Travel Travel options from Montevideo to Buenos Aires?

[I Love Mate]

My husband and I will be flying into Montevideo next month and spend a few nights there and then will travel to Buenos Aires. I know there are a few different options. What would you all recommend? How long does it take on boat, plane, etc? We will be in Buenos Aires for 10 days.

 

[GlasgowJohn]

Flying – the flight time is short – between 30 and 40 minutes. But you must be at the airport about 2 hours before departure. Delays used to be common on this route, but I have not used the plane for a while and cannot say what is happening at the moment.

Taxi or Uber transfer to the airport is about 30 minutes and is expensive, compared to other Latin American countries.

Going to Bs As from MVD, you should try to secure a flight to Aeroparque (AEP), which is closer to the city center. Some flights go to Ezeiza (EZE) which is significantly farther from the city.

If you are going to Punta del Este. there are direct flights to Bs As from there.

Ferry – the direct ferry from Montevideo to Bs As takes just over two hours 15 minutes – Buquebus is the only operator on this route.

You have an option via bus to Colonia (two hours 30 minutes) then a one-hour ferry journey (after an hour of waiting at the port!). This route is offered by Buquebus and Colonia Express

The buses leave from the centrally located Tres Cruces Bus Terminal

In the cases of MVD and Bs As, both ports are very close to the center of the city.

There are longer options by bus, - please let me know if you need this information.

I go to MVD on business every 2 or 3 months. I use the Buquebus direct ferry.

On board, you have three class options – First, Business and Economy.

I use Business almost every time as I have a five-journey pass – the seats are more comfortable and I can work without any interruption.

You will see the pricing differences on the Buquebus website – do look at the First-class pricing as occasionally it is the same price as business class.

 

[Che Vos]

Flying – the flight time is short – between 30 and 40 minutes. But you must be at the airport about 2 hours before departure. Delays used to be common on this route, but I have not used the plane for a while and cannot say what is happening at the moment.

Taxi or Uber transfer to the airport is about 30 minutes and is expensive, compared to other Latin American countries.

Going to Bs As from MVD, you should try to secure a flight to Aeroparque (AEP), which is closer to the city center. Some flights go to Ezeiza (EZE) which is significantly farther from the city.

If you are going to Punta del Este. there are direct flights to Bs As from there.

Ferry – the direct ferry from Montevideo to Bs As takes just over two hours 15 minutes – Buquebus is the only operator on this route.

You have an option via bus to Colonia (two hours 30 minutes) then a one-hour ferry journey (after an hour of waiting at the port!). This route is offered by Buquebus and Colonia Express

The buses leave from the centrally located Tres Cruces Bus Terminal

In the cases of MVD and Bs As, both ports are very close to the center of the city.

There are longer options by bus, - please let me know if you need this information.

I go to MVD on business every 2 or 3 months. I use the Buquebus direct ferry.

On board, you have three class options – First, Business and Economy.

I use Business almost every time as I have a five-journey pass – the seats are more comfortable and I can work without any interruption.

You will see the pricing differences on the Buquebus website – do look at the First-class pricing as occasionally it is the same price as business class.

Wow! I was just going to answer and saw your detailed post @GlasgowJohn ! Amazing. It sounds like you have done that trip many times! ha.

The only thing I can add of value to John's post is the link for Buquebus. I just take the ferry over. @GlasgowJohn what airline do you usually fly? Is it only Aerolineas Argentina that flies there?

Buquebus | ¡Viajá a Uruguay en los mejores Barcos! Pasajes a Colonia, Montevideo y Punta del Este.

Buquebus, compra de pasajes y turismo de Argentina a Uruguay. Buenos Aires a Montevideo. Buenos Aires a Colonia. Buenos Aires a Punta del Este ¡Cuando subís, ya llegaste!

www.buquebus.com

 

[GlasgowJohn]

Yip it's only Aerolineas Argentinas at the moment. And only two flights a day at the moment

Paranair stopped flying a few months back

 

[GlasgowJohn]

Yip it's only Aerolineas Argentinas at the moment. And only two flights a day at the moment

Paranair stopped flying a few months back

There are also two flights a day to Punta del Este.

 

[Che Vos]

Yip it's only Aerolineas Argentinas at the moment. And only two flights a day at the moment

Paranair stopped flying a few months back

Thank you. Yes, my father say he only flies there on Aerolineas Argentinas. He go for work 4 times a year.

 

[GlasgowJohn]

There are two services daily from MVD to EZE but they get cancelled from time to time and the passengers are transferred to the AEP service

 

[Spend Thrift]

Flying – the flight time is short – between 30 and 40 minutes. But you must be at the airport about 2 hours before departure. Delays used to be common on this route, but I have not used the plane for a while and cannot say what is happening at the moment.

Taxi or Uber transfer to the airport is about 30 minutes and is expensive, compared to other Latin American countries.

Going to Bs As from MVD, you should try to secure a flight to Aeroparque (AEP), which is closer to the city center. Some flights go to Ezeiza (EZE) which is significantly farther from the city.

If you are going to Punta del Este. there are direct flights to Bs As from there.

Ferry – the direct ferry from Montevideo to Bs As takes just over two hours 15 minutes – Buquebus is the only operator on this route.

You have an option via bus to Colonia (two hours 30 minutes) then a one-hour ferry journey (after an hour of waiting at the port!). This route is offered by Buquebus and Colonia Express

The buses leave from the centrally located Tres Cruces Bus Terminal

In the cases of MVD and Bs As, both ports are very close to the center of the city.

There are longer options by bus, - please let me know if you need this information.

I go to MVD on business every 2 or 3 months. I use the Buquebus direct ferry.

On board, you have three class options – First, Business and Economy.

I use Business almost every time as I have a five-journey pass – the seats are more comfortable and I can work without any interruption.

You will see the pricing differences on the Buquebus website – do look at the First-class pricing as occasionally it is the same price as business class.

Thank you @GlasgowJohn! This is great information. I was just planning to go over to Montevideo and this is very helpful. Thank you fine sir.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

I was just planning to go over to Montevideo

for a new 90-day visa? i'm going to 'take one for the team' in the next month and go to Migraciones/DNI to apply for a 90-day extension, just to document how hard it is, the cost, etc. (rather than using the ferry, since i can't bring my dog easily).

i'll write a thread about it. if anyone knows how easy another 90 days is, and which specific building/floor/department, and if you can get a third 90-day visa for USA folks, i'm all ears

 

[Wally]

for a new 90-day visa? i'm going to 'take one for the team' in the next month and go to Migraciones/DNI to apply for a 90-day extension, just to document how hard it is, the cost, etc. (rather than using the ferry, since i can't bring my dog easily).

i'll write a thread about it. if anyone knows how easy another 90 days is, and which specific building/floor/department, and if you can get a third 90-day visa for USA folks, i'm all ears

My friends have overstayed for many years. I don't think you will have any issues. This has been talked about for many years on the old forum. I have never talked to any expat that ever had any issues. I don't know the process well but my friends just pay a fine and the fine is not too much. During Covid expats were living here for 3 years. I don't think anyone really cares. After all, they are letting the poor all in from Mersosur countries. I doubt they will care about a gringo with his dog.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

My friends have overstayed for many years. I don't think you will have any issues. This has been talked about for many years on the old forum. I have never talked to any expat that ever had any issues. I don't know the process well but my friends just pay a fine and the fine is not too much. During Covid expats were living here for 3 years. I don't think anyone really cares. After all, they are letting the poor all in from Mersosur countries. I doubt they will care about a gringo with his dog.

you need to real the many experiences here: https://www.expatsba.com/threads/an...imes-can-you-do-border-runs-in-argentina.537/

this has changed @Wally

 

[Wally]

you need to real the many experiences here: https://www.expatsba.com/threads/an...imes-can-you-do-border-runs-in-argentina.537/

this has changed @Wally

Thanks! I didn't know but I was wondering if something was going to change when I read that newspaper article about Bullrich saying foreigners that protest will be reported to immigration. I'd like Milei wants all the tourists/perma-tourists in the country to spend money but this might be the start of a cash grab or system for foreigners to "pay to stay". The government knows a lot of digital nomads are here. Thanks for reposting!

 

[StatusNomadicus]

@Wally i don't think it's new, or related to Milei, since a lot of the stories i've read are from the past few years. Milei in my opinion would be more of an approach that de-regulated things and allowed more prosperity, rather than doubling-down on old immigration laws (who decided my visa is 90 days? why not 91 days? and i understand reciprocity and the USA makes Argentines jump through hoops for visas) and scaring people from coming to Argentina further.

i think Argentina will thrive when the average USA/EU person feels more comfortable coming here; deportations for victimless crimes are so stupid. and no, i'm not accepting the commie argument that someone might make, where overstaying a tourist visa for 5 years is siphoning social welfare from the citizens...i seriously doubt more than 1% of Expats in BsAs are using any social services; their stay is a net positive for both tourist and country. i personally know many people who would come here, but the backwards-ness is just a deal-breaker when they can instead go to Norway, Czech, Bali, Thailand, etc. and not have to take a perceived risk

 

[Che Vos]

@Wally i don't think it's new, or related to Milei, since a lot of the stories i've read are from the past few years. Milei in my opinion would be more of an approach that de-regulated things and allowed more prosperity, rather than doubling-down on old immigration laws (who decided my visa is 90 days? why not 91 days? and i understand reciprocity and the USA makes Argentines jump through hoops for visas) and scaring people from coming to Argentina further.

i think Argentina will thrive when the average USA/EU person feels more comfortable coming here; deportations for victimless crimes are so stupid. and no, i'm not accepting the commie argument that someone might make, where overstaying a tourist visa for 5 years is siphoning social welfare from the citizens...i seriously doubt more than 1% of Expats in BsAs are using any social services; their stay is a net positive for both tourist and country. i personally know many people who would come here, but the backwards-ness is just a deal-breaker when they can instead go to Norway, Czech, Bali, Thailand, etc. and not have to take a perceived risk

I don't think many permanent tourists are getting deported. I read some where they were not allowed in the country for repeatedly breaking the law and staying here illegally but that is the same in your country too. Laws are laws. If you don't want to follow the laws then afuera de nuestra Pais!

 

[GlasgowJohn]

Let's get serious guys. No Europeans or North Americans will get deported any time soon , unless they commit crimes.

Overstaying your 90-day tourist visa is a minor admin problem.

Once you pay the fine at your departure point or at migrations , that's it. Although the next time you enter the country , the official may want to have more info about your intentions.

 

[earlyretirement]

Let's get serious guys. No Europeans or North Americans will get deported any time soon , unless they commit crimes.

Overstaying your 90-day tourist visa is a minor admin problem.

Once you pay the fine at your departure point or at migrations , that's it. Although the next time you enter the country , the official may want to have more info about your intentions.

I totally AGREE. I just posted a similar response prior to this in another thread. I know people that overstayed for years and only 2 of them have gotten warned if it happens again on the third time they will face issues. But I only know 2 people that happened to. In 22 years, I only talked to one person that wasn't allowed in due to overstays but that was a long time ago. I'm not sure what the current administrations policies would be but I'd think it would be to keep in Americans/Canadians and Europeans spending money.

I think the comment by Bullrich about the protestors was just to keep students from protesting that are here studying here. I doubt it pertains to expats. But then again if expats are blocking the roads, they should get deported! JMHO.

I agree with protestors rights to gather and protest. Just don't block the roads!

 

[StatusNomadicus]

No Europeans or North Americans will get deported any time soon

this contradicts what this thread was sharing yesterday: https://www.expatsba.com/threads/an...imes-can-you-do-border-runs-in-argentina.537/

"I talked to an expat a few months ago that said his partner got rejected coming back as he overstayed and was doing border runs for years. The customs agent told him it was illegal to do border runs."

"For a good 8 years, I played the perpetual tourist game. I'm from Canada. I didn't have any issues at all and then wham bam one day when I was coming from Colonia they wouldn't let me in. I even paid the overstay fee. I got upset at first. Very upset. But the officer pulled me into the room and he spoke decent English explained that I was breaking the law and he was right. You have to know going into this that you're breaking the law."

"This is probably true. I'm one of the unlucky ones that got denied entry. This happened a few years ago. I'm an American citizen. This happened when they were still stamping passports so I imagine now it's even easier for them to see the cumulative days you've been in Argentina between entry/exit. They told me that they could see I was living here and not a tourist. It was pretty humiliating as I was living with my girlfriend and I had all my stuff there. They sent me back to Miami which I flew from."

"It was pretty horrible. I got stuck in a room for about 3 hours. They only gave me some water and I begged for a coffee and they finally brought me some. Then I had to wait for the next flight out. They had me in a room and took my passport. Then to board I had to be escorted by 2 police officers. Or maybe they were airport officials. They had uniforms on. They didn't give me my passport until everyone boarded. I was the last to board. And they told the flight attendants not to give me back my passport until we landed. It was all pretty humiliating."

"if it happened again they wouldn't let me in. He said they would note my file."

there are more on twitter, reddit, and the old forum. maybe the police won't be searching our hotel rooms at day 91 to deport us, but there are more possibilities than than:

1. People who haven't read this forum may apply for an extension at 91 days and be detained, then deported for violating their visa.
2. Tourists who don't know about the ferry/border crossings being strict now may try to cross, and get detained in Uruguay, and sent back home.
3. Long-term perma-tourists with 2 years, hoping they can just pay $20 like old times, may leave the country or have interactions with Migraciones and get banned from Argentina for 5 years.

regardless, the risk appears much more real, than in the past, so it's important not to just dismiss these worries since 'in the past Westerners were allowed to do whatever they wanted'

 

[Hornie Todongs]

this contradicts what this thread was sharing yesterday: https://www.expatsba.com/threads/an...imes-can-you-do-border-runs-in-argentina.537/

"I talked to an expat a few months ago that said his partner got rejected coming back as he overstayed and was doing border runs for years. The customs agent told him it was illegal to do border runs."

"For a good 8 years, I played the perpetual tourist game. I'm from Canada. I didn't have any issues at all and then wham bam one day when I was coming from Colonia they wouldn't let me in. I even paid the overstay fee. I got upset at first. Very upset. But the officer pulled me into the room and he spoke decent English explained that I was breaking the law and he was right. You have to know going into this that you're breaking the law."

"This is probably true. I'm one of the unlucky ones that got denied entry. This happened a few years ago. I'm an American citizen. This happened when they were still stamping passports so I imagine now it's even easier for them to see the cumulative days you've been in Argentina between entry/exit. They told me that they could see I was living here and not a tourist. It was pretty humiliating as I was living with my girlfriend and I had all my stuff there. They sent me back to Miami which I flew from."

"It was pretty horrible. I got stuck in a room for about 3 hours. They only gave me some water and I begged for a coffee and they finally brought me some. Then I had to wait for the next flight out. They had me in a room and took my passport. Then to board I had to be escorted by 2 police officers. Or maybe they were airport officials. They had uniforms on. They didn't give me my passport until everyone boarded. I was the last to board. And they told the flight attendants not to give me back my passport until we landed. It was all pretty humiliating."

"if it happened again they wouldn't let me in. He said they would note my file."

there are more on twitter, reddit, and the old forum. maybe the police won't be searching our hotel rooms at day 91 to deport us, but there are more possibilities than than:

1. People who haven't read this forum may apply for an extension at 91 days and be detained, then deported for violating their visa.
2. Tourists who don't know about the ferry/border crossings being strict now may try to cross, and get detained in Uruguay, and sent back home.
3. Long-term perma-tourists with 2 years, hoping they can just pay $20 like old times, may leave the country or have interactions with Migraciones and get banned from Argentina for 5 years.

regardless, the risk appears much more real, than in the past, so it's important not to just dismiss these worries since 'in the past Westerners were allowed to do whatever they wanted'

Definitely I read enough about people having issues over the years to know the threat is possible. But the reality is this is Argentina. Just have some cash handy to pay a bribe. Always works.

My boyfriend got pulled over for DUI. He was quite blitzed. He was coming to my place and he was late. They took his phone. But he just paid them the equivalent of $100 USD and they let him go. Here in Argentina where there is a will (and a bribe) there is a way.

So while possible you could have issues overstaying for years yes. But probably not probable based on all the expats I know living here in perma-tourist "sin". Of course this is Argentina so anything can change but Milei is against big government interfering plus Argentina needs our USD so I doubt there is anything to worry about. Things for expats should be easier under Milei not more difficult.

 

[Vero]

this contradicts what this thread was sharing yesterday: https://www.expatsba.com/threads/an...imes-can-you-do-border-runs-in-argentina.537/

"I talked to an expat a few months ago that said his partner got rejected coming back as he overstayed and was doing border runs for years. The customs agent told him it was illegal to do border runs."

"For a good 8 years, I played the perpetual tourist game. I'm from Canada. I didn't have any issues at all and then wham bam one day when I was coming from Colonia they wouldn't let me in. I even paid the overstay fee. I got upset at first. Very upset. But the officer pulled me into the room and he spoke decent English explained that I was breaking the law and he was right. You have to know going into this that you're breaking the law."

"This is probably true. I'm one of the unlucky ones that got denied entry. This happened a few years ago. I'm an American citizen. This happened when they were still stamping passports so I imagine now it's even easier for them to see the cumulative days you've been in Argentina between entry/exit. They told me that they could see I was living here and not a tourist. It was pretty humiliating as I was living with my girlfriend and I had all my stuff there. They sent me back to Miami which I flew from."

"It was pretty horrible. I got stuck in a room for about 3 hours. They only gave me some water and I begged for a coffee and they finally brought me some. Then I had to wait for the next flight out. They had me in a room and took my passport. Then to board I had to be escorted by 2 police officers. Or maybe they were airport officials. They had uniforms on. They didn't give me my passport until everyone boarded. I was the last to board. And they told the flight attendants not to give me back my passport until we landed. It was all pretty humiliating."

"if it happened again they wouldn't let me in. He said they would note my file."

there are more on twitter, reddit, and the old forum. maybe the police won't be searching our hotel rooms at day 91 to deport us, but there are more possibilities than than:

1. People who haven't read this forum may apply for an extension at 91 days and be detained, then deported for violating their visa.
2. Tourists who don't know about the ferry/border crossings being strict now may try to cross, and get detained in Uruguay, and sent back home.
3. Long-term perma-tourists with 2 years, hoping they can just pay $20 like old times, may leave the country or have interactions with Migraciones and get banned from Argentina for 5 years.

regardless, the risk appears much more real, than in the past, so it's important not to just dismiss these worries since 'in the past Westerners were allowed to do whatever they wanted'

I don't see "deportation" as a risk like in the USA. More likely what will happen is like most of the reports, habitual permanent tourists will just be told next time they will have issues. But the case you are making @StatusNomadicus is a point taken that it would really suck to be coming back from a visa run to Uruguay and then be told they can't enter again. That sounds like it has happened to perma-tourists but not sure how common it is. I believe expats posting on these forums is few and far between.

Most expats that I have met over the years never posted on these websites. Maybe that will change as I hear @earlyretirement will do some press and talk about this forum.

I think the best way if you plan to be in Argentina for the long-haul is to just get a DNI. There are various ways and that is better doing things the right way. I think there is a double standard. Many Americans say they don't want illegal aliens in their country but then they do the same thing here in Argentina. You can't have it both ways.

But like @GlasgowJohn mentioned I don't see Argentina deporting North Americans any time soon.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

Just have some cash handy to pay a bribe. Always works.

but that contradicts at least 2 of the stories told; the system now has an electronic "flag" based on some kind of algorithm for your time overstayed or times going back an forth, so if the system assigns a border agent to investigate, that agent may not have a choice. and when enough video cameras are installed, you might add on a bribery felony to 5+ years blocked from Argentina. i really don't think it's helpful to assume (and reassure new Expats here) that everything in the past applies to 2024 and the new gov't

did you read the other thread?? @Hornie Todongs