Paranaíba (MS): the nearest large town to Lagoa Santa

Paranaíba is in Mato Grosso do Sul, across the Aporé River, about 75 km from Lagoa Santa. With approximately 40,000 inhabitants, it is the nearest large town and serves as the service center for the far south of Goiás: it has the largest hospital, a wide range of shops, bank branches and the BR-158 highway, the route for travelers coming from São Paulo and Campo Grande. For visitors to Lagoa Santa, it is an obligatory stop on some routes and a good support base on any trip.

Town facts

An old town where three states meet

Founded in 1857, Paranaíba is one of the oldest towns in Mato Grosso do Sul, with origins linked to the cattle ranches that settled the east of the state in the 19th century. Its territory of more than 5,000 km² borders Goiás, Minas Gerais and São Paulo, in the region known as the Bolsão of Mato Grosso do Sul. Because of this position, it became a commercial hub between Campo Grande and Uberlândia, with fairs, farm supply stores, car dealerships and services that cater to the whole region, including the Goiás municipalities of Lagoa Santa and Itajá.

What to see in Paranaíba

• Porto Alencastro Bridge. Over the Paranaíba River, on the border between Mato Grosso do Sul and Goiás. It is a stop for photos, with the wide river below, and is part of the river system that receives the Aporé.
• Lagoa do Areré. A leisure area with a lagoon, used by residents for walks and late afternoons.
• Parque Espelho d'Água. An urban park with a reflecting lake, paths and green space; good for a one-hour break on the trip.
• Historic center and squares. Old buildings, the main church and street shops with the pace of inland Mato Grosso do Sul.

Why Paranaíba matters to visitors to Lagoa Santa

• Hospital. For cases that the Lagoa Santa emergency hospital (HPS), (64) 3640-1267, cannot handle, Paranaíba is the nearest regional reference, about an hour away by car. See Useful phone numbers.
• Shops and banks. Large supermarkets, well-stocked pharmacies, fishing shops, bank branches and ATMs. In Lagoa Santa, cards are not always accepted and ATMs are limited; withdraw cash in Paranaíba.
• Refueling. If you come from the south, it is the last town with several gas stations before Lagoa Santa.
• Route. Travelers from São Paulo (about 690 km, via SP-330/SP-310 and BR-158) and from Campo Grande (about 470 km, via BR-262/BR-158) pass through Paranaíba. The last 75 km to Lagoa Santa start there.
• Backup lodging. With medium-sized hotels, Paranaíba is useful for an overnight stop when you arrive late and the road to Lagoa Santa has animals on it at night.

How to get from Lagoa Santa to Paranaíba

It is approximately 75 km, around one hour by car, crossing the Aporé River southward and entering Mato Grosso do Sul. Confirm the route on your GPS on the day, as there is more than one access road, and prefer to travel by day. There is no regular public transport between the two towns; to go by bus, ask the Lagoa Santa bus station, (64) 3648-1439, about local transport to the highway and the lines that pass through Paranaíba on the BR-158.

In the opposite direction, travelers arriving in Paranaíba by bus from São Paulo or Campo Grande need to arrange a taxi or private transport for the final 75 km; ask your Lagoa Santa guesthouse whether it offers pick-up.