Major city · Uruguay
Cerro ColoradoAlejandro 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.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- UYU
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- avoid Jul–Aug (cold, few services)
- Airport
- MVD
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 6Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Uruguay ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Uruguay's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a Uruguayan consulate; ferry passengers from Buenos Aires clear both countries' immigration at the terminal.
- Uruguay ↗Buenos Aires–Colonia and Buenos Aires–Montevideo ferries sell out on long weekends and in summer: book ahead.
- Uruguay ↗Pay restaurants, hotels and car hire with a foreign-issued card: non-residents get the 22% VAT (IVA) removed on restaurants and car hire roughly 15 November – 30 April, and on lodging — check the current season's rules.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Cerro Colorado911 ▾
- Police, ambulance, fire911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Cerro Colorado, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Uruguayan peso (UYU, $).Uruguay-wide
- SIM or eSIMAntel (state), Movistar and Claro; prepaid SIM with passport at shops, or an eSIM before you fly.Uruguay-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable throughout.Uruguay-wide
- TippingRestaurant: About 10%.Uruguay-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F/I. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Uruguay-wide
- SafetyVery safe; petty crime is rare.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsClean in cafés, bus terminals and shopping centres.Uruguay-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, ambulance, fire
- Sundays & holidaysSemana de Turismo closes offices for a week; many coastal businesses close in winter.Uruguay-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMVD Carrasco International (Montevideo) (About 1.5 h drive on Route 7; no direct bus).
- Getting aroundThe town is walkable.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeecheckUYU 80–150
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi from town to estancia (2 km (1.2 mi))Taxi from town to estancia (1.2 mi (2 km))checkUYU 200–300
- Budget bedEstancia San Pedro de Timote double room, a night, per roomUYU 4,000
- Mid-range bedEstancia San Pedro de Timote double room, a night, per roomUYU 6,000
- High-end bedEstancia San Pedro de Timote double room, a night, per roomUYU 10,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget UYU 1,500 · Mid UYU 4,000 · High UYU 8,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MVD Carrasco International (Montevideo) (About 1.5 h drive on Route 7; no direct bus)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Mar
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Apr
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
May
not flagged
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Jun
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Jul
Avoid
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Aug
Avoid
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Sep
not flagged
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Oct
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Nov
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Dec
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Best: Oct–Apr. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)), coolest Jun (6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C) low), wettest Jan (8 rain days), driest Apr (7). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Cerro Colorado: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8 rd
Feb
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8 rd
Mar
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
8 rd
Apr
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
7 rd
May
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
7 rd
Jun
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
7 rd
Jul
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
7 rd
Aug
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
7 rd
Sep
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
7 rd
Oct
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
8 rd
Nov
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
8 rd
Dec
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is walkable. For the estancia, you need a car or taxi (2 km).
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 40 min
Route 7 north, about 30 min drive
Department capital with a historic centre and the 25 de Agosto bridge.
Door to door: About 1 h 15 min
Route 7 north, about 1 h drive
Known for the annual Carnival and the Santa Teresa fortress.
Melo
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 45 min
Route 7 north then Route 8, about 1.5 h drive
Larger town near the Brazilian border; full day.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
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.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- UYU 1,000–2,000 (check)
- Mid
- UYU 3,000–5,000 (check)
- High
- UYU 6,000+ (check)
Trip budget
| Estancia San Pedro de Timote double room1 × 1 night × UYU 6,000 | UYU 6,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × UYU 4,000 | UYU 8,000 |
| Guided tour of estancia2 × UYU 500 · check | UYU 1,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | UYU 1,500 |
| Trip total≈ UYU 8,250 per person per day, bed included | UYU 16,500 |
check
2026 estimate in Uruguayan pesos; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffeecheck | UYU 80–150 |
| Lunch at estancia restaurantcheck | UYU 400–800 |
| Taxi from town to estancia (2 km)check | UYU 200–300 |
| Guided tour of estanciacheck | UYU 500 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- 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.
Emergency numbers
- Police, ambulance, fire
- 911
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Cerro ColoradoAlejandro Gallinal
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire911
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Montevideo → Cerro Colorado (Route 7, car): about 1.5 h, fuel about UYU 600 (check)
- Taxi within town: UYU 200–300 (check)
Say or show
- Hola — Hello (OH-lah)
- Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-see-ahs)
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
- ¿Dónde está la torre del reloj? — Where is the clock tower? (DON-deh es-TAH lah TOR-reh del reh-LOH)
- Me gustaría un tour — I would like a tour (meh goo-stah-REE-ah oon toor)
No embassy in Cerro Colorado; nearest consulates in Montevideo.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Cerro Colorado. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Apr · avoid Jul–Aug (cold, few services) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Cerro Colorado
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