Route 27, the toll road linking San José to the central Pacific beaches, has logged 299 animal rescues since 2015 — 149 dogs, 58 cats and 92 wild creatures including sloths, ocelots, iguanas, snakes, turtles, coatis and birds. If you're driving it on your way to Jacó or Manuel Antonio and spot an animal that's been hit, the advice from operator Globalvia and the Refugio Animal de Costa Rica is simple: slow down, keep your distance and phone it in. Don't pick anything up.
Why not help directly? An animal that's been struck can be in shock, have hidden fractures, or bite when approached — even if it seems calm. Handling it wrongly can worsen injuries, and snakes add obvious risk. Biologist Rodolfo Vargas of the refuge says the right move is to alert other drivers without sudden maneuvers, brake gradually rather than swerving, and let trained staff handle the rescue.
The highway's control center runs 24 hours a day on 2588-4040. If the animal is creating immediate danger for traffic, call 911. For specialist guidance, Refugio Animal de Costa Rica can be reached at 8828-0324. When reporting, give your location as precisely as possible — ideally the nearest kilometer marker — plus your direction of travel, whether the animal appears injured, and whether it's blocking a lane.
The rescue tally reflects a decade-old assistance program that Globalvia continues to invest in. Fifteen Route 27 staff recently completed training with refuge specialists, learning to spot dangerous species, recognize fractures and handle animals correctly. Communications director Montserrat Courrau noted that every animal presents a different situation, which is exactly why staff need the training.
The bigger picture: wildlife roadkill keeps climbing across Costa Rica, and a new law now mandates wildlife crossings on public infrastructure projects. For travellers, this is more than a feel-good roadside story. The route to Costa Rica's most popular beach strip cuts through wildlife habitat, and tourists driving rental cars are often the first on the scene after an accident. Knowing the numbers — and resisting the urge to scoop up a stunned sloth — could save an animal's life and your own skin. Selfie-sloth rescues gone wrong are a real risk; the professionals have the equipment and know-how.
If you're self-driving the San José–Pacific corridor, store 2588-4040 in your phone before setting out. And if you'd rather not drive at all, the same road carries frequent intercity buses — though then you'll have to leave the rescuing to someone else.
