Emergency Contacts
|
911
General emergency
|
24 h
Hospital coverage
|
Spanish
Dispatch language
|
Drive
Fastest in emergencies
|
Important: Ambulance response times on the Santa Elena Peninsula can be long due to traffic and distances. If you have a vehicle and the patient can be moved safely, driving directly to the hospital is often faster than waiting for an ambulance. Hospital Granados in Salinas is the fastest private emergency option; Hospital Panchana in Santa Elena is the main public facility.
Primary Emergency Number
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 🚨 All emergencies (police, ambulance, fire) | 911 | ECU-911 system. Spanish-language dispatch. Covers the entire peninsula. |
The ECU-911 unified emergency system covers Santa Elena Province. Operators speak Spanish. In a life-threatening emergency, call 911 first, then consider driving the patient to hospital if response time is uncertain.
Hospitals & Medical
Public Hospitals
| Hospital | Location | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital Dr. Liborio Panchana Sotomayor | Av. Márquez de la Plata, Santa Elena | 24 hours | Largest public hospital on the peninsula. Full emergency department. |
| Hospital IESS La Libertad | La Libertad | 24 hours | IESS affiliates only for non-emergency; emergency open to all. |
Private Hospitals & Clinics
| Clinic | Location | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital Granados | Cdla. Santa Paula, Salinas | 24 hours | Best-equipped private option. Ambulance fleet, ICU. Fastest emergency in Salinas. |
| Clínica Santa Inés | La Libertad | Business hours + emergencies | General practice and specialist referrals. |
Health Centres (Centros de Salud)
Government health centres (Ministry of Health / MSP) operate across the peninsula. These handle non-emergency primary care. Key locations:
- Salinas centro
- Anconcito
- Ballenita
- José Luis Tamayo (Muey)
- La Libertad
- Santa Elena
- Chanduy
See Medical Services for the full guide.
Police
| Unit | Contact | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| National Police (Policía Nacional) | 911 | All three cantons |
| Police — Salinas | Local substation, Salinas centro | Salinas canton |
| Police — La Libertad | Local substation | La Libertad canton |
| Police — Santa Elena | Substation, Santa Elena city | Santa Elena canton |
See Police & Security for the full security guide and practical safety tips.
Fire & Rescue
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bomberos (Fire Department) | 911 | Also reachable via unified 911 |
| Bomberos — Salinas | Local station | Covers Salinas canton |
| Bomberos — La Libertad | Local station | Covers La Libertad canton |
Coast Guard & Maritime
| Service | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Armada del Ecuador (Navy) — Base Naval Salinas | 911 / VHF Ch. 16 | Maritime search and rescue. La Chocolatera. |
| Capitanía del Puerto — La Libertad | Local office | Port authority for fishing and recreational vessels. |
VHF Channel 16 is the international distress frequency for maritime emergencies.
Utilities & Other Services
| Service | Notes |
|---|---|
| AGUAPEN (water supply) | Water utility for the peninsula. Report outages or contamination. |
| CNEL (electricity) | National electricity distributor. Report outages. |
| Gas supply | Distributed by private dealers; no piped gas network. |
Poison & Medical Hotlines
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Poison control (national) | 1800-000-911 |
| Red Cross Ecuador | 131 |