From Uruguay
Montevideo
By Bus
Depart from Tres Cruces Bus Terminal, Montevideo.
Best option
- Companies: Núñez, Agencia Central, El Norteño
- Distance: approx. 500 km
- Duration: approx. 5¾–6½ hours
- Multiple daily departures — including overnight services
- Comfortable seats, Wi-Fi on some services
- Check timetables & book at urubus.com.uy
By Car
Take Ruta 1 west from Montevideo, then Ruta 3 north — beautiful Uruguayan countryside.
Most flexible
- Distance: approx. 498 km
- Duration: approx. 4.5–5 hours
- Good road conditions throughout
- Consider a stop in Trinidad, Flores
- Electric car? Never more than about 120 km between fast chargers on Ruta 3, and one at the Daymán hot springs: see Salto by electric car
- Tolls: you pass 3 toll plazas — La Barra (Ruta 1), Paso del Puerto and Queguay (Ruta 3) — approx. USD 4–5.50 each, so budget around USD 15 each way
- No cash is accepted at tolls — Uruguay's toll system is 100% electronic. Rental cars are billed automatically by plate reading (confirm the charge method with your rental company). Driving a foreign-plated car? Register for the free Pase Turista at telepeaje.com.uy (drive now, pay on arrival) or get the 15-day unlimited Abono Extranjero (~USD 28)
By Plane
Paranair operates flights between Carrasco International Airport (MVD), Montevideo and Nueva Hespérides Airport (STY), Salto.
Fastest
- Airline: Paranair
- Frequency: three times a week (Tue / Thu / Sun)
- Duration: approx. 1 hour
- Book at paranair.com
- Visit Salto can arrange a transfer from Nueva Hespérides Airport to your accommodation — contact us
Pro Tip — Montevideo
Núñez, Agencia Central and El Norteño run daily buses from Tres Cruces, including overnight services. Tickets cost around USD 40–46 (UYU 1.700–1.850) each way. Check timetables and book at urubus.com.uy or at the terminal.
From Buenos Aires · Córdoba
Argentina
By Plane — via Montevideo
There are currently no direct flights from Buenos Aires to Salto. The air route is via Carrasco International Airport (MVD), Montevideo.
Daily flights to MVD
- Aerolíneas Argentinas flies Aeroparque (AEP) → Montevideo non-stop — approx. 50 minutes, several flights daily — book at aerolineas.com.ar
- Then Paranair Montevideo → Salto / Nueva Hespérides (STY) — approx. 1 hour, three times a week (Tue / Thu / Sun)
- Book the Salto leg at paranair.com
By Plane — via Concordia
Humming Airways flies Aeroparque (AEP) → Concordia, just across the river from Salto.
Fastest option
- Twice a week: Tuesday 10:15 & Thursday 17:00 from Aeroparque
- Duration: approx. 45 minutes — 19-seat aircraft, from USD 135
- Departs from the General Aviation Terminal (TAG) at Aeroparque — arrive 50 min before
- Confirm current timetables & book at hummingairways.com
- From Concordia airport, taxi across the Salto Grande bridge — Visit Salto can arrange a transfer to your accommodation — contact us
By Bus — Direct
Direct international buses from Retiro Bus Terminal, Buenos Aires — no changes needed.
Direct — overnight
- Overnight service — departs daily at 23:00 in both directions (Buenos Aires → Salto and Salto → Buenos Aires), except Saturdays, when there is no service
- Departs from and arrives at Retiro Bus Terminal, with a stop at Aeroparque (AEP) — very convenient if you're connecting to or from a flight
- Operated by Coit and Flecha Bus (Flecha Bus on Thursdays & Sundays continues to Termas del Arapey)
- Border crossing at Colón – Paysandú: you get off the bus briefly for immigration, then continue on the same bus
- Duration: approx. 6–7 hours
- Book online in advance, especially on weekends
By Bus — via Concordia
With many daily departures from Retiro to Concordia (Argentina), just across the river from Salto, this is usually the quickest way to arrive — you rarely have to wait for a departure.
Fastest arrival — most departures
- Companies: Nuevo Expreso, Flecha Bus, Rápido Tata
- Book online at centraldepasajes.com.ar
- Retiro → Concordia: approx. 5–6 hours, many daily departures
- From Concordia, take the local bus to Salto (Chadre or Flecha Bus, see the next card) or a taxi to Salto or to the Salto Grande bridge
- Or cross the river the traditional way: the lancha (passenger boat) Concordia ↔ Salto — runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday, departing Salto 9:00 AM & 4:00 PM and Concordia 9:30 AM & 4:30 PM (be at the port 30 min before). Passengers only — bicycles welcome. Visit Salto can book it for you. Read about the lancha crossing →
- Visit Salto can arrange a transfer from the Salto Grande dam bridge to your accommodation in Salto — contact us
By Bus — Concordia ↔ Salto (over the dam)
Once you are in Concordia, two companies cross to Terminal Salto Shopping over the Salto Grande dam: about 1 hour including the border stop, about US$6–7.
Local crossing
- Chadre: Concordia → Salto 11:15, Salto → Concordia 7:15 — Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
- Flecha Bus: Concordia → Salto 18:15, Salto → Concordia 19:30 — Monday, Friday and Saturday
- No bus on Wednesday or Sunday. Wednesday has the lancha (9:30 and 16:30 from Concordia); Sunday it is a taxi over the bridge
- Buy the ticket at the terminal; bring passport (Mercosur citizens: national ID). Times from the terminal boards, checked 7 September 2026 — confirm the day before
- Planning a day on the other side? Concordia, across the river: a day trip from Salto has the week's timetable and what to do there
From Córdoba — Bus via Concordia
Direct buses run from Córdoba to Concordia, just across the river from Salto.
From Córdoba
- Companies: Crucero del Norte, Zenit
- Duration: approx. 10 hours — overnight services available
- Book online at centraldepasajes.com.ar
- From Concordia, take a taxi to the Salto Grande bridge — Visit Salto will pick you up at the bridge and take you to your accommodation — contact us
- Taxis in Salto run on an official meter fare: see the fare, typical prices and a calculator
By Car
Drive via Ruta 14 to Concordia, then cross the Salto Grande International Bridge.
Scenic route
- Distance: approx. 480 km
- Duration: approx. 5–6 hours
- Bring passport & vehicle documents for border crossing
- Electric car? The Argentine side is thin on chargers; the first Uruguayan point is minutes after the bridge: see Salto by electric car
- Continuing by car within Uruguay? Uruguayan tolls are 100% electronic (no cash) — register your foreign-plated car for the free Pase Turista at telepeaje.com.uy
By Ferry + Bus
Buquebus ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia, then bus to Salto.
Scenic & relaxed
- Ferry Buenos Aires → Colonia: approx. 1–2 hours
- Bus Colonia → Salto: approx. 8 hours — few services per day and it stops in many towns along the way
- Scenic, but the slowest combination — check bus times before booking the ferry
Pro Tip — Buenos Aires
The direct Coit / Flecha Bus service is an overnight bus — it leaves Retiro daily at 23:00 (except Saturdays, when there's no service), stops at Aeroparque on the way out, and you wake up in Salto. If you'd rather travel by day or want more flexibility, the Concordia route is usually the fastest way to arrive: Nuevo Expreso, Flecha Bus and Rápido Tata run many daily services to Concordia (book at centraldepasajes.com.ar), then it's a short taxi across the Salto Grande bridge — we can arrange a transfer from the bridge to your accommodation.
From São Paulo · Porto Alegre & more
Brazil
Via Montevideo
Fly from São Paulo to Montevideo (MVD), then bus or Paranair flight to Salto.
Recommended
- LATAM & Gol fly non-stop from Guarulhos (GRU)
- Azul flies non-stop from Campinas – Viracopos (VCP)
- From Porto Alegre: Azul flies non-stop to MVD (Mon & Fri, from December 2026)
- More non-stops to MVD from Brazil: Rio de Janeiro (GOL / JetSMART / SKY), Belo Horizonte (Azul), Recife (Azul), Salvador (SKY), Natal (GOL), Fortaleza (GOL) — full list
- Flight São Paulo → MVD: approx. 2.5 hours
- Bus Montevideo → Salto: 5–6 hours
- Or Paranair MVD → Salto (~1 hr, three times a week)
Via Buenos Aires
Fly São Paulo → Buenos Aires (EZE), then direct bus to Salto.
More connections
- Flight: approx. 2 hours
- More frequency & often better fares
- Direct bus (Flecha Bus / Coit) to Salto: 6–7 hrs
Long-Distance Bus
Via Porto Alegre → Montevideo → Salto. There is no direct bus from Porto Alegre to Salto — you change buses in Montevideo.
Budget option
- São Paulo → Porto Alegre: approx. 18 hrs
- Porto Alegre → Montevideo: approx. 12 hrs — TTL, EGA
- Then Montevideo → Salto: approx. 6 hrs (Núñez, Agencia Central, El Norteño)
Via Punta del Este
Direct flights from São Paulo to Punta del Este (PDP) run all year round; in the South American summer (December – February) more Brazilian cities join.
Year-round from São Paulo
- Year-round from São Paulo with Azul and GOL — frequencies rise in summer; check current schedules
- Seasonal (Dec – Feb) from Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre
- Then Turismar bus Punta del Este → Salto — daily overnight service (~8 hrs), runs year-round
- Check timetables at urubus.com.uy
Pro Tip — São Paulo
Flying into Montevideo and taking a Núñez, Agencia Central or El Norteño bus to Salto is the smoothest route. Buses are comfortable, air-conditioned and affordable. Via Buenos Aires also works well with the Flecha Bus or Coit direct service to Salto.
From Paraguay
Asunción
By Plane — Paranair
Paranair flies Asunción (ASU) → Salto (STY) with a stop in Montevideo — same plane all the way.
Best option
September 2026 No Paranair flights to Salto during September 2026: the airline suspended the month's operation and flights are expected to resume in October. Until then, fly to Montevideo and continue by bus, or check paranair.com for the restart date.
- Airline: Paranair (Paraguayan regional carrier)
- Frequency: three times a week (Tue / Thu / Sun)
- Total journey: approx. 3.5–4 hours including the Montevideo stop
- Book in advance — the aircraft seats only 50
- Schedule at paranair.com
By Bus
EGA (Empresa General Artigas) runs a direct international service Asunción → Salto — it's the Asunción–Montevideo route, and Salto is a scheduled stop.
Direct — budget option
- Duration Asunción → Salto: approx. 17 hours
- No changes — same bus all the way
- Book at ega.com.uy or via Plataforma10 / Busbud
- Budget option — long but comfortable overnight journey
Pro Tip — Asunción
The Paranair flight to Salto (via a short stop in Montevideo) is by far the best option from Paraguay. Since it only runs three times a week, book as early as possible and confirm the schedule at paranair.com as timetables can vary seasonally.
From Europe
Europe
Via Montevideo
Fly to Montevideo (MVD) — Uruguay's main international gateway.
Main gateway
- Direct from Madrid (MAD) with Iberia & Air Europa
- From London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam — via Madrid, or via São Paulo (LATAM & Gol fly non-stop São Paulo → Montevideo)
- Total flight: approx. 12–14 hours
- All non-stop routes: Carrasco Airport — non-stop destinations
Via Buenos Aires
Many European cities connect well to Buenos Aires (EZE).
Often cheaper
- Airlines: Iberia, Air Europa, Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, KLM
- Then Flecha Bus or Coit direct to Salto (6–7 hrs)
- Often more options & competitive fares
Onwards to Salto
Once in Montevideo or Buenos Aires:
Easy connection
- From MVD: Paranair flight (~1 hr, three times a week)
- From MVD: Bus Tres Cruces → Salto (~6 hrs — Núñez, Agencia Central, El Norteño)
- From EZE: Flecha Bus / Coit direct → Salto (6–7 hrs)
Pro Tip — Europe
Madrid has the most direct connections to Montevideo. If flying via Buenos Aires, take advantage of the Flecha Bus or Coit direct service straight to Salto from Retiro — comfortable and no transfers needed.
From North America
United States
Via Montevideo
Fly to Montevideo (MVD) from the US.
Recommended
- Miami (MIA): the only US non-stop — American Airlines, approx. 9 hrs, seasonal December – March (daily)
- Rest of the year, and from New York, Houston, LA and other cities: one stop via Miami, Panama City (Copa), Bogotá (Avianca) or Lima (LATAM)
- Typical total journey: approx. 13–16 hrs with connection
- All non-stop routes: Carrasco Airport — non-stop destinations
Via Buenos Aires
Strong connections to Buenos Aires (EZE) from the US.
More options
- Airlines: American, United, LATAM, Delta, Aerolíneas Argentinas
- Non-stop from Miami, New York, Houston, Atlanta & Dallas
- Then Flecha Bus or Coit direct to Salto
Onwards to Salto
Once you land:
Simple connection
- From MVD: Paranair flight → Salto (~1 hr, three times a week)
- From MVD: Núñez / Agencia Central / El Norteño bus → Salto (~6 hrs)
- From EZE: Flecha Bus / Coit direct → Salto (6–7 hrs)
- Car hire available at both airports
Pro Tip — USA
Miami tends to have the best fares and most frequency to both Montevideo and Buenos Aires — and from December to March American Airlines flies non-stop Miami → Montevideo, which lines up perfectly with the South American summer. Book 6–8 weeks in advance, especially for December–January (peak season).
Other Direct Routes to Montevideo
Others
Latin America — non-stop to MVD
More cities with direct flights to Montevideo (MVD):
More gateways
- Santiago de Chile — LATAM & SKY
- Lima, Peru — LATAM
- Panama City — Copa Airlines (connections across North & Central America and the Caribbean)
- Bogotá, Colombia — Avianca
- Full list: Carrasco Airport — non-stop destinations
Coming soon — Caribbean
Arajet will connect Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) and Montevideo non-stop.
From March 2027
- Starts 3 March 2027
- Frequency: three times a week (Mon / Thu / Sat)
- First direct air link between Uruguay and the Dominican Republic
Onwards to Salto
Once you land in Montevideo:
Easy connection
- Paranair flight MVD → Salto (~1 hr, three times a week — Tue / Thu / Sun)
- Bus from Tres Cruces: Núñez, Agencia Central, El Norteño (~6 hrs)
- Car hire available at Carrasco Airport
Quick Reference — All Routes to Salto
| From | Best Route | Est. Time | Gateway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montevideo | Direct bus — Núñez, Agencia Central, El Norteño | ~6 hrs | Tres Cruces Terminal |
| Buenos Aires | Direct overnight bus — Coit or Flecha Bus | 6–7 hrs | Retiro Terminal, stop at Aeroparque (dep. 23:00 daily exc. Sat) |
| Buenos Aires | Humming Airways flight to Concordia + transfer | ~2 hrs total | AEP → Concordia (Tue / Thu) |
| Córdoba | Direct bus to Concordia — Crucero del Norte or Zenit + taxi | ~11 hrs total | Córdoba Terminal |
| São Paulo | Fly to MVD + bus to Salto | 10–12 hrs total | GRU → MVD |
| Asunción | Paranair flight via Montevideo | ~3.5–4 hrs | ASU → MVD → STY (three times a week) |
| Asunción | EGA direct bus — Salto is a scheduled stop | ~17 hrs | Asunción Terminal |
| Madrid | Direct flight to MVD + bus | 13–15 hrs total | MAD → MVD |
| London | Via Madrid or São Paulo to MVD + bus | 15–17 hrs total | LHR → MAD → MVD |
| New York | Fly to MVD (1 stop) or EZE + direct bus | 14–17 hrs total | JFK/EWR → MVD or EZE |
| Miami | Fly to MVD + bus or Paranair | 15–17 hrs total | MIA → MVD (non-stop Dec–Mar) |