If you’re planning to cross from Colonia or Montevideo to Buenos Aires by ferry, the logistics of disembarking are usually the part that raises the most questions. The most common ones are which terminal you arrive at, how long Immigration takes, and how to continue on to your accommodation.

In this article, we’re sharing a guide designed especially for those arriving by ferry, with extra detail if you’re traveling as a family or in a group. Keep reading!

Where ferries from Uruguay arrive in Buenos Aires

The first thing to know is that Buenos Aires has two river passenger terminals, and which one you arrive at depends on the company you travel with. Both are in Puerto Madero, but at opposite ends.

Puerto Madero Sur Terminal (Colonia Express). It’s at Avenida Elvira Rawson de Dellepiane 155, on Dársena Sur, near La Boca and San Telmo. This is the Colonia Express terminal, which connects Buenos Aires with Colonia del Sacramento in just over an hour of sailing, with bus connections to Montevideo and Punta del Este.

Dársena Norte Terminal. It’s at Avenida Antártida Argentina 821, at the northern end of Puerto Madero, right next to the Retiro area. From there, Plaza San Martín, Florida Street, and the Reconquista area are just a few blocks away.

An important detail: neither of these is the Quinquela Martín cruise terminal. Immigration identifies them as different international crossings within the Port of Buenos Aires.

That’s why, when you request a taxi or a ride-hailing app, give the exact address of your terminal, not just “the port.”

What happens when you arrive in Buenos Aires

It’s best not to assume that Immigration is always done in Uruguay before boarding.

Argentina carries out immigration controls at the river terminals of the Port of Buenos Aires. There is migration cooperation between Argentina and Uruguay, but where and how the specific control is done can depend on the company, the route, and current operating procedures.

So the safest recommendation is simple: follow the company’s instructions and the immigration staff’s directions throughout the process.

If you checked luggage, you’ll also have to wait for it to be delivered before leaving the terminal.

Each company has its own baggage policy. Colonia Express, for example, currently states that each passenger can bring up to 30 kg free of charge. Since these conditions can change, it’s best to review them before the trip with the company you’re traveling with.

There’s no exact time between docking and getting out to the street.

It can vary depending on the service, the number of passengers, the checks, and whether you traveled only with carry-on luggage or checked suitcases.

If you have a reservation, a transfer, or an activity immediately after arriving, leave some buffer time.

How to get from the port to Retiro and the microcenter

The best option depends on three things: which terminal you arrived at, how much luggage you have, and how many people are traveling.

On foot

If you arrive at Dársena Norte, travel light, and stay at a hotel in Retiro or in the northern part of the microcenter, walking is a real alternative: the terminal is right next to downtown Buenos Aires.

From the Puerto Madero Sur terminal, the walk to Retiro is longer (several kilometers along the docks), so unless you feel like walking, it’s not the practical option on arrival day.

With small kids, several suitcases, or reduced mobility, in either case it will probably be more comfortable to avoid this first stretch on foot.

Taxi or ride-hailing app

For a family or a group with luggage, it’s usually the simplest alternative from either terminal.

In both cases it’s a short ride within the central area: you don’t need to plan a trip from a far-out airport or cross Buenos Aires from end to end.

Always enter the hotel address and check in the app itself the authorized or suggested pickup point to meet the vehicle.

Public transportation

There is also public transportation in the area of both terminals, but it’s not the most practical option right after getting off the ferry.

With suitcases, kids, or a large group, walking to a station or getting on a bus can add an unnecessary complication.

Once you’re settled in at the hotel, public transportation becomes much more practical for visiting other neighborhoods in Buenos Aires.

Tips if you’re traveling by ferry with kids

Here there’s something far more important than choosing where to sit: documentation.

If you’re traveling from Uruguay with minors, check before the trip whether you need to arrange a minor travel authorization.

Uruguay’s National Directorate of Migration reminds travelers that certain minors need documented authorization to leave the country, especially when they are not accompanied by both legal guardians under the conditions set by regulations. Ferry companies themselves note that each case is different and recommend confirming it directly with Migration.

Requirements depend on the family situation and the document the minor is traveling with, so it’s best to check them before buying or, at minimum, several days before departure.

It’s also helpful to arrive at the terminal with enough time to spare.

Between check-in, document checks, and immigration, boarding takes time. Each company tells you at purchase how early you should show up; respect that window, and if you’re traveling with kids, add a bit more.

Tips for groups

With large groups, logistics start well before you get on the boat. That’s when a big part of whether the trip will be smooth or a headache gets decided.

First, it helps if everyone is clear on what documentation is needed, what time to show up, and what luggage will be checked. They’re small details, but multiplied by twenty or thirty people they quickly turn into a problem.

Once in Buenos Aires, another key point to solve ahead of time—not on the spot—is how the transfer to the hotel will work. Figuring it out with the whole group standing at the terminal door, with suitcases and no plan, never ends well.

And here a very concrete advantage of staying in the northern part of downtown shows up: the shorter the transfer, the easier it is to move an entire delegation with luggage. HR Plaza Luxor has a package designed specifically for sports, student, and cultural groups, and its proximity to the port is one of the key points for this kind of trip.

Why it’s worth staying near the port

If you arrive by ferry, staying in Retiro or the northern microcenter has a very concrete advantage: you reduce arrival and departure logistics.

You don’t need to cross Buenos Aires with your suitcases before the trip even starts.

HR Plaza Luxor is a hotel in Retiro, a few blocks from Dársena Norte, at Reconquista 602. If you arrive via Puerto Madero Sur, the taxi ride is short and runs along the entire port area to the hotel.

It’s also about a 3-minute walk from Florida Street and Galerías Pacífico, while Plaza San Martín and other downtown spots are very close.

For families there are rooms that can accommodate up to five people, and for groups there are multi-bed rooms and a specific lodging offer.

In addition, the hotel has luggage storage service.

That’s especially practical on arrival day if the room isn’t available yet, or on return day if your ferry leaves several hours after check-out.

From the ferry to the hotel, without complicating the first day

Arriving in Buenos Aires by ferry has the clear advantage of disembarking practically downtown, without traveling miles from an airport.

Now, the key is to make the most of that. If you arrive at Dársena Norte and travel light, maybe it’s best to just walk to your accommodation. If you’re coming with kids, lots of suitcases, in a group, or you disembark at Puerto Madero Sur, it’s better to handle the stretch with a taxi or an app (it’s a short ride anyway, not worth making it complicated).

And if you also choose a hotel in the northern part of downtown, the trip starts almost as soon as you drop your luggage in the room. Our HR Plaza Luxor hotel in Retiro is a few blocks from the port, with rooms designed for families and a specific offer for groups.

If you’re traveling with a delegation, check out HR Plaza Luxor’s offer for groups.

And one more thing: once you’re settled in, Galerías Pacífico and Florida Street are just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel.