Emergencies in Bogotá

Good to Know

• 911 does not exist in Colombia — the number to remember is 123, which routes to police, fire, or ambulance based on what you describe.
• Have your exact address ready before calling: Bogotá uses a calle/carrera grid system, and dispatchers will need this to send help.
• Most 123 operators speak Spanish only; a short fixed script (address, then 'ambulancia', 'policía', or 'bomberos') helps if your Spanish is limited. The Tourist Police line (+57 601 337 4413) is a better bet for English-language, non-urgent assistance.
• Public ambulance response in Bogotá can take 20–45 minutes or longer; if you're close to a hospital and it's safe to move the person, a taxi or rideshare to the nearest urgencias (ER) is often faster.
• Colombia's emergency numbers only accept voice calls — there is no official text-to-911 equivalent, so don't rely on messaging apps to reach emergency services.
• 112 is worth saving as a backup: it can connect to emergency services even without phone credit or an activated local SIM.
• Private hospitals (Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Clínica del Country) are generally preferred by expats and travelers with international insurance for their English-language capacity and shorter waits, but you'll usually be asked for payment or insurance proof before non-critical treatment.
• By law, any hospital in Colombia — public or private — must stabilize and treat true life-threatening emergencies regardless of your ability to pay or insurance status; billing negotiations happen afterward.
• Colombia's hospital 'nivel' (I–IV) classification refers to complexity of care available, not a US-style ACS trauma-center rating — a Nivel IV hospital like HUSI or Méderi is the highest-complexity designation and the closest local equivalent to a major trauma center.
• If you're calling an ambulance, dial 123 (Bogotá's unified emergency line) rather than going directly to a hospital app or website — dispatch will route you to the nearest appropriate facility.