André Antônio Maggi Airport

Aeroporto de Pontes e Lacerda - Andre Antonio Maggi (ICAO: SWBG) sits on the western edge of Pontes e Lacerda, a municipality in Mato Grosso, Brazil, roughly 45 kilometres from the Bolivian border. The airport serves as a regional link for a city that grew rapidly in the 1970s and 1980s as settlement pushed into the Amazon arc. With a single asphalt runway (02/20) measuring 1,800 metres, it handles light and medium-sized aircraft — mostly single-engine turboprops and occasional business jets. The terminal is compact, functional, and unpretentious, reflecting the purpose of this facility: moving people and goods into a part of Brazil that remains connected more by road and air than by rail or river. For passengers flying into Pontes e Lacerda, the airport is the first glimpse of a region defined by red earth, cattle ranches, and vast soybean fields. There are no jet bridges, no duty-free shops, no airside lounges. What there is, however, is a direct, no-nonsense entry point to one of Brazil's fastest-growing agricultural frontiers.

Getting There

Pontes e Lacerda lies about 450 kilometres west of Cuiabá, the state capital, via BR-364 and MT-170 — a drive of roughly six hours on paved highway. From the city centre, the airport is a short ride: 6 kilometres north on Avenida Tancredo Neves, then a left onto the access road. Taxis are available from the central square (Praça do Centro) for around R$30–R$40, though waiting times can be long outside peak hours. Uber and ride-sharing apps operate sporadically; locals often rely on pre-arranged transfers or rental cars. Renting a car is the most flexible option for exploring the region: agencies such as Localiza and Movida have desks in town, though not at the airport itself. The terminal has a small parking lot with about 30 spaces, free of charge, intended for short-term stays. For travellers arriving from Bolivia, the nearest border crossing is in Cáceres (about 200 km north) or through the informal crossings near San Matías; the airport is a logical staging point for onward travel into the Pantanal or towards the Juruena River basin. Buses do not run directly to the airport — the local municipal bus line passes within 1.5 kilometres, but walking with luggage is unadvisable on the unpaved shoulder.

Inside the Terminal

The terminal building at Aeroporto de Pontes e Lacerda is a single-storey structure with a basic layout. Upon entering, passengers encounter a small check-in hall with two counters — one for Azul Conecta (which operates flights to Cuiabá) and one for general aviation handling. Security screening is a single X-ray machine and a walk-through metal detector; queues rarely exceed five minutes because passenger volumes are low. The waiting area offers about 40 plastic chairs, a few ceiling fans (air conditioning is limited), and one television tuned to a local news channel. There are no food concessions or vending machines inside the secure zone; a small kiosk in the check-in hall sells bottled water, soft drinks, and packaged snacks — but it opens only on flight days and keeps irregular hours. Restrooms are basic but clean, with cold water only. There is no VIP lounge, no Wi-Fi (4G coverage from Vivo and Claro is reliable), and no charging stations apart from a single power strip near the information desk. Boarding is by stairs on the tarmac, regardless of weather. The airport is not open every day; operations are limited to days with scheduled flights — currently Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, and Monday and Wednesday evenings (the busiest times). Travellers should confirm with their airline that the terminal will be staffed at their arrival time. The entire departure process, from curb to gate, can be completed in under 20 minutes when flights are on schedule.

Aeroporto de Pontes e Lacerda - Andre Antonio Maggi and Pontes e Lacerda

Pontes e Lacerda owes its existence to the agricultural boom that transformed Mato Grosso in the late 20th century. Named after the two founding families (Pontes and Lacerda), the city was officially established in 1979, carved out of the vast municipality of Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade. Today, it has around 45,000 inhabitants and serves as a service centre for a sprawling hinterland of soybean, corn, and cotton plantations, as well as extensive cattle ranches. The airport — named after Andre Antonio Maggi, a local politician and agribusiness figure — was built to connect this productive region to the rest of Brazil, bypassing hours of driving on roads that turn treacherous in the rainy season. Cargo flights of agricultural inputs and outputs are a significant part of its traffic, though passenger flights remain essential for business travellers and for residents who need access to medical care in Cuiabá.

The city itself is flat and hot, laid out in a grid of wide avenues. The main square, Praça do Centro, is shaded by old mango trees and features a bandstand where local bands play on weekend evenings. The Municipal Market sells fresh produce, cheese from the region, and the inevitable cuts of beef. For visitors, the surrounding area offers a mix of rural and river-based attractions. The Juruena River, about 40 kilometres east, is a clear-water stream popular for fishing and swimming, with several small waterfalls such as Cachoeira do Juruena and Cachoeira do Prata. Further north, the Cristalino State Park (over 180,000 hectares) protects Amazon rainforest and is a destination for birdwatchers and ecotourists; access is via the town of Alta Floresta, another 300 kilometres away. Closer to home, the Serra da Borda offers hiking and views over the plains. Pontes e Lacerda is also a base for visiting the indigenous territories of the Nambikwara and Rikbaktsa peoples, though prior arrangement with FUNAI (the national indigenous agency) is required. The city's cultural calendar includes the Expoagro (agricultural fair) in July, featuring rodeos and livestock auctions, and the Festa do Peão de Boiadeiro (cowboy festival) in August. These events draw visitors from across the state and fill hotels to capacity.

Practical Information

The airport is not open daily. Confirm with your airline that a flight is scheduled before heading to the terminal. Phone: +55 65 3266-3115 for general inquiries (hours may be limited). The terminal opens approximately one hour before scheduled departures and closes after the last arrival. There is no ATM on site; withdraw cash in Pontes e Lacerda town centre. No pharmacy or medical facility is available at the airport; the nearest hospital is Hospital Municipal de Pontes e Lacerda, 15 minutes away by car. If you have a layover or delay, your best bet is to stay in town — there are several pousadas (guesthouses) and hotels along Avenida Tancredo Neves. For updates on flights, check the Azul Conecta website or app; the airport's own information may not be reliably updated. One concrete tip: carry a bottle of water and some snacks in your carry-on, because the terminal's kiosk is often closed, and the nearest shop is a 10-minute walk down the access road.