5 Best Hotels in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay

Serenity pervades this harmoniously decorated resort an hour west of Colonia del Sacramento, reachable by car, boat, or a 25-minute flight from Buenos Aires and a destination in and of itself. Everything is done in a fusion of Asian styles—from yoga classes at the incense-scented and bamboo-screen health club to bungalows (considered "standard rooms") with private Japanese gardens (and marvelous outdoor showers). In the evening, torches illuminate the paths, which meander through sand dunes.

This colonial-style hotel is on a quiet street leading to the river and is arranged around a sunny courtyard. Quilts and old china decorating the walls of the bright dining room announce a country-cottage vibe. You feel even more at home after indulging in the large breakfast spreads or gazing at the river over a glass of wine on the roof terrace—the owner's happy for you to bring your own. The simple, clean rooms have cheery quilts and are named after flowers: it's worth paying a few dollars extra for the more-spacious ones, like Nomeolvides or "Forget-Me-Not." The posada is a pleasant five-minute walk from Plaza Mayor.

Long galleries of rooms overlook an enormous split-level courtyard at Posada Don Antonio, the latest incarnation of a large, elegant building that has housed one hotel or another for close to a century. With their plain white walls and drab green carpets, the rooms lack the character promised by the architecture outside, but they're clean and functional, have comfy beds with wrought-iron bedsteads, and there's free Wi-Fi throughout the building.

A faint scent of jasmine fills the air at this lovely old hotel, where all the rooms open onto a large, plant-filled courtyard complete with a bubbling fountain. The main building has been standing since 1840 (a part of it dates back to 1700), and the original stone walls are visible in most rooms, which also have gloriously high ceilings. There are river views from the first-floor dining room and from the garden tucked behind the building, which, like the courtyard is outfitted with inviting deck chairs.

Materials like copper, terra-cotta, and golden-color stone add warm touches to the airy, light-filled atrium as does the massive wood-fronted fireplace, which is always lit in winter. Rooms are just as inviting, with wooden furniture and plump, precisely made white beds. You can walk out straight onto the golf course and the sandy river beaches—who cares about the muddy water when you've got three gorgeous pools (one heated) to play in? Plan your visit midweek, when the rooms and spa packages are heavily discounted.