Pedro Juan Caballero is a border town of 116,000 (2016) in Northern Paraneña region of Paraguay. It is across the road from Ponta Porã in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Within the town the border is open, but for travelers heading farther into either country, it's a relatively inconvenient place to cross the border.
Understand
[edit]The two towns are divided by an avenue, with free transit between the two sides of the border within the town. Though for most purposes the two sides could be considered a single town, they are actually in different time zones - and counterintuitively, the time on the Brazil side is one hour earlier than the time on the Paraguayan side.
Assuming you're continuing from one country deeper into the other country, you must present yourself for immigration formalities before traveling onward. The Paraguayan and Brazilian sides are in different buildings — both are debatably within walking distance from PJC center, but not as close as you'd hope, and not in the positions you'd expect (for example, the Paraguayan immigration office is in between the Brazilian immigration office and the Brazilian bus station). See also "Get Around".
The Brazilian immigration office - called "Policia Federal" - is only open for limited hours. If you have an early bus, you should plan to do do the border formalities the day before, and during business hours (maybe not lunchtime). As of October 2025 it was supposedly open (Cuiaba time zone) from 7:30-17:00 on weekdays, and 9:00-17:00 on weekends with a two-hour break from 12:00 to 2:00. Again note that the Brazilian and Paraguayan sides of town are in DIFFERENT TIME ZONES. The Paraguayan immigration office seems to have longer hours, such that if you're going to make it to the Brazilian one, the Paraguayan one should be open too.
Get in
[edit]- From Asunción, 3 buses per day 13:00, 23:30, 23:45, 8 hr, GS.110,000 (GS.140,000 for a "leito" seat, Sep 2021).
- From Concepción, between 05:00-16:00, 4 hr, GS.35,000.
- From Brazil, there are daily bus routes to the Brazilian side (Ponta Porã) from Campo Grande, Dourados, Bonito, and possibly other places - some go more than once per day, but don't expect frequent departures. (Nov 2025)
All buses from Paraguay also stop in Yby Yaú.
Get around
[edit]There're no local buses in Pedro Juan Caballero, only taxis. Whether the distances to important border-crossing points and bus terminals (see below) are "walkable" depends on how serious of a walker you are.
If you're arriving from deeper in Paraguay and trying to continue into Brazil, it's about 2 km walk along PY-05 from the corner PY-05/Av. Fernando de la Mora to the Paraguay Migration Office. Most buses stop at that intersection. Don't go to the bus terminal, that's 3 km further away. Afterwards you have to go 4 km northwest to get to the Brazilian border police office (limited hours - see above), and then six km back southeast (past the Paraguayan immigration office!) to get to the Brazilian-side bus terminal (if you're taking a bus).
Ponta Porã has a few commuter bus lines by Medianeira Ponta Porã, check the time tables.
See
[edit]Do
[edit]Buy
[edit]The town is a shopping destination for Brazilians due to its offer of cheaper imported goods. If you need to resupply on camera or camp gear, what can be found in Paraguay is much cheaper than in Brazil.
Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]The border is open, you can sleep in any side of the border regardless of immigration formalities. But do get your stamps before onward travel, and expect to have to get them during business hours (not lunch). Note that the Paraguayan and Brazilian sides are in DIFFERENT TIME ZONES.
Go next
[edit]- Concepción – boat trips along the Paraguay river
- Ciudad del Este – the gateway to the Iguaçu Falls. Straight bus services daily from Pedro Juan Caballero terminal, 6 hr.
- Bonito – river snorkeling in Brazil. Straight bus service M-Sa 06:00, 6 hr, departing from the Ponta Porã bus station. Do your border formalities the day before.
- Campo Grande – major nearby city. Either cross into Ponta Porã and catch one of the many daily services, or take the 8am direct service from Pedro Juan Caballero terminal (advantage: walking distance from city center). In any case, do your border formalities before boarding.