Pura Osa
The short answer
- Emergency: dial 911.
- Serious cases: the nearest hospital is in Ciudad Cortés (Osa) or Golfito; Drake Bay has none.
- EBAIS clinics: weekdays and daytime only in most of Osa; Puerto Jiménez is reported to attend 24 hours.
- Private care: available in Uvita; elsewhere rely on the CCSS and your insurance.
- Insurance: carry travel insurance with medical evacuation.
Emergency numbers
| Who | Number |
|---|---|
| Emergencies (police, ambulance, fire, rescue) | 911 |
| Red Cross (Cruz Roja) | 128 (reported by travel sources; the 911 line is the safer first call) |
How the CCSS system works
| Level | What it does |
|---|---|
| EBAIS (first level) | Basic care: general medicine, nursing, vaccines, some dental. In Osa the health area lists ordinary hours Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (CCSS, 2019). Do not expect night or weekend service. |
| Health area (Área de Salud) | Groups the EBAIS of a zone. The Osa Health Area has its offices in Palmar Norte, 50 m south of the Banco Nacional, and covers 10 EBAIS. |
| Peripheral hospital | Emergency room, hospitalization and basic specialties. Near Osa: Tomás Casas Casajús (Ciudad Cortés) and Manuel Mora Valverde (Golfito). Ciudad Neily and Quepos also have CCSS hospitals. |
| Regional and national hospitals | Complex cases. The regional hospital of the Brunca region is Fernando Escalante Pradilla in San Isidro de El General; the most complex cases go to San José. |
Where to go, area by area
| Area | What there is |
|---|---|
| Uvita and Costa Ballena | EBAIS Uvita (Bahía Ballena) on weekdays and several private clinics (below). Nearest hospital: Ciudad Cortés; larger cases go to San Isidro de El General. |
| Sierpe, Palmar and Ciudad Cortés | EBAIS Sierpe, Palmar Norte, Palmar Sur and Ciudad Cortés on weekdays; the Osa Health Area offices are in Palmar Norte; the Tomás Casas Casajús Hospital is in Ojo de Agua, Ciudad Cortés, with emergency care. |
| Drake Bay | EBAIS Drake (Agujitas) on weekdays. There is no hospital: serious cases are evacuated by boat or air. The Coast Guard post in Drake was not operating as of November 2024, so call 911 for sea emergencies. |
| Puerto Jiménez and the peninsula | The CCSS facility in Puerto Jiménez is reported to attend 24 hours a day and to have observation beds until a transfer to a hospital (La Teja, March 2025; Diario Extra). |
| Golfito, Zancudo and Pavones | Manuel Mora Valverde Hospital in Golfito (57 beds for about 45,000 people, per Delfino, December 2024). A June 2026 report by the Ombudsman (Defensoría) listed the Pavones EBAIS among critical cases. |
A June 2026 report by the Ombudsman (Defensoría de los Habitantes) on 40 EBAIS in the Brunca region found staff shortages in Osa, Golfito and Puerto Jiménez, poor public transport as the main barrier in Sierpe, Térraba and parts of Puerto Jiménez, and limited Red Cross transfers for non-urgent patients. Plan for this: do not count on quick transfers.
Private clinics and pharmacy in Uvita
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| Uvita Lab | Laboratory and urgent care, Vita Plaza, Costanera Sur. +506 8373-6666 (also WhatsApp). Mon–Fri 8:00–16:00, Sat 8:00–12:00. |
| Servicios Médicos Bahía Ballena (Dr. Mauricio Esquivel) | General medicine, minor surgery, IV treatment. Dome Plaza, office 8. +506 2743-8595 or 8839-4492. Walk-ins; invoice for insurance reimbursement. |
| Bahia Ballena Doctors (Dra. Mónica Alfaro) | General practice since 2010. Plaza Ventanas, Costanera. +506 8833-6431. |
| Vargas Medical Center | Second floor of Plaza Alfaro, Uvita. +506 8750-9118 (WhatsApp). |
| Farmacia Ibarra | Pharmacy, Uvita Dome and Plaza Alfaro. +506 2743-8558. Mon–Sat 8:00–19:00. |
Details come from each business’s own website, checked in October 2026. Hours differ between pages, so call first. These are not recommendations or paid listings. We found no private clinics in Drake, Sierpe, Palmar, Puerto Jiménez or Golfito.
Staying safe
| Risk | What to do |
|---|---|
| Theft from cars | The most common problem, mostly at parking areas near beaches and waterfalls. Leave nothing visible, put bags in the trunk before you arrive, and use supervised lots (Marino Ballena has one at the main entrance for about US$3 a day). |
| Rip currents | They occur regularly, especially at high tide. If caught, swim parallel to the beach until you are out of the current, then angle back. Lifeguard coverage is limited, so swim where other people are. |
| Remote beaches | Some beaches south of Uvita have no regular ranger patrols. Go in groups and bring nothing valuable. |
| Wildlife | Wear closed shoes on trails, shuffle your feet in shallow water for stingrays, and use water shoes on rocks. Follow your guide: in Corcovado a certified guide is mandatory. |
| Rainy season | From May to November roads can flood and trails turn slippery. See our guides to renting a 4x4 and to the best time to visit. |
| Mosquitoes and sun | Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk: use repellent and long sleeves. The sun is strong near the equator, so carry water and sunscreen. |
Theft and beach hazards are based on Costa Rica Divers’ Uvita safety guide (2026). The Coast Guard post in Drake Bay was not operating as of November 2024 (Semanario Universidad).
If something is stolen or goes wrong
Call 911 for anything urgent. To report a theft for your insurance, go to the nearest police station or to the OIJ (Judicial Investigation Agency), which has a regional office in Osa, and ask your lodge to help you. Keep the report number, because insurers ask for it.
Plan your trip → · Renting a car in Osa → · When to go → · What to pack →
This guide is information, not medical advice. We update it as we verify more data. If you see something wrong or out of date, write to [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
What number do I call in an emergency in Osa?
Dial 911 from any phone. It is the national emergency line and connects to police, ambulance and rescue. The Red Cross (Cruz Roja) is reported at 128. In remote areas such as Drake Bay or Punta Burica there may be no signal, so tell your lodge or guide where you are going and when you plan to be back.
Is there a hospital in Osa?
Yes. The Tomás Casas Casajús Hospital, a peripheral hospital of the CCSS, is in Ojo de Agua, Ciudad Cortés. Golfito has the Manuel Mora Valverde Hospital. For complex cases patients are referred to larger hospitals such as Escalante Pradilla in San Isidro de El General or on to San José.
Can I go to a CCSS clinic as a tourist?
In an emergency you will be attended. For visitors without CCSS coverage the care may be billed, so ask at the facility and keep every receipt for your travel insurance. We could not confirm current rules for visitors, so treat this as a question to ask on the spot.
Do I need travel insurance for Osa?
It is strongly recommended. Drake Bay, Corcovado and the Golfo Dulce beaches are far from hospitals, and serious cases may need a boat or air transfer. Check that your policy covers medical evacuation and adventure activities such as diving or hiking.
Is Osa safe for tourists?
Most visits are trouble-free. The most common problem is theft from parked cars near beaches and waterfalls, followed by rip currents at the beach. Wildlife is rarely a problem if you follow your guide. Use common sense: keep valuables out of sight, park in supervised lots and swim only where you can see other people.
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