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
Nationwide police, fire, and ambulance emergency number. Toll-free and available 24/7; works without airtime or a SIM.
Santa Teresa Lifeguards - Aquatic/Water Rescue
Volunteer aquatic-rescue service for Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa, Playa Hermosa, and Banana Beach. Tower coverage is daytime only; outside tower hours, call 911.
Fire (Bomberos)
National fire-service direct line. 911 also dispatches fire.
Medical
Hospital La Anexion (Nicoya)
Public hospital in Nicoya, approximately a two-hour drive from Santa Teresa.
Santa Teresa Urgent Care / Lifeguards Costa Rica (LGCR) - private medical
Private 24/7 urgent-care and ambulance service covering Santa Teresa, Mal Pais, Cobano, Nosara, and Monteverde; distinct from the volunteer Santa Teresa Lifeguards.
Unimed Urgent Care - Santa Teresa (private clinic)
Private urgent-care clinic in Santa Teresa.
Embassies
US Embassy (San Jose)
Main embassy line. After-hours emergency line: +506 2220-3127.
Canadian Embassy (San Jose)
Main Canadian Embassy line in San Jose.
Utilities
Coopeguanacaste (Electricity)
Electricity service. The official page also lists 800-5226673 for 24/7 customer service.
Corrected ’26
Government
Government services / immigration (Tramite YA)
RACSA Trámite YA citizen-services hotline, including immigration routing.
Corrected ’26
Transport
Ferry Tambor (Naviera Tambor)
Puntarenas ferry terminal contact. Confirm the current 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.