Medical Emergency Resources for Expats in La Paz, Baja California Sur

Before an Emergency

In La Paz, 911 connects you to police, fire and ambulance dispatch. Operators speak Spanish; English is not guaranteed. Ambulances can take longer to reach outlying areas such as El Centenario or Chametla. For a serious emergency (heart attack, stroke, major trauma), having someone drive you to the nearest emergency room is often faster than waiting.

Emergency rooms must stabilize you, but private hospitals will usually ask for a deposit, a credit card or an insurance guarantee before admitting you. Carry your insurance card, your policy number, your passport and a card with available credit.

Emergency Numbers

• 911 — police, fire, ambulance, 24/7. Call 911 for a Cruz Roja (Red Cross) ambulance, the fire department or the police.
• Hospital de Especialidades IMSS-Bienestar (public, formerly Hospital Salvatierra): (612) 175-0500
• Hospital Fidepaz (private): (612) 124-0400

Hospitals & Clinics

Local Hospitals in La Paz

Hospital de Especialidades IMSS-Bienestar (formerly Hospital Juan María de Salvatierra) — Paseo de los Deportistas 5115, Col. 8 de Octubre 2a Secc. La Paz's main public hospital. In October 2025 it became a third-level specialty hospital run by IMSS-Bienestar, the federal system that now runs the state's public hospitals (it's the name you'll see on signs). 24/7 emergency room. Free for people without social security. Limited English and long waits. Tel. (612) 175-0500.

Hospital Fidepaz — Calle De los Delfines 110, Fraccionamiento Fidepaz, at the Walmart end of Abasolo. Private hospital with an emergency room (call to confirm its hours). Some staff speak English, but it is not guaranteed. Tel. (612) 124-0400.

IMSS Hospital General de Zona (La Paz) — for people enrolled in IMSS (Mexican social security).

Major Hospitals for Serious Emergencies

For private specialty care beyond La Paz, the nearest option is Los Cabos. For anything beyond that, plan on flying.

• Hospital H+ Los Cabos — San José del Cabo, about 2–2.5 hours south by road. Major private hospital.
• Tijuana and US hospitals (e.g. San Diego) — Tijuana is about 1,500 km from La Paz by Highway 1, roughly 18–20 hours of driving. In practice these are reached by air, by commercial flight or air ambulance. For planned care in the US, most La Paz residents fly from La Paz (LAP) or Los Cabos (SJD).

English-Speaking Doctors

La Paz has several English-speaking doctors, but they change often. Ask for current recommendations:

• Recent residents in the local expat Facebook groups (search "doctor" or "médico")
• Your insurer's list of in-network doctors
• Pharmacies (Farmacias Guadalajara, Farmacias del Ahorro and the pharmacies inside Soriana and Ley) sometimes know which nearby doctors speak English

US citizens can also contact the U.S. Consular Agency in Los Cabos (San José del Cabo, Shoppes at Palmilla), tel. (624) 143-3566. There is no US consular office in La Paz itself; the Los Cabos agency reports to the U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana.

When you book, check how much English the doctor speaks. Some can manage a basic consult but not complex medical terms.

Medical Translation

• Ask in the local expat groups for a volunteer or paid translator who can come to the hospital with you; don't rely on this for a true emergency
• At the hospital, ask for "alguien que hable inglés" (someone who speaks English)
• Download Google Translate's Spanish pack for offline use BEFORE you need it. The camera mode reads forms and medicine labels.
• Useful phrases: "Soy alérgico a…" (I'm allergic to…), "Tengo diabetes / hipertensión" (I have diabetes / high blood pressure), "¿Cuánto cuesta?" (How much does it cost?)

In-Home Care

For recovery after a hospital stay or ongoing medical needs:

• Pharmacies such as Farmacias Guadalajara can often refer a nurse for home visits; this is common practice in Mexico
• Hospitals can usually recommend nurses when you are discharged
• Ask for current rates and check credentials when you book

Air Evacuation

Because La Paz is far from Mexico's big medical centres, evacuation coverage is worth thinking about, especially if you have a chronic condition.

• La Paz International Airport (LAP) can take medical evacuation flights; Los Cabos (SJD) is the larger airport to the south
• SkyMed and MedjetAssist are the evacuation memberships most used by expats
• Some travel insurance policies include evacuation, but read the fine print: medical evacuation and repatriation are different coverages, and many policies only cover the nearest adequate facility

Prevention

• Register with your country's embassy: US citizens use STEP (mytravel.state.gov/s/step), Canadians use ROCA
• Carry a wallet card in Spanish with your blood type, allergies, chronic conditions, emergency contacts and insurance details
• Save this guide on your phone; screenshot the key numbers and addresses
• Know your nearest hospital and the fastest route there from home
• Keep copies of your passport, insurance cards and prescriptions in more than one place