Emergencies in Jacó

Good to Know

• 911 works the same in Jacó as anywhere in Costa Rica — it's a single national toll-free number for police, fire, and ambulance, and bilingual operators are generally available.
• For a faster direct connection, some residents call 128 (Red Cross ambulance) or 118 (fire) directly instead of going through general 911 dispatch, though 911 is the standard first call.
• Response times can be slower in rural or coastal areas than in San José, so being able to clearly state your location (landmark, hotel name, or GPS coordinates) speeds up dispatch in a beach town like Jacó.
• We could not confirm a dedicated official Costa Rican government safety/emergency app — save the numbers directly rather than relying on an app.
• Jacó itself does not have a full hospital — only a basic public clinic (EBAIS) and a Red Cross first-response post. For anything beyond minor issues, expect transport to Puntarenas (about an hour away) or San José (about 1.5–2 hours away).
• Dial 911 for ambulance/emergency dispatch anywhere in Costa Rica, including Jacó.
• Many nomads and expats in Jacó carry private travel/medical insurance specifically because the nearest serious trauma care is not local — response and transfer time matters for major injuries (e.g. surfing accidents, road accidents on Route 34).
• Private clinics exist in Jacó for routine urgent care (minor injuries, illness), but they are not equipped for trauma or major emergencies and will refer/transfer serious cases.