Ponta Porã

Introducing Ponta Porã

It’s a strange feeling to cross a street and change countries, but you can do just that in Ponta Porã, a bustling little border town divided from the Paraguayan town of Pedro Juan Caballero by Av Internacional. The beer changes from Skol to Pilsen and prices on electronics are slashed – other than that, it’s hard to even notice there is a border here (Portunhol vernacular is rampant). It once prospered as a center for the yerba maté trade in the late 19th century; now it caters to Brazilians by the truckload, who flock to the Paraguayan shopping centers. It’s a get-in, get-out town – if you spend more than one night here, it had better be due to ­hospitalization.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009