Medical Emergency Resources for Expats in Sayulita, Nayarit

Before an Emergency

Keep this page saved on your phone. Knowing who to call and where to go saves critical time.

Key things to know:

• 911 works everywhere in Mexico and connects to police, fire and ambulance dispatch
• Sayulita has a private hospital in town with a 24-hour emergency room (Saint Luke's Hospital Sayulita) for stabilization
• The nearest full hospital with intensive care is Hospital CMQ Riviera Nayarit in Bucerías, on the way to Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta's large hospitals are 45–60 minutes away.
• The public Hospital General San Francisco is in San Pancho, a few minutes north. Sayulita is in Nayarit, where public hospitals are now run by IMSS-Bienestar.
• If you can safely get there yourself, driving to the nearest emergency room is often faster than waiting for an ambulance
• 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 a card and your policy number.

Emergency Numbers

• 911 — police, fire, ambulance
• Saint Luke's Hospital Sayulita (24-hour ER and ambulance): Av. Revolución 231, Loc. A
• Cruz Roja (Red Cross) ambulance, Protección Civil, fire, police and tourist police: call 911

Hospitals & Clinics

In and near Sayulita

• Saint Luke's Hospital Sayulita — Av. Revolución 231, Loc. A. Private hospital with a 24-hour emergency room, X-ray, CT and ambulance. It stabilizes patients and transfers complex cases; ask which specialists are on site.
• Sayulita Health Clinic — at the gas station at the town entrance (Highway 200, km 15.25). Listed with ambulance service and English spoken. Call ahead to confirm its hours.
• Hospital General San Francisco — the public hospital in San Pancho, a few minutes north. Part of IMSS-Bienestar since April 2022. Lower cost, mostly Spanish.

Bucerías

• Hospital CMQ Riviera Nayarit — Av. Héroes de Nacozari 280, Bucerías. Private hospital with a 24/7 emergency room and a 24/7 intensive care unit. The nearest full hospital for heart attacks, strokes and major trauma. Tel. 329 298 0717.

Puerto Vallarta (45–60 minutes)

• Hospital Joya Marina (formerly San Javier Marina) — Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio 2760, Zona Hotelera. Private hospital with emergency room, cardiac care and surgery. Tel. 322 226 1010.
• Hospital CMQ Premiere — Av. Francisco Villa 1749. Private hospital with 24/7 emergency. Tel. 322 226 6500.

English-Speaking Doctors

Doctors in Sayulita change often, so ask for current recommendations:

• Recent residents in the local expat Facebook and WhatsApp groups (search "doctor" or "médico")
• Your landlord or property manager
• Local pharmacies often know which doctors speak English

Medical Translation

• When you call a private hospital, ask whether English-speaking staff are on duty
• Local expat groups can often find a volunteer or a paid translator to come with you; ask a day or two ahead when you can
• Download Google Translate's Spanish pack for offline use BEFORE you need it. The camera mode reads forms and medicine labels.
• Useful phrases: "No hablo español" (I don't speak Spanish), "¿Habla inglés?" (Do you speak English?), "Necesito un traductor" (I need a translator), "Me duele aquí" (It hurts here), "Soy alérgico/a a…" (I'm allergic to…)

In-Home Care

Nursing care at home is available but limited. Pharmacies can often refer a nurse for wound care, injections or recovery help, and you can ask Saint Luke's for a referral. Local expat groups also share caregiver recommendations. Ask for current rates when you book.

Air Evacuation

• Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) is the nearest international airport
• SkyMed and MedjetAssist are the evacuation memberships most used by expats in Mexico. SkyMed covers transport to the nearest adequate facility or home; Medjet focuses on getting you home.
• Many travel insurance policies include evacuation, but read the fine print: it often needs pre-authorization and may only cover the nearest adequate facility

Prevention

• Register with your embassy: US citizens use STEP (mytravel.state.gov/s/step), Canadians use ROCA (travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration)
• Canadians: there is a Canadian consulate in Puerto Vallarta
• Carry a wallet card in Spanish with your blood type, allergies, medications, emergency contacts and insurance details
• Save this guide on your phone for offline access
• Share your emergency contacts with a local friend or your property manager who can help in Spanish