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Voykit pocket guide · Argentina
Colón
A quiet riverside stop for one night or a day trip from Buenos Aires: thermal baths, beaches, and the Palacio San José. Not a base for the region.
Colón is a small city on the Uruguay River in Entre Ríos, 324 km from Buenos Aires. It offers thermal water complexes, river beaches, and the nearby Palacio San José, a national monument. Most travellers use it as a relaxed stopover between Buenos Aires and Uruguay or the Mesopotamian region.
- Country
- Argentina
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (cooler, fewer thermal visitors)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ARS
- Money
- Currency is the Argentine peso (ARS, $). About ARS 1,450–1,600 per US dollar in mid-2026 — check; inflation has slowed but prices still move, so do not rely on old guides.
- Daily spend
- Budget ARS 15,000–25,000 excl. bed · Mid ARS 25,000–45,000 excl. bed · High ARS 45,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro, Movistar and Personal cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their shops with a passport, or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Ambulance 107 · Fire 100
- Plugs
- Types I, C · 220 V · 50 Hz · Type I sockets are like Australia's, but with live and neutral reversed; bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10% in cash; the cubierto (cover charge) is not a tip.; Taxi / app: Round up.; Hotel porter: ARS equivalent of US$1–2 per bag.; Tour guide: US$5–10 per person a day.; Ushers at tango shows / football: Small tip customary.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable in Buenos Aires and most cities; in the Northwest and rural areas ask or use bottled.
- Toilets
- Use cafés, shopping centres and bus terminals (small fee sometimes); carry tissues.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café con leche) | ARS 1,500–2,500 |
| Ice cream (Heladería Bahillo) | ARS 2,000–4,000 |
| Alfajor entrerriano | ARS 800–1,500 |
| Beer (local, 1 L) | ARS 2,000–3,500 |
| Taxi from centre to Balneario Norte | ARS 3,000–5,000 |
| Bus to Buenos Aires (one way) | ARS 10,000–15,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PRA · General Justo José de Urquiza Airport (Paraná)
- About 1.5 h by car; limited domestic flights. Alternatively, fly to Buenos Aires (EZE or AEP) and take a bus.
Typical fares
- Bus Buenos Aires → Colón
- about ARS 10,000–15,000, 4–5 h (check)
- Taxi centre → Palacio San José
- about ARS 7,000–10,000 one way (check)
- Thermal complex entry
- about ARS 5,000 (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 Palacio San José (about 10 km (6.2 mi)) or El Palmar National Park, you need a car or a taxi. Local buses are limited.The town is walkable. For Palacio San José (about 6.2 mi (10 km)) or El Palmar National Park, you need a car or a taxi. Local buses are limited.
See and do
Known for
- Thermal water complexes
- River beaches on the Uruguay River
- Palacio San José
- Alfajor entrerriano
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Palacio San José | Taxi or car, about 10 km (6.2 mi) north on RP 39Taxi or car, about 6.2 mi (10 km) north on RP 39 | 20 min |
| El Palmar National Park | Car via RN 14, about 30 km (19 mi) southCar via RN 14, about 19 mi (30 km) south | 40 min |
| Paysandú, Uruguay | Cross the General Artigas Bridge (toll); bus or car | 15 min to the border |
| San José | Car via RP 39, about 15 km (9.3 mi)Car via RP 39, about 9.3 mi (15 km) | 20 min |
Sleep
- City centre (near Plaza San Martín)
- Walking distance to shops, restaurants, and the riverfront.
- Balneario Norte area
- Closer to the beach and thermal complexes; more cabins and camping.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HolaOH-lah |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-syahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWES-tah |
| Where is the thermal complex? | ¿Dónde está el complejo termal?DOHN-deh es-TAH el kom-PLEH-hoh ter-MAHL |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favorlah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR |
| Do you accept card? | ¿Aceptan tarjeta?ah-SEP-tahn tar-JEH-tah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: One cheek kiss among friends; handshake in business; avoid: Refusing a kiss from a new acquaintance's friends
- Mate circle: Drink the whole gourd and hand it back to the server; avoid: Stirring the straw
- Dinner: Eat late and linger; avoid: Expecting service at 18:00
- Punctuality: Arrive 15–30 minutes late for social events; avoid: Arriving early at a home
- Conversation: Talk football, food, family; avoid: Opening with the Falklands or Peronism
Scams and watch-outs
- Thermal complexes may have reduced hours in winter: check the official site.
- The Uruguay River current can be strong; swim only at designated beaches.
- Palacio San José is closed on Mondays: plan accordingly.
Colón is generally safe. Watch your belongings at the beach and avoid walking alone at night in isolated areas. The river current can be dangerous.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Colón yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Thermal water complexes
- River beaches on the Uruguay River
- Palacio San José
- Alfajor entrerriano
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Colón Tourism: colon.gov.ar/
- Wikivoyage: Colon (Argentina), revision 5055312 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5055312
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Colón
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US has an embassy in Buenos Aires; most other countries have embassies in Buenos Aires. For Uruguay, check visa requirements before crossing.
Prices are 2026 estimates in Argentine pesos.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/colon-argentina). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.