In this series of posts, we answer common questions about traveling to Costa Rica. Today, we’ll talk about what medical facilities are available in Manuel Antonio and Quepos.
Question
“We are staying in Manuel Antonio for a week, coming from the US, and wanted to get any recommendations for emergency medical care if needed. It looks like there are several hospitals in San Jose (CIMA, Clinica Biblica, etc.), but what is the best option in or near Quepos/Manuel Antonio?”
Answer
For emergencies, you can call 911 in Costa Rica (English operators are available), but ambulances through the Red Cross can be notoriously slow to respond since they have limited resources and large areas to cover. Private ambulances and medical clinics are much faster and what we recommend for most travelers.
In Quepos/Manuel Antonio, you have some great options for private emergency medical care right in town. There is Quepos Urgent Care with Dr. Gannon who we have used ourselves. He speaks fluent English and has great resources in his small office. He also can organize emergency medical transport by helicopter or small plane to San Jose, if needed.
That office is part of the Medi Red Costa Rica network, which offers 24-hour ambulance and medical support in different locations on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. For emergencies, you can call/WhatsApp Medi Red at +506 8303-9986 or internationally at +1-954-278-1466 and they will respond and/or connect you with the closest office.
There is also Hospital Metropolitano at the Quepos Marina. This is a branch of the bigger private hospital in San Jose and a nice facility. They are open 24 hours and have a lot of specialists on call for different things you may need like X-rays, ultrasounds, etc. They also have a pharmacy onsite.
The public hospital in Quepos (outside town on Highway 34) is also an option. They have a 24-hour emergency department. This is where the Red Cross would likely bring you if using 911. Some of the staff there speak English but most of them only speak Spanish.
Hopefully you’ll have an incident-free vacation, but these resources are available in case you need them!
Looking for more information? Check out these posts:
Why to Get Travel Insurance When Visiting Costa Rica – We’ve seen the importance of this firsthand with our friend who took an unexpected fall and didn’t have coverage.
10 Daypack Essentials for Costa Rica – We always keep a small medical kit in our backpack. Find out what else comes in handy with this post.
Costa Rica and Mosquitoes: Tips to Prevent Zika, Dengue, and More – Stay clear of these mosquito-borne illnesses with our tips.
