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Voykit pocket guide · Uruguay
Cerro Colorado
Alejandro Gallinal
A half-day stop on Route 7 between Montevideo and the north: see the clock tower, tour the estancia hotel, then move on. Not a base.
Cerro Colorado (officially Alejandro Gallinal) is a tiny town of 1,400 people on Route 7, 142 km northeast of Montevideo. Its main draw is a Dutch-built clock tower that chimes every hour, and the nearby historic estancia San Pedro de Timote, now a hotel with guided tours. Most travellers pass through in under 3 hours.
- Country
- Uruguay
- Local name
- Alejandro Gallinal
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (cold, few services)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- UYU
- Money
- Currency is the Uruguayan peso (UYU, $). About UYU 40 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards are widely accepted; US dollars are quoted and accepted for hotels, rentals and ferries.
- Daily spend
- Budget UYU 1,000–2,000 (check) · Mid UYU 3,000–5,000 (check) · High UYU 6,000+ (check) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Antel (state), Movistar and Claro; prepaid SIM with passport at shops, or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire 911
- Plugs
- Types C, F, I · 220 V · 50 Hz · Many sockets take several types; bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10%.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel porter: Small tip per bag.; Parking attendants (cuidacoches): Coins on leaving.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable throughout.
- Toilets
- Clean in cafés, bus terminals and shopping centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | UYU 80–150 |
| Lunch at estancia restaurant | UYU 400–800 |
| Taxi from town to estancia (2 km (1.2 mi))Taxi from town to estancia (1.2 mi (2 km)) | UYU 200–300 |
| Guided tour of estancia | UYU 500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MVD · Carrasco International (Montevideo)
- About 1.5 h drive on Route 7; no direct bus
Typical fares
- Montevideo → Cerro Colorado (Route 7, car)
- about 1.5 h, fuel about UYU 600 (check)
- Taxi within town
- UYU 200–300 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable. For the estancia, you need a car or taxi (2 km (1.2 mi)).The town is walkable. For the estancia, you need a car or taxi (1.2 mi (2 km)).
See and do
Known for
- Dutch clock tower (1960)
- Estancia San Pedro de Timote
- Route 7 stopover
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | Route 7 north, about 30 min drive | About 40 min |
| Durazno | Route 7 north, about 1 h drive | About 1 h 15 min |
| Melo | Route 7 north then Route 8, about 1.5 h drive | About 1 h 45 min |
Sleep
- Estancia San Pedro de Timote
- The only accommodation in town; 18 double rooms, colonial setting, 2 km (1.2 mi) from centre.The only accommodation in town; 18 double rooms, colonial setting, 1.2 mi (2 km) from centre.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HolaOH-lah |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
| Where is the clock tower? | ¿Dónde está la torre del reloj?DON-deh es-TAH lah TOR-reh del reh-LOH |
| I would like a tour | Me gustaría un tourmeh goo-stah-REE-ah oon toor |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: One cheek kiss among friends, handshake otherwise; avoid: Skipping greetings when entering a shop
- Mate: Accept or politely decline; avoid: Stirring the straw
- Time: Relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Arriving early at dinner parties
- Conversation: Football, food, Carnival; avoid: Calling Uruguayans Argentines
Scams and watch-outs
- No public transport to the estancia: you must drive or arrange a taxi.
- The clock tower chimes 24 h; light sleepers may want earplugs if staying nearby.
- Restaurants are limited; the estancia has a restaurant but check hours.
Very safe; petty crime is rare. Watch for loose dogs and uneven roads at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Cerro Colorado yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Dutch clock tower (1960)
- Estancia San Pedro de Timote
- Route 7 stopover
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Cerro Colorado, revision 4997228 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4997228
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Cerro ColoradoAlejandro Gallinal
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance, fire911
No embassy in Cerro Colorado; nearest consulates in Montevideo.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/cerro-colorado). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.