In Costa Rica, call 911, the national emergency number, and say you are at sea. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.
Local language: Spanish. English is not confirmed by the source.
National emergency number
Source: 911.go.cr · authority’s own page · checked 14 October 2026 Official wording ▾
911.go.cr — “tiene cobertura en todo el territorio Nacional”. Routing of sea calls to the Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas NOT confirmed by an official source.
Hurricane season: Pacific 15 May – 30 November; Caribbean 1 June – 30 November.
Government of Canada (travel.gc.ca) · NOAA National Hurricane Center · NOAA National Hurricane Center ▾
travel.gc.ca (2026-10-14, gov-travel): “The hurricane season is from mid-May to the end of November in the Pacific, and from early June to the end of November in the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.”
nhc.noaa.gov (2026-10-14, intl): “The eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30.”
nhc.noaa.gov (2026-10-14, intl): “The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.”
Rules: life jackets, licence, charter
No national lifejacket rule for recreational boats was found. Coast Guard (SNG) safety advice lists one lifejacket per person on board, each with a light and reflective strip.
Ministerio de Seguridad Pública – Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas ▾
web.archive.org (2026-10-14, archived): “Chalecos salvavidas (uno por persona abordo). Cada chaleco deberá portar con una luz y una banda refractiva.”
The charter regulation published by the tourism board (ICT) defines charter (charteo) as the hire of foreign-flagged recreational vessels at least 24 m long. Vessels with a charter licence may stay up to one year, extendable for further one-year periods.
Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) · Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) ▾
ict.go.cr (2026-10-14): “Charteo: Arrendamiento o alquiler de embarcaciones de recreo de bandera extranjera, con una eslora no menor a 24 metros”
ict.go.cr (2026-10-14): “podrán permanecer hasta por un año en aguas territoriales, prorrogable por períodos iguales.”
Official warnings
Rip currents are very common on all beaches, and there are often no lifeguards.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ▾
gov.uk (2026-10-14, gov-travel): “While swimming on any beach in Costa Rica, bear in mind that rip currents are very common and there are often no lifeguards.”
Safety standards on small boats vary, and there have been several small-boat incidents in the Tortuguero area.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ▾
gov.uk (2026-10-14, gov-travel): “Safety standards for adventure activities and on small boats are variable. There have been several incidents involving small boats in the Tortuguero area”
Crocodiles are regularly seen along the Pacific coast from Playa Azul to Playa Esterillos, and there have been attacks.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ▾
gov.uk (2026-10-14, gov-travel): “There are regular sightings of crocodiles along the Pacific coast near beaches popular with surfers, from Playa Azul down to Playa Esterillos, and there have been attacks in recent years.”
What number do I call for help at sea in Costa Rica?+
In Costa Rica, call 911, the national emergency number, and say you are at sea. On the radio: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16, or a DSC distress alert on channel 70.
Does 112 work in Costa Rica?+
911 is the number the authorities in Costa Rica give for emergencies at sea. Many phones also pass 112 on, but we found no official confirmation for Costa Rica.
Which rescue centre is responsible for me?+
The one whose search-and-rescue area you are in — not the country of your SIM card. Near borders that can change during a trip; the VesselSOS app picks it from your GPS position.
When is the storm season in Costa Rica?+
Hurricane season: Pacific 15 May – 30 November; Caribbean 1 June – 30 November.
Are life jackets compulsory in Costa Rica?+
No national lifejacket rule for recreational boats was found. Coast Guard (SNG) safety advice lists one lifejacket per person on board, each with a light and reflective strip.
Where do I get the marine weather forecast for Costa Rica?+
The national met service (IMN) publishes a marine forecast layer on its interactive map.
Change history
Costa Rica: the Caribbean area now stops short of San Juan del Norte (Greytown), which is Nicaraguan and now gets Nicaragua’s number.
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