Health – Medical Care

The medical treatment is very good throughout the country. In the metropolitan area and in the whole Central Valley, including the cities of Cartago, Heredia, and Alajuela, there are good national hospitals and clinics which are equipped with modern appliances and good, highly trained medical staff. There are four large private hospitals in San José, Hospital Clínica Bíblica (phone +506 2522 1000), Hospital CIMA (phone +506 2208 1000), Hospital Metropolitano (phone + 506 2521 9595) and Hospital Clínica Católica (phone + 506 2246 3000). These private hospitals also offer high standard with modern appliances and good, highly trained medical staff. Furthermore, they provide pharmacies which are open 24 hours.

Private clinics demand to cover costs by a credit card or your health insurance’s declaration of assumption of costs. State hospitals are obliged to treat also non-members of the public health insurance in case of an emergency. The costs, of course, must be borne by the patient or his or her travel health insurance.

Outside the capital region, you receive medical, stationary care through the national hospitals. Smaller towns and villages provide state clinics or emergency centres (EBAIS) with outpatient care, as well as private medical centres with registered doctors from different fields. Pharmacies are a Good possibility to receive first help, and information about doctors who are locally available. The pharmacist on duty can give first advice in case of non-critical diseases. In larger cities, there are pharmacies with a 24-hour emergency service.

On the website of the US Embassy, you will find a list with English-speaking doctors, and a list with hospitals and clinics: https://cr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/doctors/

In most parts of the country, tap water is potable. Please inform yourself about the respective drinking water quality on the spot. If you want to play safe, you better buy water in bottles. In the tropics, it is important to drink regularly and sufficient water.

Avoid eating food of street vendors. Always wash raw fruits and vegetables or, if possible, peel them. Do not touch or eat plants and fruits you don’t know when exploring nature. Some of them can cause allergic reactions.

There is a low risk of Malaria in the Matina district in Central Limón (east) but it is so low that no prophylaxis has been recommended, so far. Illnesses such as dengue fever, chikungunya, and zika can be transmitted by the bite of the tiger mosquito (aedes aegypti). These illnesses occur repeatedly in different phases. The health department fights regularly against possible hatcheries and sprays insecticide on places that indicate infections. The windows in the hotels are usually equipped with mosquito screens, and some rooms have mosquito nets. Please use a reliable mosquito repellent round-the-clock during your stay such as OFF, NO-BITE, ANTIBRUMM, etc. Mosquito repellent can be bought on the spot in all supermarkets and pharmacies.