Private hospitals in Costa Rica: San José and beyond
Which private hospitals exist in San José and outside the capital, what each is known for, what an admission costs and how Relevium gets an insured or international patient in — and out — with one physician in charge.
- San José has four large accredited private hospitals within 30 minutes of each other, all with 24/7 emergency, ICU and surgery.
- Relevium admits at Hospital Clínica Bíblica and Hospital Internacional La Católica and coordinates with the others as the case requires.
- Costs are per day plus procedures; insurers pay through a guarantee of payment that we open on day one.
The main private hospitals
Hospital Clínica Bíblica — founded in 1929, the largest private hospital group in the country, with the historic central campus in downtown San José, the newer Aleste campus in Curridabat, and satellite facilities in Santa Ana and Liberia. Full emergency department, ICU, surgery, oncology and imaging.
Hospital Internacional La Católica — in Guadalupe, on the northeast side of the capital: 24-hour emergency, ICU, surgery and a large outpatient tower (Torre Médica Guadalupe), where Relevium's consultation office is located.
Hospital CIMA — in Escazú, on the west side, popular with expats and international patients; Hospital Metropolitano — a growing network with several campuses in and outside San José. Both are excellent; Relevium coordinates with them when a case or an insurer's network requires it.
Other private hospitals in the Central Valley
Beyond the big four, the metropolitan area has other private hospitals and campuses with urgent care. Opening hours are those each facility publishes on its official website (October 2026); confirm before you go.
- Hospital Metropolitano Lindora — Pozos de Santa Ana, on the west side: 24/7 urgent care.
- Hospital Clínica Bíblica Santa Ana — the group's campus on the west side of the capital.
- Hospital UNIBE — Tibás campus with 24-hour emergency; San Pedro campus with daytime hours.
- Hospital Clínica Señora de los Ángeles — in Cartago, with 24/7 medical care.
Private hospitals and campuses outside San José
Outside the Central Valley the private network is thinner: there are campuses with urgent care, imaging and laboratory that stabilize well, but intensive care and most complex surgery remain in San José. By region:
- Guanacaste — Hospital Clínica Bíblica Liberia (24/7 urgent care); Hospital Metropolitano in Liberia (24/7) and in Huacas, near Tamarindo and Flamingo (24/7).
- Central Pacific — Hospital Metropolitano Quepos, at Marina Pez Vela: urgent care Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Northern Zone — Hospital Cooperativo in Ciudad Quesada (24/7) and Hospital Metropolitano San Carlos (daily, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.).
- Caribbean — Limón has the regional public hospital, and Puerto Viejo and Cahuita have small clinics; for a private admission the destination is San José, 4–5 hours by road.
How Relevium chooses the hospital
Three factors: where the patient is, what the case needs (a specific specialist, ICU, a catheterization laboratory), and the insurer's network. The choice is made by the treating physician, explained to the patient and the family, and communicated to the insurer with the first report.
What an admission costs
Private hospitals bill per day (room level, nursing, medication) plus every procedure, study and physician fee separately. As orientation: a general ward day from several hundred dollars; ICU considerably more; surgery quoted individually including surgeon, anesthesia and operating room. Costa Rica remains well below United States prices for comparable care.
For insurers the practical problem is that all of those are separate invoices. Relevium consolidates them into one CPT-coded invoice per case.
Admission for insured and international patients
Hospitals ask for a deposit or a guarantee of payment before a planned admission. Relevium opens the guarantee with the insurer from the first message, sends the medical estimate, and keeps the case manager updated at every milestone — admission, progress, discharge, fit-to-fly — so authorization never becomes the bottleneck.
- One physician of record rounds daily and coordinates every specialist.
- Daily updates for the family in plain English.
- Discharge planned from the first days: medication list, follow-up, transport home.
This guide is general information, not medical advice for a specific person. In an emergency call 911 or message our 24/7 line.
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Questions
Private hospitals — frequently asked questions
There is no single answer — the four large hospitals in San José are all accredited and well equipped. The right one depends on the case, the specialist needed and your insurer's network; that is the decision the treating physician makes with you.