In short
For most travellers, Buenos Aires: a direct flight from Amsterdam, a December–April season and more choice — a week to Uruguay and Brazil, two weeks around Cape Horn, crossings to Europe. Few cruises start in Montevideo: late December to March, 7–9 nights to Brazil via Buenos Aires. Mostly, Montevideo is a day stop.
Sailings by month
- Busiest months
- Jan, Feb, Mar
- Where ships go
- Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina · Transatlantic crossings
- Usual length
- 6–9 / 15+ nights
- Round trips
- most
Which port suits you
You want more dates and Cape Horn
A direct KLM flight from Amsterdam takes about 14 hours, and Ezeiza airport is about an hour from the terminal. From December to April there are week-long cruises to Uruguay and Brazil, and cruises of two weeks or more around Cape Horn and Patagonia mostly start here. In March and April you can even sail back to Europe.
Buenos Aires port guide →You want a calm start and Brazilian beaches
Ships berth right by the Old Town, and the city is relaxed and compact. From late December to March, round trips of 7–9 nights sail from here: Buenos Aires, Rio, Ilhabela or Balneário Camboriú. There are no direct flights from the Netherlands — change in Madrid or take the ferry from Buenos Aires.
Montevideo port guide →Point by point
| What we compare | Buenos Aires | Montevideo |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there from the Netherlands and Belgium | Direct KLM flight from Amsterdam to Ezeiza, about 14 hours; from Brussels with a change. In our winter the time difference is 4 hours. | No direct flights. The easiest option is a change in Madrid, from where Iberia and Air Europa fly nonstop in about 12.5 hours. Or go via Buenos Aires and the ferry. |
| From the airport to the ship | Ezeiza is about 35 km away: around an hour by taxi or remís, longer at rush hour. From the city airport, Aeroparque, it is about 15 minutes. | Carrasco airport is about 25 km along the coast: 30–40 minutes by taxi. The Buquebus ferry from Buenos Aires arrives in the same port. |
| From the terminal to the centre | The Benito Quinquela Martín terminal is inside the port in Retiro: you cannot walk through the port, so take a taxi or car. Puerto Madero and the centre are 10–15 minutes away. | Ships berth by the Old Town (Ciudad Vieja): the Mercado del Puerto and Plaza Independencia are a few minutes on foot. |
| Weather in season | January is hot in the city, around 30°C by day. In the far south, around Cape Horn, it is cold and windy even in summer, so pack a windproof jacket, hat and gloves. | Around 25–28°C by day, with a fresh breeze off the River Plate by the water. City beaches line the Rambla seafront. |
| Season | December to April, busiest in February. April has few sailings, mostly crossings to Europe. | Late December to March, with few sailings. From December to April many ships call here for a day, but you usually cannot board them here. |
| Typical itineraries | About a week to Uruguay and Brazil; two weeks or more around Cape Horn, round trip or one way to Chile; a few Antarctica sailings; Atlantic crossings to Europe in March and April. | 7–9 night round trips calling at Buenos Aires, Rio and Brazilian beaches; occasionally, mostly in March, short cruises of 3–5 nights. |
| The city before and after | A huge city worth several days: San Telmo, La Boca, Recoleta, Puerto Madero and an evening of tango. | A calm capital: the Old Town, the market with Uruguayan parrilla grills, the Teatro Solís and more than 20 km of Rambla seafront. |
| Where to stay | Puerto Madero and Retiro, 10–15 minutes by taxi from the terminal; Recoleta and Palermo, about 20 minutes. | The Old Town, a few minutes from the terminal; the Centre around Avenida 18 de Julio, 5–10 minutes; Pocitos and Punta Carretas, 15–20 minutes. |
One region, two different roles
The key thing to know: these are not two equal ports. Buenos Aires is the main departure port in the south of the continent. Montevideo is above all a port of call: ships from Buenos Aires and Santos heading to Brazil or Cape Horn often stop here for a day, but usually do not take on passengers here. Only a few cruises start in Montevideo itself, and almost all of them head to Brazil.
- Cape Horn and Patagonia: from Buenos Aires. Cruises of two weeks or more sail via Puerto Madryn, Ushuaia and Cape Horn to the Chilean fjords, round trip or one way to Chile; some run in the opposite direction, from Chile to Buenos Aires. Many call at Montevideo, but they do not start there. More in our Patagonia and Cape Horn guide.
- Brazil: from both. From Buenos Aires, mostly week-long MSC and Costa cruises calling at Punta del Este, Montevideo, Santos or Rio. From Montevideo, round trips of 7–9 nights; in the 2026/2027 season Costa Serena, for example, sails this way. You will see both capitals either way: some itineraries call at Montevideo, others at Buenos Aires.
- Home by sea: only from Buenos Aires. In March and April ships head back for the European summer on an Atlantic crossing, usually to the Mediterranean. It is a one-way cruise of two to three weeks, so you only need a flight out.
- The holidays: more likely Buenos Aires. The first week-long cruises leave in December, so you can see in the New Year on board. In Montevideo the first sailings only start in late December.
The whole season with every port: South America cruise season.
Want to see both capitals?
Fly direct to Buenos Aires two or three days early. Then you have two options: a cruise from Buenos Aires with a day in Montevideo, or the Buquebus ferry across the River Plate, about 2.5 hours straight into Montevideo's port, and board there. Cruises from both ports are round trips and return where you boarded, so book your flight home from that same city.
Common questions
Which port has more cruises, Buenos Aires or Montevideo?
Buenos Aires: the season runs from December to April, busiest in February, with week-long cruises, longer sailings around Cape Horn and crossings to Europe. Few cruises start in Montevideo: from late December to March, mostly 7–9 nights to Brazil. MSC has no departures from Montevideo in the 2026/2027 season.
Can I sail to Cape Horn from Montevideo?
Usually not. Many Cape Horn cruises call at Montevideo for a day, but they start in Buenos Aires or Chile, and as a rule you cannot board them in Montevideo. Your booking always shows where the cruise starts and ends.
How do I get there from the Netherlands and Belgium?
KLM flies direct from Amsterdam to Buenos Aires in about 14 hours; from Brussels you change once. There are no direct flights to Montevideo: the easiest route is via Madrid, from where Iberia and Air Europa fly nonstop, or via Buenos Aires and the ferry.
How do I get from Buenos Aires to Montevideo?
The direct Buquebus ferry takes about 2.5 hours and arrives in Montevideo’s port, close to the cruise terminal. Via Colonia del Sacramento with a connecting bus it takes about 4 hours. Cross the day before you board, not on the day itself.
How the club fits in
Cruises from Buenos Aires and Montevideo that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club's search, or ask us and we will tell you which Buenos Aires and Montevideo dates are available in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Seasons and destinations are summarised from cruise line schedules for 2026–2027 and may change; check the current itinerary and terminal information before you travel. Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.