Local safety information · verified 2026-08-25
Stay safe, in the water and on the road.
Verified emergency contacts, ocean-rescue guidance and practical steps to use before conditions become urgent.
Ocean rescue · daytime tower hours
Santa Teresa Lifeguards (Guardavidas de Santa Teresa)
Daytime tower hours only (~8am–6pm). Outside hours, call 911.
5 towers + 3 stands across Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa, Hermosa, and Banana Beach.
Outside tower hours, or no answer — call 911. 911 is nationwide, toll-free, 24/7, and works even on a phone with no SIM.
Non-profit NGO that, per its own posts, operates WITHOUT government support, funded entirely by community donations and its nonprofit 'Lifeguards Gym', plus paid courses (Surf Rescue Courses ~$40-70 individual; private group courses $300-650; CPR/First Aid ~$30/person; Junior 'Nippers' $20/child donation) and sponsor/business donations (quads/boards). All proceeds reinvested. Donate via santateresalifeguards.org/donate. Support the lifeguards →
The #1 ocean hazard here
Rip currents — how to spot one, and what to do
How to spot a rip
- A channel of churning, choppy water cutting through the breaking waves.
- A gap in the line of incoming waves — calmer-looking water that's actually moving out.
- A streak of seafoam, seaweed, or sand being carried steadily away from shore.
- A noticeable difference in water color beyond the surf line.
If you're caught in one
- Don't fight it. A rip won't pull you under — it pulls you out. Fighting straight back to shore exhausts even strong swimmers.
- Stay calm and float. Keep your head above water, conserve energy, and don't panic. Most rips lose strength a short way out.
- Swim parallel to the beach. Rips are narrow. Swim sideways, along the shore, until you're out of the current — then angle back in with the waves.
- Can't escape? Signal. Float, wave one arm, and call for help. On Santa Teresa's lifeguarded beaches, towers watch the water during daytime hours.
Know the flags
The beach warning-flag system
Green
Calm conditions, low hazard — still swim with care.
Yellow
Medium hazard — moderate surf and/or currents. Caution.
Red
High hazard — strong surf or currents. Stay out unless experienced.
Double red
Water closed to the public.
Purple
Dangerous marine life (jellyfish, stingrays).
Santa Teresa's beaches are patrolled by volunteers and aren't always flagged. When in doubt, ask a lifeguard, watch where locals surf and swim, and never paddle out alone.
Save these before you need them
Verified emergency contacts
Life-threatening
Emergency (National) 911
Authoritative. Single nationwide number for police/fire/ambulance, toll-free, 24/7. Official 911 FAQ confirms calls are free even with no airtime, and any phone (even with no SIM) can call 911 without restriction. Keep as lead contact.
Santa Teresa Lifeguards - Aquatic/Water Rescue (ADD - critical gap)
INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED on the live EN page, live ES page, and the equipment blog post. This is the #1 missing entry. It is an 8-digit landline (2640-0911) and does NOT collide with 3-digit 911 when dialed in full. Tower hours are daytime only (see lifeguard.howItWorks) - outside hours call 911, which dispatches Cruz Roja.
Fire (Bomberos)
118 is the verified national Bomberos number. 911 also dispatches fire. (1118 is widely cited too, but 118 is the form confirmed by authoritative 2026 sources - prefer 118.)
Medical
Hospital La Anexion (Nicoya)
Number consistent with prior verification. Proper name is 'Hospital La Anexion' in Nicoya - use the real name. ~2hr drive accurate. (I relied on the prior citation here; treat as verified-by-prior, not re-pulled this pass.)
Santa Teresa Urgent Care / Lifeguards Costa Rica (LGCR) - private medical
RECOMMEND ADDING. Private paid 24/7 urgent-care / ambulance service (LGCR / 'Santa Teresa Doctor') covering Santa Teresa/Mal Pais/Cobano/Nosara/Monteverde - distinct from the volunteer Santa Teresa Lifeguards. Valuable since the nearest public hospital is ~2hrs away.
Unimed Urgent Care - Santa Teresa (private clinic)
OPTIONAL ADD. Private urgent-care clinic in Santa Teresa, per the official Blue Zone Chamber of Tourism directory.
Embassies
US Embassy (San Jose)
Correct. ADD after-hours emergency line +506 2220-3127 (independently confirmed).
Canadian Embassy (San Jose)
Correct and current (two independent 2026 sources).
Utilities
Coopeguanacaste (Electricity)
Current first-party Coopeguanacaste contact: 2681-4700 for electricity; the prior 2680-2000 directory number was stale. The official page also lists 800-5226673 for 24/7 customer service.
Corrected ’26
Government
Government services / immigration (Tramite YA)
1311 is NOT a DGME-specific line - it is RACSA's general 'Tramite YA / Servicios al Ciudadano' citizen-services hotline that routes to many institutions (incl. immigration). Relabel from 'DGME Immigration' to 'Govt services / immigration (Tramite YA): 1311'.
Corrected ’26
Transport
Ferry Tambor (Naviera Tambor)
Current first-party contact page confirms Tel. (506) 2661-2084 for the Puntarenas ferry terminal. Confirm the sailing schedule before travelling.
Field-verified 2026-08-25. Spot an outdated number? Use “Report” on any row.
Visiting from abroad
Calling for help on a foreign phone
- 911 works on a foreign or roaming phone — toll-free, nationwide, 24/7.
- It works even with no SIM card and no airtime, so you don't need a Costa Rican number.
- From a phone with no line, your location may not auto-populate — be ready to describe where you are (there are no street addresses in rural Santa Teresa, so share a GPS pin or landmark).
- For verified 8-digit local numbers, dial the +506 country code when calling from a foreign line.
Save the verified numbers to your phone before travelling, and share a GPS pin or nearby landmark when calling.