Good to know
Good to Know
- Guatemala has no single 911-style number — save separate numbers for police (110/120), fire (122/123), and Red Cross ambulance (125) before you need them.
- As a tourist, calling 1500 (PROATUR/ASISTUR) is usually the most useful first call — it's a free, 24/7, English-speaking government hotline that coordinates with local police, fire, and medical services on your behalf, and can arrange a road-travel security escort with about 72 hours' notice.
- Antigua has its own local police, fire, and tourist police numbers separate from Guatemala City's — worth saving directly rather than assuming national numbers reach Antigua fastest.
- For serious medical emergencies, a private hospital (reachable in nearby Guatemala City) generally offers faster, better-resourced care than public hospitals, but expect to pay upfront or show insurance.
- For serious trauma, major surgery, or specialist-level emergencies, patients in Antigua are frequently stabilized locally and then transferred to Guatemala City, which has the country's most advanced private hospitals.
- The public Hospital Nacional Pedro de Bethancourt is free to use, including for foreigners, but expect crowded conditions and slower service compared to private care.
- Guatemala runs a 24/7 multilingual tourist assistance line (ASISTUR) that can help coordinate emergency support — reachable at 1500 from a Guatemalan phone or +502 2290-2810.
- Bring cash or a card for private hospital care — private facilities generally expect upfront payment or proof of insurance before treatment.
Hospitals
Hospital Nacional Pedro De Bethancourt
- Phone
- +502 7774-1414
- Type
- Public (Ministry of Health) general hospital
- Hours
- Emergency department operates 24 hours a day, every day
- Address
- Aldea San Felipe de Jesús, La Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez
- Trauma Level Designation
- No U.S.-style formal trauma-level system exists in Guatemala. This facility is officially classified as a 'Hospital General Tipo 3' (regional general hospital), which handles emergencies, intensive care, and trauma/orthopedic cases as part of its designated specialty mix.
- Capabilities Notes
- Public regional referral hospital for Sacatepéquez department. Offers general and specialized care including internal medicine, surgery, gynecology-obstetrics, pediatrics, and subspecialties such as traumatology and orthopedics, plus emergency and intensive care services and a blood bank.
Hospital Privado Hermano Pedro (Obras Sociales Del Hermano Pedro)
- Phone
- Historically listed as +502 832-6421 (older listing; confirm current number before relying on it)
- Type
- Private, non-profit hospital run by the Franciscan order
- Hours
- Runs an emergency room; multiple traveler accounts describe being treated and admitted there outside normal daytime hours, though a confirmed official 24-hour statement was not found
- Address
- Avenida El Desengaño, Antigua Guatemala (house numbering varies by source; often cited as No. 12A or No. 33)
- Trauma Level Designation
- No formal trauma-level designation found. It is a general-care facility with an emergency room, inpatient beds, and operating rooms; primarily oriented toward general illness, injury, and low-cost/free charitable medical services rather than a dedicated high-acuity trauma center.
- Capabilities Notes
- Founded in the tradition of Hermano Pedro de Betancourt; relies on donations and visiting medical teams for many services. Travelers have reported receiving IV antibiotic treatment and inpatient care for infections via its ER, but some reviews also flag inconsistent quality and overcharging of foreigners.
Costs
- Basic Doctor Visit
- GTQ 160
- Hospital Stay Private Estimated Range USD
- $5,000–$20,000+
Private Insurance Local
- Monthly Low
- GTQ 500
- Monthly High
- GTQ 2,000
Facilities
Hospital Privado Hermano Pedro
- Type
- Private hospital
- Services
- Emergency care, surgery, specialty consultations
Centro Médico Antigua
- Type
- Private medical center
- Services
- Medical consultations, laboratory services, specialty care
Clínica Médica Internacional
- Type
- Private clinic
- Services
- Medical consultations, laboratory services
Hospital San Pedro
- Type
- Public facility
- Services
- Main local hospital for emergencies
Pharmacies
- Hours
- Most pharmacies close by 9–10 PM in Antigua
- Overview
- Widely available throughout Antigua. Most common chains: Farmacias Galeno, Farmacias Cruz Verde, Farmacias Meykos, Farmacias Economicas. Medications 80–90% cheaper than US prices.
- After Hours
- Most pharmacies close by 9–10 PM; for true emergencies, head to hospital emergency room (maintains pharmacy for admitted patients)
Medication Costs
- Note
- Prices 80–90% lower than US; vary by pharmacy and generic vs. brand
Specific Locations
Farmacia Roca
- Location
- Half block from Central Park
Farmacia Meykos
- Location
- Multiple locations in Antigua
Epicurean Fine Foods & Pharmacy
- Note
- Largest and most extensive grocery store and pharmacy in Antigua
Prescription Requirements
- OTC Availability
- Many medications OTC that require prescription in US/Europe (painkillers, antacids, allergy meds)
- Prescription Required
- Antibiotics require prescription (since 2019, though enforcement inconsistent); controlled substances (narcotics, psychotropics) always require prescription
Emergency Numbers
- Universal Emergency Number
- Guatemala does not use a single 911-style universal number nationwide. You dial the specific service needed. Some directories list 911 as a fallback in Guatemala City, but this is not reliably staffed or answered nationwide, so use the service-specific numbers below.
- Tourism Police Antigua
- DISETUR/tourist police contactable locally at (502) 7968-5303 or via the general PROATUR line (1500).
Police
- National Civil Police Pnc
- 110 or 120 (free from any phone, including prepaid mobiles with no credit)
- Note
- In Antigua, the local National Civil Police station can also be reached directly at (502) 7832-0251 / (502) 7832-2266.
Fire And Rescue
- Antigua Local Numbers
- Antigua Municipal Firefighters: (502) 7832-5362 / (502) 7832-5363. Antigua Volunteer Firefighters: (502) 7832-0234.
- Bomberos Municipales Municipal Fire
- 123
- Bomberos Voluntarios Volunteer Fire
- 122 (also acts as the primary ambulance/EMS provider outside Guatemala City)
Recommended Apps
- Status
- No single official Guatemalan government safety/emergency mobile app was identified as commonly recommended for tourists in Antigua.
Practical Alternatives
- Save the PROATUR/ASISTUR number (1500) and WhatsApp (+502 5188 1819) directly in your phone rather than relying on an app.
- US citizens: enroll in the State Department's STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) for embassy alerts.
- For earthquake/volcano/weather alerts, follow CONRED (Guatemala's national disaster coordination agency) on social media or its website rather than a dedicated app, as it is the official source for eruption and disaster warnings relevant to the Antigua/Acatenango/Fuego volcano area.
Ambulance Medical
- Red Cross
- 125 (Cruz Roja)
- Igss Social Security Ambulance
- 128 (for those with IGSS coverage)
- Note
- In practice, Bomberos (122/123) also dispatch ambulances and are often the fastest response outside Guatemala City.
Tourist Assistance Proatur Asistur
- +502 5188 1819
- In Country
- 1500 (free, 24/7, English and Spanish speaking operators)
- From Abroad Or Landline
- +502 2290 2810
- Description
- PROATUR/ASISTUR is Guatemala's official government tourist assistance program run through INGUAT (the tourism institute). It coordinates with police, fire, and medical services on a tourist's behalf, can arrange security escorts for road travel with advance notice, and partners with the tourist police (DISETUR) in Antigua specifically.
Antigua has several private clinics and hospitals for expat/tourist care; public system is free but underfunded. For serious conditions, Guatemala City facilities (45 minutes away) are recommended.
Insurance Note
Not required for residency but strongly recommended. Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage advised.
English Availability
Private sector clinics cater to expats; many staff speak English. Public system: English limited.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this emergencies research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Antigua
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.