What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Puerto Vallarta?
Emergency number
911
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: hospitalcmq.com, visitpuertovallarta.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- 911 is the number to use in Puerto Vallarta and all of Mexico — it works for police, fire, and medical emergencies alike, just like in the US or Canada.
- Not all 911 operators speak fluent English; if you're not confident in Spanish, immediately ask for a bilingual operator, or use the 078 Tourist Assistance line which is specifically staffed with multilingual agents.
- If you're driving and break down or are in an accident on a highway, 078 connects you to the free 'Green Angels' roadside assistance service rather than standard police/ambulance dispatch.
- Save the direct line for Puerto Vallarta's Police and Traffic Department, (322) 224-8484, as a backup in case 911 connectivity is an issue on your carrier.
- Android's built-in Emergency Location Service automatically sends your GPS location to dispatchers when you call 911 in Mexico — worth confirming it's enabled on your phone before you need it.
- Private hospitals like CMQ and AMERIMED are the most commonly used by expats and tourists for bilingual staff and direct billing with international travel insurance — always carry your insurance card and ID.
- Some private hospitals place a credit-card hold at admission even when you have travel insurance; ask upfront how refunds are processed once your insurer settles the claim.
- Mexico does not operate a government-certified trauma-center ranking system like the US ACS system, so any 'Level I/II/III' language you see on a hospital's own website is a marketing description, not an independent verification.
- Public hospitals (IMSS, Regional) will stabilize true emergencies regardless of insurance or nationality, but expect longer waits, less English support, and more basic facilities than the private hospitals.
- For serious trauma (major accidents, severe injuries), CMQ City Center and CMQ Premiere are generally the two most consistently cited full-service private emergency facilities in central Puerto Vallarta.
Police
- Number
- 911
- Direct Line
- Puerto Vallarta Police and Traffic Department (24/7): (322) 224-8484
- Tourist Police
- Bilingual tourist police unit reachable at (329) 291-6666
Alternate Local Numbers
- 066 (legacy)
- 060 (legacy)
Ambulance
- Number
- 911
- Red Cross Ambulance Direct
- (322) 222-1533
Alternate Local Numbers
- 065 (Red Cross, legacy)
Fire Department
- Number
- 911
Alternate Local Numbers
- 068 (legacy)
- 060 (legacy)
Recommended Safety Apps
Google Android Emergency Location Service (ELS)
- Description
- Built into most Android phones (no separate download needed); automatically shares precise location data with Mexican 911 dispatch centers via a Google-RapidSOS partnership when you call 911, which is especially useful for tourists unsure of their exact location.
Expat911
- Description
- A third-party paid app aimed at English-speaking foreigners in Mexico that connects users to a bilingual operator who coordinates with local emergency services during a crisis. Not an official government app — treat as a supplemental option, not a replacement for dialing 911.
Hospitals
Hospital CMQ City Center (Hospital CMQ Centro)
- Phone
- +52 322 223 1919
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, 7 days a week for emergencies
- Address
- Basilio Badillo 365, Colonia Emiliano Zapata, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, C.P. 48380
- Trauma Level Designation
- No official government-certified trauma-center level found. The hospital markets itself as the largest hospital in central Puerto Vallarta and the first private hospital in the city (opened 1982), but this is not an externally verified trauma designation.
- ER Trauma Notes
- 24/7 emergency area with two emergency room beds, a cast/plaster room for minor fractures, a shock room, and a minor procedure room. Over 20 on-site board-certified specialists, ground and air ambulance transport, and two operating rooms. Located in the Zona Romantica, a few minutes from the Malecon.
Hospital CMQ Premiere
- Phone
- +52 322 226 6500
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, 7 days a week for emergencies
- Address
- Av. Francisco Villa 1749, Colonia Vallarta Villas, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco 48312
- Trauma Level Designation
- No official government-certified trauma-center level found. Marketed by the operator as the leading hospital in the Puerto Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit region, operating since 2008.
- ER Trauma Notes
- 24/7 emergency area with three emergency room beds, a cast/plaster room for fractures, a shock room, and a minor procedure room. Has a five-bed ICU, four operating rooms, orthopedics/traumatology service, plus on-site MRI, CT, and ultrasound. Located near Costco/Macro Plaza, a short drive from the Hotel Zone and Marina Vallarta.
Open 24 hours
- Phone
- +52 322 226 2080
- Name
- AMERIMED Puerto Vallarta (also referenced as Hospital San Javier Marina in some listings)
- Address
- Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio 3970, Col. Villa las Flores, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco 48335
- Trauma Level Designation
- Described by the hospital's own marketing as a 'Level III' facility offering care 'at the same level as a level one trauma center' — this is a self-description, not an independently verified or government-issued trauma-level certification (Mexico does not run an ACS-style national trauma verification system).
- ER Trauma Notes
- Staffed 24/7 with ER specialists, physicians, and nurses; four emergency rooms, four operating rooms, and two examination rooms, plus ICU and intermediate care units. Founded in 1996, renovated in 2011.
Hospital Medasist
- Phone
- +52 322 223 0444
- Hours
- 24-hour emergency services
- Address
- Entrance to Highway Mex-200 at the south end of Puerto Vallarta, across from the Pemex gas station (exact street number not published)
- Trauma Level Designation
- No trauma-level designation found in available sources.
- ER Trauma Notes
- Offers 24-hour emergency care, a surgical ward, and a maternity ward; some bilingual staff; accepts most medical insurance programs for emergency services. Has served the Puerto Vallarta area for over two decades.
Vallarta Medical Center
- Phone
- +52 322 178 3000
- Hours
- Open 24 hours
- Address
- Diaz Ordaz, 48310 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco (near Plaza Caracol)
- Trauma Level Designation
- No trauma-level designation found in available sources.
- ER Trauma Notes
- Private institution with a dedicated ER entrance separate from the main patient entrance, a triage exam area, and patient care area. Positioned as a leading regional healthcare provider for residents, nationals, and tourists.
Healthcare
- Overview
- Puerto Vallarta has well-developed private healthcare with multiple hospitals offering bilingual staff and state-of-the-art facilities. Public healthcare exists but most expats and nomads use private facilities.
- Notes
- Medical care typically costs well under half US prices; many physicians trained internationally with dual USA-Mexico credentials. Insurance accepted; self-pay rates available.
Major Hospitals
Hospital CMQ Premiere
- Highlights
- 24/7 bilingual staff, board-certified physicians, complex surgical capabilities
- Bilingual Staff
- Yes
- Emergency Available 24 7
- Yes
Hospital CMQ City Center
- Highlights
- Operating since 1982, comprehensive range of services
- Bilingual Staff
- Yes
- Emergency Available 24 7
- Yes
Hospiten Puerto Vallarta
- Highlights
- International network across Mexico, Spain, Caribbean; extensive services
- Bilingual Staff
- Yes
- Emergency Available 24 7
- Yes
Hospital San Javier Marina
- Highlights
- Pediatric and Neonatal ICU, state-of-the-art technology
- Bilingual Staff
- Yes
- Emergency Available 24 7
- Yes
Pharmacies
- Pricing
- Chain pharmacies (Farmacia Guadalajara, WalMart pharmacies) offer competitive prices; independent pharmacies charge premium; generic medications available at lower cost
- Delivery
- Farmacia PVR and others offer same-day delivery (under 1 hour in tourist zones; free delivery before 10 pm)
- Overview
- Wide range of pharmacies available, from small independent shops to major chains. Many medications available over-the-counter that require prescriptions in other countries. Delivery services available.
Major Chains
- Farmacia Guadalajara
- Farmacia PVR
- Farmacias Similares
Notable Independent
Farmacia Olas Altas
- Location
- Olas Altas 465, Emiliano Zapata neighborhood
- Notes
- Established landmark; 40+ years; English-speaking owner (Freddy); experienced with complex medication requests
Tourist Assistance Hotline
- Number
- 078
- Description
- National Tourist Assistance line run by Mexico's Ministry of Tourism, with multilingual operators. Handles security guidance, embassy/consulate contact, transportation, and lodging issues, and can connect you to official agencies if needed.
- Roadside Assistance Note
- 078 also connects to the 'Green Angels' (Ángeles Verdes), a free government roadside assistance service patrolling federal and toll highways for breakdowns and accidents.
Universal Emergency Number
- Number
- 911
- Notes
- Puerto Vallarta officially switched from the old 066 number to 911 effective January 9, 2017, as part of a nationwide rollout. Some older signage, directories, or long-time residents may still reference 066/060/065/080 — these can still route to services in some cases, but 911 is the current standard and should be used first.
- Description
- 911 is Mexico's national emergency number for police, fire, and medical/ambulance services, free from any phone (landline or mobile), available 24/7 nationwide, including Puerto Vallarta.
Calling From Abroad Or With International SIM
Add Mexico's country code +52 before any local number if dialing from outside Mexico; 911 itself works directly from most international mobile plans while physically in Mexico, but confirm with your carrier before travel.
Public Hospitals Note
Puerto Vallarta also has public/social-security facilities — IMSS Hospital and the Regional Hospital (Hospital General) — that treat emergencies regardless of insurance status. Public listings give phone numbers (IMSS: 224-3838; Regional: 224-4000) but detailed hours/address/trauma-capability data was not consistently available and was excluded here for accuracy.
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 Vallarta
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.