Buying ferry tickets online can be a daunting experience, especially with the challenges posed by language switches and currency confusion. If you’re gearing up to purchase your tickets for a ferry ride from Buenos Aires to Montevideo or Colonia, take a deep breath, pour yourself a glass of Uruguayan red wine, and let’s walk through the process together.
The Main Ferry Companies: Buquebus, Seacat, and Colonia Express
When it comes to ferry services between Uruguay and Buenos Aires, three companies dominate the route: Buquebus, Seacat, and Colonia Express. If you’re looking for a direct journey to Montevideo, Buquebus is your only option. The other two companies offer a ferry to Colonia, followed by a connecting bus to Montevideo—what we’ll refer to as the ferry-bus combo. Buquebus also provides this combo service.
Historically, Colonia Express has been the cheapest option, while Buquebus was the priciest, with Seacat falling somewhere in between. However, this pricing landscape has shifted. Nowadays, a range of combinations is available, depending on your budget and schedule.
Understanding Currency Confusion
One of the most frustrating aspects of buying ferry tickets is dealing with currency symbols. The dollar sign ($) is used to denote three different currencies: US dollars, Uruguayan pesos, and Argentinian pesos. Keep in mind that 1 US dollar is roughly equivalent to 40 Uruguayan pesos.
Each ferry company operates two websites—one for Argentina and one for Uruguay. To determine which site you’re on, check the top right corner of the page. Familiarizing yourself with the flags of both countries can be helpful!
Finding Cheaper Fares
Through our research, we discovered that prices are generally lower on the Uruguayan versions of the ferry sites. However, the Buquebus ferry and bus combo prices do not follow this trend. To get the best deal, make sure to check both Buquebus sites and refer to our fare analysis for insights into pricing between Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
The Importance of Language
Fortunately, Buquebus has recently enhanced its Argentine website to include English, German, and Portuguese options alongside Spanish. In contrast, neither Seacat nor Colonia Express offers a true English-language site. Be wary with Seacat; while it appears to have an English option, once you start entering your trip details, the site abruptly switches to Spanish. Colonia Express is even less accommodating.
If you’re keen to save money, brushing up on your Spanish travel vocabulary can pay off, especially since the Uruguayan site is only in Spanish and often features cheaper prices.
Smart Pricing: A New Challenge
Buquebus has implemented smart pricing, meaning ticket prices can surge during high-demand periods. For instance, prices for a Thursday trip at the start of a long holiday may quadruple compared to a regular day.
To navigate this, use an incognito window while browsing the Buquebus site. This prevents your cookies from being tracked and can help you avoid price increases. In Google Chrome, simply click the top right options or use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + N to open an incognito window.
Booking Tips
When checking prices across ferry websites, we noticed that economy fares are often not available in advance. To secure the best deals, aim to book your tickets within a few weeks of your travel date. Prices typically rise when booking less than two weeks ahead, especially during Uruguayan and Argentine holidays. However, don’t expect to book too far in advance; we found that tickets are rarely available more than five months ahead.
How to Pronounce Buquebus
For those wondering, the correct pronunciation of Buquebus is Boo-kay-BOO-s.
A Note on Patience
While the Buenos Aires-Uruguay ferry websites are improving, purchasing tickets can still be a bumpy ride. Expect potential hiccups, such as rejected credit cards or pending payments. It’s advisable to reach out via email rather than phone if you encounter issues, as you may find faster responses on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
During a recent ticket purchase with Buquebus, our credit card payment remained in a “pending” status for several days, but we received immediate confirmation of our tickets from the company.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! Set aside an evening to tackle your ferry ticket purchase. Pair your planning with a nice glass of Uruguayan tannat and enjoy some tango music from your Spotify playlist. Remember, taking things slowly may not be such a bad idea after all!