Ferry from Buenos Aires

QUESTION: I have booked a one-week trip to Buenos Aires next year and I have heard that it is possible to take a boat or ferry across the Rio de la Plata to Montevideo in Uruguay. Can one do this as a day trip? Do I need a visa and how much would it cost? - Bernice Day

ANSWER: There is a regular ferry service between the two cities that takes around three hours, so a return trip is certainly possible. SA passport holders do not need a visa. Two of the most reliable companies are Buquebus (tel: 4316-6500) and Ferrytur (tel: 4315-6800), both located in Avenue Cordoba. Buquebus offers a one-day package that includes a round-trip ticket on the the fast ferry (3 hours), lunch at a port restaurant, a city tour, a visit to a shopping mall and in/out transfers. The cost is around 450 Argentinian pesos (about R970). There are cheaper trips to Colonia del Sacramento, which offer a round-trip ticket, lunch and tours for only 150 Argentinian Pesos (about R330). Uruguay's oldest city, Colonia's old district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fascinating place to visit.