Buenos Aires to Montevideo 
By Ferry
Buquebus offers three ferry options. Price depends on speed of the ferry. The absolute cheapest option is to take the slow (3-hour) ferry to Colonia and from there continue by bus to Montevideo or Punta del Este. (AR$89 one way, $191 return.) However, the most popular option is a bus-ferry combination via Colonia; the 45-minute ferry to Colonia has the most frequent departure times.

Once-daily there is also a direct boat to Montevideo, leaving Buenos Aires at 8 a.m. (3 hours; AR$194 one-way, $397 return.) Prices also depend on which ticket class you choose. Buy tickets early or you’ll be stuck with paying extra for a first-class ticket. In the summer the ferry companies also offer bus combinations to the popular beach destinations of La Paloma and Piriápolis.

By Bus
Buses from Buenos Aires (leaving from the Retiro terminal) to Montevideo costs $25 and takes about 8 hours. This is the lengthiest albeit cheapest option, and can be done overnight to save on a night’s hotel. Most buses have reclining seats to help you sleep and serve a snack. Both CAUVI (4314-6999/ 4880) and Bus de la carrera (4313-1700) operate buses on this route. For the reverse route, head to Terminal Tres Cruces (401-8998) in Montevideo at Bulevar Artigas 1825, in the Tres Cruces Shopping Mall.

By Air
Direct flights from Buenos Aires to Montevideo take only 30 minutes, though door to door, the fast port to port ferry (3 hours) probably takes the same amount of time and costs half as much? Flights leave from the Aeroparque Jorge Newberry in Buenos Aires. Pluna (4329-9211, www.pluna.com.uy), Varig (4329-9211, www.varig.com.br), and Aerolíneas Argentinas (0810-222-86527, www.aerolineasargentina.com) run daily flights. Be aware that the airport in BA charges an $8 departure tax.