Carmelo - Buenos Aires
Ferry to Argentina
Carmelo - Buenos Aires
Ferry to Argentina
See ferry fares and operators from all over the world in one spot, and find the sailing that fits your trip. Booking early is usually the surest way to get a good price and plenty of choice.
Discounts are available with Direct Ferries all year round. If a senior discount applies to your crossing, it's applied for you automatically once the right age bracket is selected in the passenger options.
Students and recent graduates can claim a 5% saving. Register with our partner Student Beans to verify eligibility, then apply your discount code at checkout.
Resident discounts also apply to a number of Spanish and Italian routes — pick the "Residents" option during search and the fare adjusts automatically. Be ready to show proof of address, such as an ID card or residency certificate, at check-in.
Requirements for travel documents change from route to route, so check what's needed ahead of time. A valid passport is usually required for Carmelo to Buenos Aires travel, plus any visa or national ID relevant to your nationality. Since the rules depend on your citizenship and destination, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is the place to check for the latest guidance and avoid delays at check-in.
To book, just add your departure port, arrival port and preferred date, and you'll see every fare and sailing on offer. You can also compare alternative routes and times to find your best match.
Look out for early-bird pricing and flexible ticket options, such as upgrades or flexi-fares that let you make changes down the line. Entering accurate details — passenger count, vehicle specs and so on — keeps the process running smoothly.
As soon as your booking is confirmed, a confirmation email will land in your inbox. What happens next with your boarding pass depends on the operator you've booked.
Some operators issue boarding passes right away, while others need you to check in at the port itself. Where it's supported, the Direct Ferries app lets you check in online in advance.
You'll usually find ticket desks close to the ferry terminal. Giving yourself a little extra time before departure means you can collect tickets and check in without any stress.
Bring your confirmation email and valid photo ID, such as a passport or identity card, to check in. Pet owners should have vaccination and insurance documents on hand, and anyone with a resident discount should carry proof of address.
There are a few reasons departures from Carmelo to Buenos Aires might not show for your chosen date — a schedule change, sold-out sailings, or a seasonal lull are the most likely. Try another date or check alternative routes through our Route & Port finder.
Booking your Carmelo to Buenos Aires ferry well ahead of time generally works in your favour — you'll usually find better fares and a wider choice of departures and cabins.
A few weeks ahead is usually enough notice to catch the best offers, though fares can still fluctuate with the season and remaining space.
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Built on the angle of land between the great River Plate and the smaller Arroyo de las Vacas river is the town of Carmelo in the west of Uruguay. This South American settlement, most known for the thriving wineries found on the outskirts, is proud of its heritage as the only city founded by José Gervasio Artigas; a national hero often referred to as the ‘father of Uruguayan nationhood’. Carmelo’s neatly ordered grid of streets lead from the river-facing port in the south to the more rural farmland landscapes found along Route 21 in the north. The port is found on the north-side of the Arroyo de las Vacas river, just across a distinctive crimson-coloured steel bridge that spans the waterway. The ferry terminal here is nothing more than a departure point formed by a wide section of paving that lines the river bank. Due to the uniform road network in Carmelo, travelling to the harbour is simple. Motorists can enter the city via Route 21 which connects the city-centre to the collection of towns that can be found to the north and south. A bus service also travels into Carmelo from the larger city of Colonia del Sacramento and hour away. Only one passenger service currently operates from the port. A Colonia Express line sails to the sprawling Argentinian capital of Buenos Aries that sits on the opposite bank of the River Plate. It’s a short southbound trip along the country border that leaves the harbour multiple times throughout the day.
The city of Buenos Aires, located on the western shores of the vast River Plate estuary, is the largest city and capital of Argentina. It’s a multicultural metropolis that has retained much of its historical European identity, evident in the downtown clash of architecture that ranges from the soaring towers of the central business district to the pink walls of the Italianate-style Casa Rosada presidential palace. The ferry port of Buenos Aires is found to the north of the main collection of piers and shipping yards found in the Retiro borough of the city. The terminal here is set along the grass-lined banks of the Lujan river that flows into the larger River Plate, just to one side of a large man-made marina. A waiting area can be found inside the building and a limited number of car-parking spaces are available along the road into the harbour . Just a few minutes’ walk from outside the port entrance is the Marina Nueva train station that offers routes deeper into the suburbs of Buenos Aires, including a stop by the city’s international airport on the coast. The extensive National Route 9 highway, just a few minutes’ drive from the port, cuts north and connects motorists to other major Argentinian cities including Rosario and Cordoba. Passenger routes run from the port multiple times throughout the week, serviced by Buquebus and Colonia Express ferries. Both these lines offer daily routes to the nearby capital of Montevideo in Uruguay, a short distant across the River Plate, and the smaller Uruguayan city of Colonia Del Sacramento. Colonia Express also sails to the port-town of Carmelo a number of times per day.
