Getting to Maringá from abroad.
Maringá is reached through a short domestic connection from São Paulo or Curitiba. Understanding how airports, transfer times and recovery dates fit together makes the trip simple to plan.
There are no intercontinental flights into Maringá. International patients land in São Paulo, usually at Guarulhos International Airport, GRU, then take a domestic connection of about one hour to Maringá Regional Airport, MGF. Domestic flights depart from GRU and from Congonhas, CGH, and there are also connections through Curitiba, CWB. From MGF, the drive to the clinic and to the hotel area takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes. The team of Dr. Guilherme Sella helps align flight dates with the surgical schedule and recommends hotels close to the clinic in Maringá.
Which airport serves Maringá?
Maringá, in the state of Paraná, is served by Maringá Regional Airport, code MGF. It is a domestic airport with a short drive to the city center, to the clinic on Avenida Cidade de Leiria and to the hospital where surgeries are performed.
MGF has scheduled domestic connections with São Paulo, through Guarulhos and Congonhas, and with Curitiba. Flight time from São Paulo is around one hour. This means that a patient arriving from Europe, North America, the Middle East or another South American country reaches Maringá on the same travel day in most itineraries.
Schedules and operating airlines change over time, so always confirm current routes when you book. The clinic team can review your itinerary before you buy the tickets.
Flying in from abroad: the São Paulo connection
Most intercontinental flights to Brazil land at GRU, Guarulhos International Airport, in the São Paulo metropolitan area. After landing you clear immigration and customs there, collect your bags, and then proceed to the domestic terminal.
Two scenarios are common:
- Same airport connection. Your domestic leg departs from GRU. You stay inside the airport, re-check your bags at the domestic counter and board for Maringá.
- Airport change in São Paulo. Your domestic leg departs from CGH, Congonhas, a downtown airport. You leave GRU by car or shuttle and cross the city. Traffic in São Paulo is unpredictable, so this option needs a generous time buffer.
When possible, booking the international and domestic legs on the same ticket reduces risk, because the airline becomes responsible for rebooking if the first flight is delayed.
GRU, CGH, Curitiba or road: comparing the options
| Route into Maringá | Typical use | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| GRU to MGF | Most international arrivals | Single airport, simplest connection, allow at least 4 hours between flights |
| CGH to MGF | Frequent domestic schedules | Requires ground transfer across São Paulo, allow 5 to 6 hours and plan for traffic |
| CWB, Curitiba, to MGF | Alternative when São Paulo is full | Useful for patients already in southern Brazil |
| Road from São Paulo state, Mato Grosso do Sul or Paraguay | Regional patients and families | Good highway access, long distances, consider overnight stops |
For a first international trip, the GRU to MGF connection is usually the least stressful. Patients who already live in Brazil and travel for surgery often use CGH for convenience.
Planning your flight dates around the surgery
Travel dates should follow the surgical plan, not the other way around. For rhinoplasty, the usual structure is:
- Arrive 1 to 2 days before surgery. This allows rest, the in-person evaluation, photographs and preoperative tests review.
- Stay about 7 days in Maringá. The external cast stays on for approximately seven days. Removal is done at the clinic.
- Fly home after the cast is removed, once the surgeon clears you. Pressurized cabins are generally well tolerated after this point.
- Follow up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, in person or online, depending on where you live.
Laboratory tests and imaging can usually be performed in your home city and sent in advance. The first consultation is often a teleconsultation, which avoids an extra trip. The full protocol is described on the page for international patients.
Bring a companion for the first week whenever possible. Someone to carry bags, manage transport and help with medication schedules makes recovery considerably easier.
Arriving at MGF: transfers and getting around
MGF is a small airport, so disembarking and collecting luggage is quick. From the terminal to the hotel area and to the clinic the drive takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the destination.
Options for transfers:
- Private transfer booked in advance. The most comfortable choice after a long flight and the usual recommendation for the day you leave the hospital.
- Ride-hailing apps. Widely used in Maringá and easy to manage with a Brazilian or international data plan.
- Taxis at the airport. Available at arrivals.
- Rental car. Rarely necessary for a surgical trip, since distances within the city are short.
During the first week you will travel mainly between the hotel, the clinic and the hospital. Keeping those three points close together simplifies everything.
Hotels and where to stay in Maringá
Maringá is a planned city with wide avenues, a strong tree canopy and a compact central area. Hotels in the central zone place you within a short drive of the clinic at Avenida Cidade de Leiria, 600, Zona 01, and of the hospital.
What to look for when choosing accommodation for a surgical stay:
- A room where you can sleep with the head elevated, with extra pillows available on request
- Air conditioning and quiet, since rest in the first days matters
- Room service or nearby food options, to avoid long walks in the first week
- Short distance to the clinic, ideally under 15 minutes by car
- Flexible checkout, in case the cast removal date shifts slightly
The team shares a list of suggested hotels and serviced apartments once your dates are defined. Extended stay apartments are often more comfortable for patients traveling with family.
Documents, language and practical notes
Entry requirements vary by nationality and change over time. Check visa rules with the Brazilian consulate in your country well before booking. Bring your passport, travel insurance details, a list of current medications and any prior imaging or surgical reports, especially if you are considering revision rhinoplasty.
The team communicates in Portuguese, English and Spanish, and medical documentation can be issued in English or Spanish on request. Keep a local data plan or eSIM active so you can use WhatsApp, which is the standard communication channel in Brazil, including with the clinic.
A short note on reassurance for patients who have never traveled to this part of Brazil. Maringá is a regional medical hub in Paraná, and surgeries are performed in a private hospital structure with an adult intensive care unit and intensivists on site around the clock. Surgical technique, teaching activity and scientific background of Dr. Sella are described in detail elsewhere on this site, including his work on preservation rhinoplasty.
When to contact the Dr. Sella team
Talk to the team before buying tickets. Surgical dates, hospital availability and your own recovery timeline all influence the ideal travel window, and indication, risks and the individual plan are always defined in consultation. Send your preferred dates, your city of origin and any previous nasal surgery history through the contact page, and the team will help you build an itinerary that fits the postoperative schedule.
Otolaryngologist and facial plastic surgeon · CRM-PR 33.018 · RQE 17.984. PhD from FMRP-USP, founder of the Sella Learning Center. Updated on 2026-10-15.
Frequently asked questions
Are there direct international flights to Maringá?
No. Maringá Regional Airport, MGF, operates domestic flights only. International patients land in São Paulo, usually at Guarulhos, and take a connecting flight of about one hour to Maringá.
How much time should I allow for the connection in São Paulo?
If your domestic flight leaves from the same airport, Guarulhos, allow at least four hours after an international arrival. If it leaves from Congonhas, allow five to six hours, because you need a ground transfer across the city.
How long should I stay in Maringá after rhinoplasty?
The usual plan is to arrive one or two days before surgery and stay about seven days, until the external cast is removed and the surgeon clears you to fly.
Is it safe to fly after the cast is removed?
Flying is generally well tolerated once the cast has been removed and the surgeon has authorized travel. Swelling and nasal dryness during the flight are common and usually managed with saline irrigation and hydration.
Does the clinic help with hotels and transfers?
Yes. The team suggests hotels and serviced apartments close to the clinic and can help organize airport transfers once your surgical dates are confirmed.
Can I have the first consultation before traveling?
Yes. The initial consultation can be done by teleconsultation, with preoperative tests performed in your home city and reviewed before you book flights.
When should I book my return flight if I don't have a surgery date yet?
The safest order is to confirm the surgical date with the team first, then buy the tickets. Dr. Sella's schedule is defined after the consultation and the pre-operative assessment, and the date depends on availability of the hospital and the surgical team. Whenever possible, choose a fare that allows changes, since recovery can require a small adjustment of a day or two.
How do I get from Maringá airport to the clinic and the hotel?
The drive from MGF to the clinic area on Avenida Cidade de Leiria and to the hotels nearby takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes. Taxis and app-based cars operate at the airport, and the team can indicate a private transfer when you prefer a driver waiting for you. Let the team know your flight number in advance so the arrival can be organized.
What documents do I need to enter Brazil and to travel domestically?
Entry requirements depend on your nationality, so check visa rules with the Brazilian consulate of your country before booking. For the domestic leg to Maringá you will need your passport, and it helps to carry a printed itinerary. The clinic can issue documentation in English or Spanish when a letter about your medical trip is requested.
Is it better to arrive in Maringá one day before or on the same day as the consultation?
Arriving one to two days before is the usual recommendation. It gives time to rest after a long flight, complete any pending exams and attend the pre-operative consultation without the pressure of a tight connection. Travel fatigue and swelling from a long flight can also interfere with the physical examination.
Book a consultation with Dr. Guilherme Sella
In person in Maringá, Brazil, or by video consultation. English-speaking team.