Healthcare in Costa Rica: hospitals in Guanacaste and insurance for foreign owners
Costa Rica combines the public CCSS system with a network of private hospitals. In Guanacaste, care centres on Liberia, where a private hospital offers 24-hour emergency care and dozens of specialists. A foreign owner should hold international insurance and know where to go before care is needed.
Two systems side by side
Public healthcare is run by the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), known as the Caja. It covers employees, the self-employed and voluntary members. Foreigners with legal residence can join under the CCSS rules for insuring migrants.
Alongside it is the private sector: hospitals, clinics, laboratories and pharmacies paid directly or through private insurance. Most foreign owners who spend only part of the year in Costa Rica use private care.
Care in Guanacaste
For Playas del Coco, Papagayo and Tamarindo the main centre is Liberia. Hospital San Rafael Arcángel lists 24-hour emergency care, operating rooms, inpatient care, CT, mammography, a laboratory and more than 70 specialists. The CIMA network also has a branch in Liberia.
The coast has smaller private clinics and GP practices. For complex procedures and some specialities patients travel to San José, home to the country's largest private hospitals.
| Situation | Where to go | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Common illness, prescription | Practice or clinic in the nearest town | Often walk-in, card payment |
| Injury, acute condition | Private hospital emergency in Liberia | Open around the clock, check the route in advance |
| Planned procedure | Specialist in Liberia or San José | Request a quote and insurer approval in advance |
| Regular care for residents | CCSS (EBAIS and hospitals) | Subject to CCSS insurance terms |
Insurance for foreign owners
For owners who stay for longer periods we recommend international health insurance with cover in Costa Rica. Travel insurance is usually limited by trip length and may not cover planned care or chronic conditions.
- Check which hospitals in Liberia and San José are in the insurer's network.
- Find out whether the insurer pays the hospital directly or reimburses later.
- Include air evacuation for serious cases.
- Keep copies of your passport, insurance card and medication list on your phone.
- If you apply for residency, expect CCSS insurance requirements.
What it means for choosing a property
For many buyers access to healthcare matters as much as the view. Locations within reach of Liberia benefit from both the international airport and the hospital. For remote plots, find out how long the drive to emergency care takes, including in the rainy season.
Private care prices vary by facility and procedure. Only a quote from a specific hospital gives a reliable figure.
Want to know how far the nearest hospital is from a property? We will find out for you.
Contact us →Sources and materials
We separate official sources from professional and commercial commentary. Checking sources is not an individual legal review or confirmation of every current administrative procedure.
- Hospital San Rafael Arcángel, Liberia ↗
Commercial source · Costa Rica · Checked 26 October 2026
Private hospital in Liberia, 24-hour emergency, operating rooms.
- Hospital San Rafael Arcángel: služby ↗
Commercial source · Costa Rica · Checked 26 October 2026
More than 70 specialists, CT, mammography, laboratory, pharmacy, inpatient care.
- CCSS: Reglamento de Aseguramiento Voluntario y Aseguramiento de Migrantes ↗
Official source · Costa Rica · Checked 26 October 2026
Rules for voluntary insurance and insurance of migrants with the CCSS.
- CCSS: služby pro pojištěnce ↗
Official source · Costa Rica · Checked 26 October 2026
Official information on CCSS services and online procedures.
General information only, not legal or tax advice. Consult a Costa Rican lawyer before deciding.