Lagoa Santa, Goiás, Brazil

A small town in the far south of Goiás, famous for a lagoon of warm water that never cools down.

Updated on 2026-10-08

Lagoa Santa, in the state of Goiás, Brazil, sits at the southernmost point of the state, on the left bank of the Rio Aporé, which forms the border with Mato Grosso do Sul. It is a young municipality, independent since 1997, with just over 1,400 residents, living off hot-spring tourism, cattle ranching and services. Visitors find a quiet, flat town where everything is within walking distance, and a lagoon of 31 °C water surrounded by forest.

Aerial view of Lagoa Santa with the town, the Rio Aporé and the thermal lagoon — The town, the Rio Aporé and the lagoon seen from above.

Town fact sheet

State	Goiás, Sul Goiano mesoregion, Quirinópolis microregion
Population	1,390 residents (IBGE 2022 Census)
Area	about 463 km² (density of 3 people/km²)
Elevation of the town center	380 m
Demonym	lagoense (City Hall) or lagosentense (IBGE)
Municipal independence	July 21, 1997 (State Law 13,134); installed on January 1, 2001
City anniversary	July 21
Parent municipality	Itajá (it was the district of Termas de Itajá, created in 1988)
Mayor (2025–2028)	Adivair Gonçalves de Macedo (MDB)
Patron saint	Our Lady of Aparecida (October 12)
Postal code (CEP)	75819-000
Area code	64
Time zone	Brasília (UTC−3)
Coordinates	19°10′ S, 51°23′ W

Where it is and what the place is like

The municipality borders Itajá (to the north, east and west) and, to the south, the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, separated by the Rio Aporé. The nearest town is Itajá, 20 km away; Paranaíba (MS) is about 75 km away; Rio Verde, the regional hub, about 200 km; and Goiânia, the state capital, roughly 430 km. See the details in how to get there and in the distance table.

The terrain is gentle, and the climate is tropical with a well-defined dry season from May to September and rains from October to March. Temperatures range from about 17 °C in the early hours of winter mornings to 31 °C or more on hot days. The vegetation is Cerrado savanna meeting seasonal forest, and the wildlife surprises visitors with the sheer number of birds. More in geography, wildlife and flora.

The lagoon that gives the town its name

The lagoon is a natural spring of thermal, mineral and sulfurous water that rises from underground at a spontaneous flow of about 3.6 million liters per hour and a constant temperature of around 31 °C, whether it is cold or hot outside. The water comes from the Guarani Aquifer and is rich in calcium, magnesium and sodium bicarbonates. It is so clear that the fish are visible to the naked eye, and on cold mornings a mist forms over the surface.

The lagoon lies inside the Thermas Lagoa Santa complex, a park with 370,000 m² of native forest, wooden boardwalks and a hotel opened in 1990. The overflow drains through a channel into the Rio Aporé. Read the complete guide to the thermal springs.

Economy and life in town

Tourism is the main activity: hotels, guesthouses (pousadas), vacation homes, bathing parks, restaurants and craft shops all depend on the flow of visitors, which grows during the July, December and January vacations. Outside the town center, beef cattle ranching and modest farming dominate. Public-sector jobs also carry real weight in a town of this size.

There is no urban public transportation: distances are short and the streets are flat. Shops are simple, so it pays to carry cash or have Pix (Brazil's instant payment system) set up, and to check opening hours before counting on any service.

Public services and contacts

City Hall (Prefeitura Municipal): R. Valdomiro Teodoro Rios, Centro. Open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Phones (64) 3640-1303 (from abroad: +55 64 3640-1303) and (64) 99612-9341. E-mail prefeitura@lagoasanta.go.gov.br. Official website: lagoasanta.go.gov.br.
CIAT – Integrated Tourist Support Center: (64) 3640-1224.
Emergency Hospital (Hospital de Pronto Socorro): (64) 3640-1267.
See the complete list in useful phone numbers.