Colonia del Sacramento to Punta del Diablo is about 296 road miles (476 km): roughly 6 h 33 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
Full advisory: Uruguay. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Total distance | 296 mi (476 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B |
| Departments on the route | Colonia, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Colonia del Sacramento to Punta del Diablo is like
I-B (6 mi) carries about 2% of the 296 miles. It runs through 5 departments: Colonia, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Colonia del Sacramento to Punta del Diablo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–46 | 46 | Colonia, San José |
| connecting roads | 46–47 | 1 | San José |
| local roads | 47–68 | 21 | San José |
| connecting roads | 68–71 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 71–138 | 67 | San José, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 138–139 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 139–167 | 28 | Canelones, Maldonado |
| I-B | 167–173 | 6 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 173–296 | 123 | Maldonado, Rocha |
- Mile 45 of this route: Colonia → San José (department line)
- Mile 93 of this route: San José → Canelones (department line)
- Mile 162 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (department line)
- Mile 219 of this route: Maldonado → Rocha (department line)
Stops between Colonia del Sacramento and Punta del Diablo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 68), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 68), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 103), Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (mile 235)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 173), La Sirena Beach (mile 277)
- Museums and history: Museum of Rosario Mural Art (mile 30), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 68), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 68), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 103), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 139)
Museum of Rosario Mural Art
Rather than a building, the Museum of Rosario Mural Art is a circuit of history-themed murals spread around Rosario, in Uruguay's Colonia department.
Cathedral of San José de Mayo
The main Catholic church of San José de Mayo, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph has been the diocesan seat since 1955, a minor basilica since 1957 and Uruguay's national shrine of Saint Joseph.
Museo Departamental de San José
Set in central San José de Mayo, the Museo Departamental de San José is a history and fine arts museum that also runs a library, archives and cultural programs.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Construction of Canelones' Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe began in 1816; the church became a cathedral in 1961 and Uruguay's national shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2020.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Wavy brick walls and a rippling brick roof define this church in Estación Atlántida, along with an openwork brick bell tower and a baptistery set underground. Engineer Eladio Dieste designed it, and it opened in 1960.
Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station
Near Piriápolis in Maldonado, this breeding station for native wildlife on Cerro Pan de Azúcar is surrounded by native vegetation and offers guided visits, including a native wildlife trail and a path up the hill.
Observatorio Astronómico del CURE
Run by the University of the Republic's eastern campus (CURE), this small observatory in Rocha opened in 2016 and uses a 30 cm reflector telescope under a motorized dome for teaching, research and public outreach.
La Sirena Beach
About 2.5 km north of Aguas Dulces, La Sirena is one of Uruguay's two official naturist beaches, backed by vegetated dunes, small marshes, lagoons and pine and acacia woods where coastal birds are common.
When you get to Punta del Diablo
Santa Teresa National Park
Santa Teresa National Park on Rocha's coast was created to frame the colonial Santa Teresa Fortress; its grounds hold more than two million planted trees from five continents, a greenhouse and native wetland and woodland wildlife.
More drives to Punta del Diablo
- La Paloma to Punta del Diablo
- Nueva Helvecia to Punta del Diablo
- Tacuarembó to Punta del Diablo
- Rivera to Punta del Diablo
- Salto to Punta del Diablo
- Fray Bentos to Punta del Diablo
From Colonia del Sacramento to other places in Uruguay
- Colonia del Sacramento to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Colonia del Sacramento to Fray Marcos
- Colonia del Sacramento to Alejandro Gallinal
- Colonia del Sacramento to Barra de Valizas
- Colonia del Sacramento to Chuy
- Colonia del Sacramento to Treinta y Tres
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Colonia del Sacramento to Punta del Diablo?
About 6 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 296 miles.
How far is Punta del Diablo from Colonia del Sacramento by car?
About 296 miles (476 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Is it safe to drive from Colonia del Sacramento to Punta del Diablo?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Colonia del Sacramento and Punta del Diablo?
Closest to the road: Museo Departamental de San José (history museum, mile 68, 0.7 mi from the route); Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 103, 0.0 mi from the route); Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (astronomical observatory, mile 235, 0.4 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.