What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Puerto Escondido?
Emergency number
911
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: mexicoliving.com, medicland.com.mx
This call covers only named hospitals with ER/trauma capability — address, hours, and trauma-level designation.
Good to know
Good to Know
- 911 works in Puerto Escondido just as it does in Mexico City or the US/Canada, but expect Spanish-speaking operators — response can also be slower than in a major city given the town's smaller size and infrastructure.
- For a small town like Puerto Escondido, calling the local direct numbers (e.g. Cruz Roja or Policía Turística) can sometimes get a faster, more locally-aware response than the centralized 911 dispatch, so it's worth saving both.
- If your emergency happens on the coastal highway (e.g. driving to/from Huatulco), dial 078 for the Green Angels roadside assistance service.
- There isn't a dedicated, well-established official safety app specific to Oaxaca state or Puerto Escondido — the Mexico City '911 CDMX' app you may see recommended online does not apply here.
- For serious trauma, expats and long-term visitors generally lean toward the private Hospital Ángel del Mar over the public Hospital General for speed of care and English-speaking staff, though the public hospital is also used for emergencies.
- Neither hospital in Puerto Escondido appears to carry a formally published, government-verified trauma-center level rating (unlike the ACS Level I/II/III system used in the US) — treat any 'trauma center' description as informal/reputational rather than an official designation.
- For anything beyond stabilization-level trauma, medical evacuation to Oaxaca City or further is a real possibility — worth having travel insurance that covers evacuation.
Emergency Numbers
Roadside Assistance
- Number
- 078
- Description
- "Los Ángeles Verdes" (Green Angels), a government-funded roadside assistance service patrolling federal highways (relevant for the coastal highway in/around Puerto Escondido), with some English-speaking capability.
Official Safety Apps
- National App Status
- No single, actively-recommended official national emergency app covers Oaxaca/Puerto Escondido specifically. The '911 CDMX' app exists but is built and operated by Mexico City's government for Mexico City use only, not for the country as a whole.
- General Recommendation
- The federal government's own information point is the gob.mx/911 web portal explaining how the 911 system works nationwide, rather than a dedicated downloadable app for travelers in this region.
Universal National Number
- Number
- 911
- Description
- Mexico's single nationwide emergency number for police, fire, and medical/ambulance dispatch, in effect since a phased rollout starting in 2016. This is the number to use in Puerto Escondido for any life-threatening emergency.
Local Direct Dial Numbers Puerto Escondido
Bomberos (Fire Department)
- Number
- 954 104 2494
Cruz Roja (Red Cross / Ambulance)
- Number
- 954 582 0550
Ministerio Público (Public Prosecutor / to File a Police Report)
- Number
- 954 582 0111
Policía Municipal (Municipal Police)
- Number
- 954 582 0498
Policía Turística (Tourist Police)
- Number
- 954 582 3439
Policía Federal Preventiva (Federal Highway Police)
- Number
- 954 582 0820
Tránsito Del Estado (State Traffic Police)
- Number
- 954 582 0080
Protección Civil (Civil Protection / Disaster Response)
- Number
- 954 582 3538
Capitanía De Puerto (Port Authority, for Water/boat Incidents)
- Number
- 954 582 2290
Migración (Immigration)
- Number
- 954 582 3369
Hospitals
Hospital ÁNgel Del Mar (Clínica Hospital ÁNgel Del Mar)
- Type
- Private hospital
- Hours
- Emergency department generally understood to operate 24 hours, but this specific hospital's official published hours could not be independently confirmed
- Address
- Sexta Norte esquina, Calle Primera Oriente S/N, Sector Reforma, 71980 Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Trauma Designation
- No formally documented US-style/ACS trauma-level designation found. Local expat and relocation sources describe it as one of the coast's most important private hospitals with emergency services and a broad range of specialties, but it does not appear to carry an official numbered trauma-center rating.
- Notes
- Located centrally in Puerto Escondido; commonly the first choice for expats needing private emergency care.
Hospital General Puerto Escondido
- Type
- Public general hospital
- Hours
- Public general hospitals in Mexico typically run emergency services 24/7, but official posted hours for this specific facility could not be independently confirmed
- Address
- Raúl González S/N, Jardines, 71985 Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Trauma Designation
- No formally documented US-style/ACS trauma-level designation found. It is described in local relocation/expat sourcing as a good trauma and emergency hospital, alongside Hospital Ángel del Mar, but without a cited official rating.
- Notes
- Public option; expect longer waits and more limited English-speaking staff than the private hospital.
Healthcare
- Overview
- Healthcare options in Puerto Escondido are good quality, good levels of care and sufficient for most people's needs.
- Dental Care
- Dental clinics are widely available throughout the town, and dental care is one of the primary reasons medical tourists visit the region with quality excellent and accessible.
- Everyday Care
- For everyday medical needs including general consultations, minor illnesses, dental care, prescriptions, and basic diagnostics, Puerto Escondido has fully adequate private healthcare options.
- Language Access
- Many private clinic doctors in Puerto Escondido speak basic to conversational English, and a growing number are fully bilingual, particularly those catering to the expat and tourist market.
- Specialist Care
- For complex or specialist care, Oaxaca City is the practical reference point, and the air connection makes this accessible for non-emergency cases.
- Pharmacy Consultations
- You can see a doctor for a basic, straight-forward exam at a pharmacy, with doctor visits costing around 50 pesos.
Private Facilities
Hospital ÁNgel Del Mar
- Location
- Sector Reforma (city center)
- Description
- One of the more important private hospitals along the coast right in the center of town, offering private medical care at a reasonable price, emergency services and has a long list of specialties.
Medicland
- Location
- Punta Zicatela (tourist area)
- Description
- Offers expert medical services for international tourists with multi-language support including English, French, and Spanish.
Pharmacies
- Overview
- You will find several large pharmacies in towns and cities throughout Puerto Escondido.
- Availability
- Farmacias in Mexico are everywhere—a downtown area will have one every couple of blocks or so.
Major Chains
- Farmacias del Ahorro
- Farmacia de Más Ahorro
- Farmacias Similares
- Farmacia Familiar
Key Characteristics
- Farmacias del Ahorro is one of Mexico's largest pharmacy chains, stocking a broad range of branded and generic prescription medications, vitamins, personal care products, and over-the-counter remedies.
- Farmacia de Mas Ahorro on Avenida Oaxaca is a budget-friendly pharmacy open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering broad selection of generic and branded medicines at competitive prices with on-site doctor consultations typically available.
- Farmacias Similares provides budget-friendly generic medications with a doctor on duty available for low-cost consultations paired with a purchase.
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 Puerto Escondido
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.