture and experiencing its Spanish influence in some cities. I was only there for five days, but I'll never forget how delicious the food was and how welcoming and extremely polite the people were.
Nicaragua is well known for its dramatic volcanic landscapes, lakes, rainforests, and colonial cities. I love how friendly the people are and how delicious the food is! There is always something fun to do in Nicaragua!
Festival de Los Farolitos is an annual nighttime festival held every September in the town of Ataco, where the streets, houses, and plazas are illuminated with thousands of handmade lanterns (farolitos). Families craft them using colored paper, wood, calabash gourds, or jars, each with a candle inside. Although it's tied to the eve of the Virgin Mary’s birthday, it has evolved into a cultural celebration of community, light, creativity, and town pride.
Travel Stories
Get Inspired About Your Trip to Uruguay
Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter
With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way