Routes
How to get to Bonito, Brazil, overland from Paraguay
Most guides explain Bonito from Campo Grande or São Paulo. If you are already in Paraguay the route is different and more direct: about 700 km through Pedro Juan Caballero and Ponta Porã, 10 to 12 hours by car, with an open land border in the middle that catches people out.
The short answer
Bonito is Brazil’s best-known ecotourism town, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, famous for its clear-water rivers. From Asunción, the overland route heads north through Paraguay to Pedro Juan Caballero, crosses into Ponta Porã and runs down through Jardim to Bonito. It never touches Campo Grande. From Ciudad del Este the logic changes, and we cover that below.
| Total distance | About 700 km from Asunción to Bonito, the figure we use for our own route |
| Time by private car | 10 to 12 hours, including the immigration stop and getting out of Asunción |
| Paraguayan leg | Asunción to Pedro Juan Caballero: about 459 km and around 6 h 45 by car, on Route PY03 to Yby Yaú and then PY05 |
| Brazilian leg | Ponta Porã to Bonito: about 242 km and around 4 h 20, through Jardim and Guia Lopes da Laguna |
| Where immigration happens | In Pedro Juan Caballero (leaving Paraguay) and at the Federal Police in Ponta Porã (entering Brazil). It is an open land border: nothing on the road makes you stop |
| What to avoid after dark | The rural stretch from Yby Yaú to Pedro Juan and the road from Ponta Porã to Jardim. The dirt-road shortcut, never |
| From Ciudad del Este | A different combination: cross the Friendship Bridge and continue in Brazil, or go back to the Paraguayan route. We quote it case by case |
| Our transfer | Fixed price per vehicle, on request, with driver, fuel and tolls included |
Why the route from Paraguay skips Campo Grande
Almost everything written about getting to Bonito starts in Campo Grande, the state capital, because that is where most visitors fly into. Bonito’s municipal tourism office puts Campo Grande to Bonito at about 300 km and roughly 4 hours by car, on BR-060 to Sidrolândia, BR-419 to Guia Lopes da Laguna and MS-382 into Bonito (turismo.bonito.ms.gov.br, checked on 9 October 2026).
If you are in Paraguay, heading to Campo Grande first is a long detour. Bonito sits in the south-west of Mato Grosso do Sul, fairly close to the Paraguayan border, and the natural gateway from Asunción is the pair of twin towns Pedro Juan Caballero, on the Paraguayan side, and Ponta Porã, on the Brazilian side. From there to Bonito it is a little over 240 km, without going anywhere near the capital.
The question we get most on WhatsApp about Bonito is not about the tours, it is about the journey: how many hours, where you get your passport stamped, and whether it can be done in a day. This post answers exactly that, the trip to Bonito. It does not cover renting a car inside Bonito or the attractions there, which are booked and priced by third parties.
The total for the whole route comes from our own route page. The times for each leg are estimates from route calculators, and we say which one, because they are not our own measurements.
The route from Asunción to Bonito, leg by leg
The total of about 700 km and 10 to 12 hours is what we use to plan our service. The partial distances are estimates from Rome2rio and Rota Mapas, checked on 9 October 2026.
| Leg | Road | Approximate distance | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asunción to Yby Yaú | Route PY03 north | Part of the Paraguayan leg | Included below |
| Yby Yaú to Pedro Juan Caballero | Route PY05 east | Paraguayan total of about 459 km | Around 6 h 45 by car |
| Immigration in Pedro Juan and Ponta Porã | Offices in both towns | A few kilometres within town | 30 min to 1 h, depending on queues |
| Ponta Porã to Jardim and Guia Lopes da Laguna | State and federal roads of Mato Grosso do Sul | Part of the Brazilian leg | Included below |
| Guia Lopes da Laguna to Bonito | MS-382 | Brazilian total of about 242 km | Around 4 h 20 by car |
| Door to door | Asunción to Bonito | About 700 km | 10 to 12 h |
Route PY05 ends at Pedro Juan Caballero and meets PY03 at Yby Yaú, according to the records of the Paraguayan road network. The 459 km from Asunción to Pedro Juan is Rome2rio’s estimate; the 242 km from Ponta Porã to Bonito is Rota Mapas’. Bonito is about 70 km from Jardim and 65 km from Guia Lopes da Laguna.
There is an alternative road from Ponta Porã to Bonito of about 278 km, via Fazenda Itamarati and Vista Alegre, with around 51 km unpaved. On the map it looks like a shortcut; in practice it is longer and turns difficult after rain. We do not use it.
The details of our service on this route are on transfers Asunción – Bonito.
Where immigration really happens
Pedro Juan Caballero and Ponta Porã are separated by an avenue, not a river or a bridge. You can walk or drive from one country into the other without noticing, and that is exactly where travellers get into trouble.
- 1
Understand that it is an open border
There is no booth on the road forcing you to stop. Locals moving between the two towns do no paperwork. Anyone continuing into Brazil, to Bonito for example, has to go and register their exit and entry on purpose.
- 2
Get your exit from Paraguay in Pedro Juan Caballero
This is the Paraguayan immigration office in town. If you flew into Asunción, this exit stamp closes your Paraguayan entry record.
- 3
Get your entry to Brazil at the Federal Police in Ponta Porã
Local press has placed the Polícia Federal immigration desk at Rua Antônio João 1371, in the centre, but the office has moved more than once. Check the current address before you go.
- 4
Carry the right document
Citizens of Mercosur countries usually travel on a national ID card; everyone else needs a passport. If your nationality needs a visa for Brazil, get it beforehand: it is not issued at the border.
- 5
Continue only once you are stamped in
There are road checks between Ponta Porã and Bonito. Being inside Brazil with no entry record is the kind of problem that ruins a whole trip.
On our service the driver stops at both offices and waits while you go through. He cannot do immigration for you: it is personal and done with your own document. What changes is that you do not have to work out where each office is in two towns you have never seen.
One practical detail: the immigration offices keep office hours and queues vary by day. That is one more reason to reach the border in the late morning rather than at night.
Which stretches to avoid after dark
This is about the road, not about fear: long rural stretches, few services and animals on the tarmac. Our rule is to cross the border and drive the Brazilian leg in daylight.
Always in daylight
- PY05 between Yby Yaú and Pedro Juan Caballero, a rural stretch with long distances between fuel stations and towns.
- The road from Ponta Porã to Jardim, where cattle and wildlife cross around dusk.
- The run into Bonito on MS-382, if it is your first time in the region.
- The dirt-road shortcut via Fazenda Itamarati: ideally never, and certainly not after rain.
Fine before dawn or late in the day
- Leaving Asunción, where an early start avoids metropolitan traffic.
- The first part of PY03, the busiest and best-served stretch of the route.
- The last few kilometres inside Bonito, already in town.
- That is why we usually leave Asunción between 4 and 5 am: the border falls in the late morning and Bonito in the late afternoon.
From Ciudad del Este: a different combination
Ciudad del Este is at Paraguay’s eastern edge, right across the river from Foz do Iguaçu. Driving from there to Pedro Juan Caballero on Paraguayan roads means heading back towards the middle of the country before turning north, which makes for too long a day to be comfortable.
So from Ciudad del Este the real question is which country you want to drive through. One option is to cross the Friendship Bridge, about 20 km and 30 minutes to 1 hour to Foz do Iguaçu depending on the queue, clear immigration there and continue entirely on the Brazilian side. The other is to return to the Paraguayan route and enter Brazil at Pedro Juan Caballero, like travellers leaving Asunción.
We do not publish a fixed time for either, because it depends on your exact starting point, the day of the week at the bridge and where you want to stop overnight. We quote it case by case and tell you plainly which one makes more sense for you.
If you are in Ciudad del Este and flying anyway, look at the flight options in the next section too: sometimes the fastest way to Bonito is by air, even from close by.
Direct transfer or bus and flight: when each one wins
A direct transfer is the simplest option, but it is not the only one and not always the best. Buses and flights are run by third parties: check schedules and fares directly with each company.
A direct transfer makes sense when
- There are three or more of you: the price is per vehicle, so it gets better with every passenger.
- You want to do the whole trip in one day, with no change in Pedro Juan and no wait at a bus station.
- You do not want to find the immigration offices on an open border by yourself.
- You are travelling with weeks of luggage, small children or dive gear.
Bus or flight make more sense when
- You are travelling alone on a tight budget: there are buses from Asunción to Pedro Juan Caballero taking 6 to 7 hours according to Rome2rio, and you continue on the Brazilian side from there.
- You are coming from São Paulo or Campinas: Bonito’s tourism office lists direct flights to Bonito regional airport (BYO), averaging 2 h 05.
- You are already in Campo Grande: Cruzeiro do Sul runs buses from Campo Grande to Bonito, according to the same official source.
- You are short on time and not on budget: we run private flights from Asunción to Pedro Juan Caballero, and the rest is about 242 km by road.
If you prefer a private taxi on the same route, the service is on taxi Asunción – Bonito. The private flight to the border is in the links at the end of this post.
What our transfer includes, and what it does not
We are a private transport company. We pick you up at your hotel or at Asunción airport, stop at both immigration offices and drop you at the door of your guesthouse in Bonito. The price is fixed per vehicle, not per passenger, with fuel, tolls and driver included.
We run sedans for up to three passengers, Hyundai H1 minivans for up to seven and Mercedes Sprinters for 8 to 14. For this international route we confirm which vehicle is available when we quote. We quote in US dollars and also accept guaraníes, Brazilian reais and Argentine pesos.
What we do not do: we do not sell tours in Bonito, we do not book river floats or caves, and we are not your transport inside Bonito during your stay. Those are booked with licensed local agencies. We also do not publish a price for this route: we quote on WhatsApp based on the date, the number of people and whether it is one way or return.
More routes like this one, all with a driver and priced per vehicle, are on long-distance transfers.
When to call us and when not to
Saying when we are not the best option is what makes the rest credible.
Call us
- You are a family or group leaving Asunción and want to reach Bonito the same day without changing vehicles.
- You speak neither Portuguese nor Spanish and do not want to deal with an open border on your own.
- You are landing on an international flight in Asunción and want to go straight on, with the driver waiting at arrivals.
- You are a group of up to 14 with fixed dates who cannot depend on a bus timetable.
Do not call us
- You are flying in from outside South America: flying into São Paulo and on to Bonito or Campo Grande is usually more logical than coming through Paraguay.
- You are travelling alone with no rush: the bus to Pedro Juan costs a fraction of a transfer.
- You want a rental car to get around Bonito: that is sorted out there, and it is not our service.
- You want a package with tours and accommodation: we are the transport, not a Bonito tour operator.
Frequently asked questions
What people actually ask us on WhatsApp before travelling from Paraguay to Bonito.
How far is Bonito from Asunción?
About 700 km via Pedro Juan Caballero and Ponta Porã, the route we use. Roughly 459 km of that is in Paraguay up to Pedro Juan, according to Rome2rio, and about 242 km is on the Brazilian side from Ponta Porã to Bonito, according to Rota Mapas, both checked on 9 October 2026.
How long does it take to drive from Asunción to Bonito?
10 to 12 hours by private car, including the immigration stop and getting out of Asunción. Leaving between 4 and 5 am puts you at the border in the late morning and in Bonito by late afternoon.
Do I have to go through Campo Grande?
No. From Paraguay the natural route is through Pedro Juan Caballero and Ponta Porã, then via Jardim and Guia Lopes da Laguna to Bonito. Campo Grande only makes sense if you are flying in from elsewhere in Brazil.
Where do I go through immigration on this route?
You register your exit from Paraguay at the immigration office in Pedro Juan Caballero and your entry to Brazil at the Federal Police in Ponta Porã. Because it is an open land border there is no booth on the road: you have to go to the offices deliberately. The Federal Police office in Ponta Porã has moved more than once, so check the address first.
Do I need a visa for Brazil?
It depends on your nationality. Some nationalities enter with just a passport and others need a visa, and Mercosur citizens usually travel on an ID card. Check with a Brazilian consulate before you travel: visas are not issued at the border.
What happens if I forget to get stamped?
You would be inside Brazil with no entry record and in Paraguay’s records as never having left. There are road checks between Ponta Porã and Bonito, and the problem also shows up when you leave Brazil. It is far easier to stop at both offices on the way.
Can I do Asunción to Bonito in a single day?
Yes, and that is what our direct transfer does: 10 to 12 hours on the road. By bus it is harder in one day, because you change at the border and depend on each company’s timetable.
Is it unsafe to drive this route at night?
The main problem at night is the road itself: long rural stretches, few services and animals on the road, especially between Yby Yaú and Pedro Juan and between Ponta Porã and Jardim. That is why we plan to cross the border and drive the Brazilian leg in daylight.
Is there a direct bus from Asunción to Bonito?
We do not know of a direct service. By bus you go from Asunción to Pedro Juan Caballero, 6 to 7 hours according to Rome2rio, and continue on the Brazilian side from Ponta Porã. Timetables and fares change: check at each town’s bus station.
What is the best way from Ciudad del Este?
It depends. You can cross the Friendship Bridge to Foz do Iguaçu, about 20 km and 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the queue, and continue through Brazil, or return to the Paraguayan route and cross at Pedro Juan Caballero. We quote it case by case and tell you which makes more sense.
How much is a transfer from Asunción to Bonito?
We do not publish a price for this route: we quote on WhatsApp based on the date, number of people and whether it is one way or return. The price is fixed per vehicle and includes fuel, tolls and driver.
How many people fit in the vehicle?
Sedans take up to three passengers, Hyundai H1 minivans up to seven and Mercedes Sprinters 8 to 14. For this international route we confirm the available vehicle when we quote.
Do you run tours in Bonito or transport around town?
No. We take you to the door of your guesthouse in Bonito. Tours are booked with licensed local agencies, and getting around town during your stay needs a different service.
Can I combine a flight and a car?
Yes. We run private flights from Asunción to Pedro Juan Caballero, and from there Bonito is about 242 km by road. It costs considerably more than the overland transfer and is worth it when time matters more than money.
Plan via the north, not via Campo Grande
From Asunción, Bonito is about 700 km and 10 to 12 hours away through the Pedro Juan Caballero and Ponta Porã border. From Ciudad del Este, the decision is which country to drive through. Either way, immigration is something you go and do at an office, and the Brazilian leg is best driven in daylight. The rest is telling us where you are leaving from, how many of you there are and when.
Partial distances are estimates from Rome2rio (Asunción to Pedro Juan Caballero) and Rota Mapas (Ponta Porã to Bonito); the Campo Grande route, the Cruzeiro do Sul bus and flights to Bonito come from turismo.bonito.ms.gov.br; the Federal Police address in Ponta Porã comes from local press. All checked on 9 October 2026 and subject to change: confirm with the source. The total of 700 km and 10 to 12 hours is what we use to plan our service. Our prices are per vehicle, in US dollars.