2-day itinerary for Lagoa Santa
A well-spent weekend between the warm lagoon, the forest and the river, with an optional third day for fishing or rural tourism.
Updated on 2026-10-08
Lagoa Santa, in the state of Goiás, Brazil, is small, has no public transportation and puts almost everything within walking distance. That is great for a short itinerary: in two days you get into the hot-spring lagoon at different times of day, walk the forest boardwalks, get to know the Rio Aporé and still have time for the craft shops. This itinerary was put together for anyone arriving by car on Friday or Saturday and leaving on Sunday, with a budget estimate and a packing list.
Before leaving home
- Book your lodging. The town has hotels and guesthouses (pousadas), but in July, during Carnalagoa and the Fishing Festival they fill up. See the list in Where to stay.
- Confirm hours and prices at Thermas Lagoa Santa at (64) 3640-1122 (from abroad: +55 64 3640-1122) or WhatsApp (64) 99963-7039. If you stay at the hotel in the complex, the lagoon is open to you throughout your stay.
- Fill up before taking GO-302. The final stretch is state highway with few businesses. The full route is in How to get there.
- Bring cash and have Pix active (Brazil's instant payment system). ATMs and card coverage are limited.
Day 1: arrival and the first dip
Afternoon: arrive and settle in
Coming from Goiânia (about 430 km) or Rio Verde (about 200 km), plan to arrive in the early afternoon. Leave the car at the guesthouse and go have lunch: most restaurants are inside the hotels and water parks, and the Where to eat page explains how it works.
Late afternoon: the thermal lagoon
Between 4 and 5 p.m. the light softens, the heat of the day eases and the lagoon empties out. It is the best time for your first contact with the 31 °C water. Go in by the stone steps, float a while, watch the fish and follow the wooden boardwalks to the more distant spots. Stay 20 to 30 minutes in the water at a time, with breaks to drink water. Every detail about bathing is in Thermal springs.
Evening: early dinner and rest
After warm water and a long drive, sleep comes earlier than usual. Have dinner at the guesthouse restaurant or at one of the water parks, and turn in early: the best moment of the itinerary comes first thing in the morning.
Day 2: mist, forest, river and crafts
Dawn: a dip in the mist
Wake up before the sun. Between June and August, when the early hours turn cold, the difference between the air and the 31 °C water creates a dense mist over the lagoon that lasts roughly an hour after sunrise. Get into the water, stay still and watch the light cut through the forest. Hotel guests have earlier access; day-use visitors should arrive when the bathing park opens.
Morning: boardwalks and trails
After your dip, have breakfast and walk the trails of the Thermas forest. It is 370,000 m² of Cerrado meeting seasonal forest, with jatobá, pequi, sucupira and angico trees. Morning is the best time for birds: whistling herons, helmeted manakins, saffron-crowned tanagers, rufous horneros and, with luck, blue-and-yellow macaws. Bring binoculars if you have them. The species list is in Geography.
Midday: pick one option
- Balneário Kin Gin, with 5 pools, a water slide, barbecue areas, a restaurant and a playground: great for families with children who want to run and slide after the calm of the lagoon. Phone (64) 3640-1171.
- Boat trip on the Rio Aporé, arranged through your guesthouse or via CIAT, (64) 3640-1224. One to two hours going up and down the river, with a stop for a swim at a small rocky beach. Details and safety rules in Rio Aporé.
Afternoon: the town on foot and the crafts
You can cover all of Lagoa Santa on foot in under an hour. Take a walk through downtown, stop by the craft and souvenir shops, see the Clarito Pereira Campos Municipal Lake and finish on the bank of the Aporé for sunset, which drops over the Mato Grosso do Sul shore.
Evening: one last dip or dinner by the river
If you still have energy, one last plunge into the lagoon before the bathing park closes. If not, the restaurant at Pousada Sakura, with its veranda over the river, makes a fine ending.
Day 3 (optional): fishing or rural tourism
Those with an extra day usually choose between two paths. The first is fishing on the Rio Aporé or at the Municipal Lake, with a valid amateur license and attention to the piracema spawning closure; the complete guide is in Fishing in Lagoa Santa. The second is rural tourism: Recanto do Paredão, about 5 km from town, operates as a farm hotel and welcomes day visitors, and other properties open for a country lunch and horseback rides on request. Those traveling with a tent can spend the night at Camping Rei Inca, in a protected grove with water and electricity, contact (64) 3640-1224.
Estimated budget per person (2 days)
The figures below are reference estimates for a couple sharing a room in low season. Holidays and July run higher. Confirm everything directly with the businesses.
| Item | Estimated range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lodging (2 nights) | from a simple guesthouse to the hotel with the lagoon included | Varies a lot; camping is the cheapest option |
| Thermas admission (day use) | about R$ 40 per person/day, Brazilian reais (approx. USD 7; 2023 reference) | Free for hotel guests; reference prices |
| Balneário Kin Gin | ask at (64) 3640-1171 | Daily admission, with a restaurant on site |
| Boat trip | arrange with the boatman | Usually charged per boat, split among the group |
| Food (2 days) | R$ 80 to R$ 160 (approx. USD 15 to 29) | Regional dishes and meals at guesthouses and water parks |
| Fuel | depends on where you start | Goiânia round trip ≈ 860 km |
Packing checklist
- Swimwear (bring two: one always dry for the next dip) and a towel
- Flip-flops or water shoes for the rocks in the lagoon and the river
- Dive mask or swim goggles to see the fish
- Biodegradable sunscreen; no tanning oil in the lagoon
- A warm layer for the early hours from June to August
- Insect repellent, a hat, a reusable water bottle
- Cash and Pix set up
- Binoculars and a camera for the misty dawn
- Fishing license, if the river is part of the plan
The annotated list, with emergency numbers and lagoon etiquette, is in Tips for visiting Lagoa Santa.
Are two days enough to see Lagoa Santa?
Yes. The town is small and the attractions are close together. Two days allow dips in the lagoon at different times, trails, the Rio Aporé and the town on foot. A third day works for fishing or rural tourism.
Do I need a car in town?
No. Lagoa Santa has no public transportation, but everything is done on foot. The car is needed only to get there, to reach Thermas on GO-302 and to visit rural properties on the outskirts.
What is the best time of year for this itinerary?
June to August: dry weather, cold early mornings that produce the mist over the lagoon, and a low, clear river. July is high season, with more businesses open and also more people.
Does the itinerary work with children?
Very well. The lagoon is warm and has shallow edges, Kin Gin has a water slide and a playground, and distances are short. Use floats on small children and keep an eye on the deep stretches.
Book in advance
See hotels, guesthouses and camping with phone numbers and addresses, and secure your spot before hitting the road.