What to do first in an emergency around the lagoon
Uruguay's single police emergency number is 911 and the fire brigade answers on 104; both work from any mobile phone. For poisoning, stings and bites, the CIAT (the national toxicology information centre) takes calls on 1722. Inside the Laguna Garzón protected area, the park rangers (092 374 035) are the contact for fires, injured wildlife or trouble along the shore. The most useful advice is the one above: mobile coverage is weak across much of the lagoon, so save the numbers before you head out and tell someone where you are going if you paddle, fish or walk alone.
Health care: where to be seen in José Ignacio and Pueblo Garzón
Everyday medical care on the coast is in José Ignacio. The Policlínica José Ignacio lists hours of Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 19:00 (closed Sunday), and the Centro de Salud Asistencial Médica has served the village for more than six decades. Inland, the Policlínica Garzón, at Los Cerrillos and La Cantera, is Pueblo Garzón's public health centre: it is run by ASSE (the state health provider) together with the Maldonado department government, AMECOM and SEMM, and offers primary care to residents and visitors. For emergencies beyond what a clinic can handle, SEMM Mautone has a hospital in Maldonado and a 24-hour mobile emergency service, with coverage in José Ignacio and Garzón under agreements; its listing recommends checking the terms of that extended coverage in advance. Farmacia Faro de José Ignacio, on Ruta 10 at km 183, is open every day from 11 am to 9 pm.
Police and fire brigade: who covers each village
The José Ignacio police station (Seccional 13), at Los Teros and Las Golondrinas next to the square, covers the village and La Juanita around the clock. On the hills side, the Pueblo Garzón police station (Seccional 7), at Paso del Sauce and La Cantera, covers the village and the surrounding countryside. Fires and rescues belong to the La Juanita fire station (Unit 77), opened in December 2023 with a permanent crew and a volunteer corps from José Ignacio; its coverage takes in José Ignacio, La Juanita and Laguna Garzón. For non-urgent reports, go to the police station; for anything urgent, always 911 or 104.
On the water and at the beach
Safety at sea and on the lagoon falls to the Prefectura Nacional Naval in José Ignacio, the coast guard, which operates 24 hours and assists in water emergencies. José Ignacio's Brava and Mansa beaches have lifeguards from the Maldonado department government only in season: from mid-November until Tourism Week (the Uruguayan Easter holiday), 11:00 to 18:00 in November and 9:30 to 19:30 from December. Outside those months the coast is unpatrolled, as the story on the beaches in low season explains. On the lagoon, the protected-area visitor centre is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 and takes enquiries and incident reports such as fires or stings; the El Caracol, Costa Bonita and El Bonete beaches are open to the public, with no camping, fires or vehicles on the dunes.
Practical notes so you are not left stranded
If the emergency is mechanical, the ANCAP fuel station in José Ignacio, between the village and La Juanita, is the last one before Rocha and is open 24 hours. To get around without a car of your own, the selection of taxis, transfers and car rental gathers the contacts published on the portal. And for everyday needs that are not an emergency — paperwork, transport, fuel — the guide to practical services in the area organizes the phone numbers and hours already published.
Frequently asked questions
What are the emergency numbers around Laguna Garzón?
The same as everywhere in Uruguay: 911 for the police, 104 for the fire brigade and 1722 for the CIAT toxicology centre in cases of poisoning, stings or bites. Inside the protected area there is also the park rangers' number, 092 374 035. All of them dial with one tap from the cards on this page.
Is there medical care in José Ignacio?
Yes. The Policlínica José Ignacio is open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 19:00, and the Centro de Salud Asistencial Médica has operated in the village for more than sixty years. For more serious emergencies, SEMM Mautone has a hospital in Maldonado and a 24-hour mobile emergency service with coverage in José Ignacio and Garzón under agreements.
Do the beaches have lifeguards all year?
No. The Maldonado department government staffs José Ignacio's Brava and Mansa beaches from mid-November until Tourism Week, the Uruguayan Easter holiday. The rest of the year the coast is unpatrolled, and extra caution is advisable in the sea.
Who do I call for a fire or a sting on the lagoon?
For a fire, call 104 (the La Juanita fire station) and the park rangers (092 374 035), who also take reports at the protected-area visitor centre. For a sting or bite, call the CIAT (1722) and then go to the nearest medical centre, following the protocol on this page.