Healthcare
Costa Rica — Healthcare: Emergency Numbers
911 is Costa Rica's universal emergency number, covering police, fire, and medical emergencies nationwide, reachable from landlines, mobile phones, and VoIP, with bilingual (Spanish/English) call-takers. Ambulance service is provided by the Cruz Roja Costarricense (Costa Rican Red Cross), whose direct line is 128. Coverage and response times are strongest in the Central Valley/San José area and weaker in rural and remote coastal areas.
Why this matters
Knowing that 911 covers all emergency types (not just police/fire) and that 128 reaches the Red Cross directly can matter in a real emergency, and knowing that rural/coastal response times are less reliable than in the Central Valley should factor into where someone chooses to live if proximity to fast emergency care matters to them.
Key facts
- 911 is the single, universal emergency number for police, fire, and medical/ambulance emergencies throughout Costa Rica.
- 911 can be reached from fixed lines, prepaid and postpaid mobile phones, and VoIP services, with bilingual Spanish/English call-takers available.
- 128 is the direct line for Cruz Roja Costarricense (Red Cross), which operates the country's ambulance service with branches in every city and town.
- Response times and ambulance coverage are strongest in the Central Valley/San José metro area; rural and remote coastal areas have less reliable coverage.
Steps
- In an emergency — Dial 911 for police, fire, or medical emergencies anywhere in Costa Rica; you can also dial 128 to reach Cruz Roja (Red Cross) ambulance service directly.
Common mistakes
- Assuming ambulance response times in rural or remote coastal areas will match those in San José/the Central Valley
- Not knowing that 128 reaches the Red Cross ambulance service directly as an alternative to 911