Colon (Argentina)

Colon, officially spelled Colón, is a city in Argentina in Entre Rios province. It resides on the Uruguay river across from Paysandu in the country of Uruguay. Tips on how to cross the border below.

Hitchhiking out

West and South towards Gualeguaychu, Victoria, Rosario, Buenos Aires

Walk out of town to the Ruta 135 towards the Ruta 14. That's a major crossing, so only get into a car if it's driving at least 15 kilometers on the Ruta 14 south, as you'll pass a good gas station. Asking for at least Concepcion del Uruguay (it's in Argentina) is best, you can switch directions onto the Ruta 39 from there to go west towards Rosario, or continue on the 14 south towards Buenos Aires.

West and North towards Posadas

Follow the same advice as above, but DO get out at that crossing with the Ruta 14. There's a Shell gas station you can enter via the tiny roundabout and then catch a ride on the main road.

East towards Paysandu in Uruguay

Go again to the main road Ruta 135, but hitchhike east towards the border. There's an YPF gas station in this direction 4km from this crossing that you can use to ask people directly to take you across the border.

Crossing the Border

People may be very cautious in picking you up. You have to cross the Puente Internacional General Artigas, the impressive bridge that crosses between the two countries. The stamp in/out is on the Uruguayan side of the river, so there's no no man's land in between the countries. When leaving Uruguay from Paysandu, Mind of a Hitchhiker only got an entry stamp to Argentina and no exit stamp in her EU passport. Upon further inquiry, this was deemed not necessary at this border by immigration officials. It's safe to assume that when you enter Uruguay from Argentina at this border, you'll also not receive an exit stamp from Argentina, but will receive an entry stamp from Uruguay.

When going to Paysandu, you'll have to follow the road that loops back under the bridge and then continues to Paysandu town and the Ruta 3 of Uruguay, which leads all the way to Montevideo.

There's a little tax free shop at the border. Nothing special

Accommodation and Sleep

Out of the tourist season, the town is completely dead, with exceptions of warm and sunny weekends. Along the river, a few blocks south of the Plaza San Martin is a park at the river with many outdoor barbecues and willow trees. You can stealthily pitch your tent here around nightfall. There's also an official camping nearby, but the gates are rusty and it doesn't look like anyone cares. Watch out! The water levels of the river fluctuate and when Mind of a Hitchhiker was here, the barbecues and benches were a little drowned.