Hospitalized in Latin America. We bring Canadians Home.
We organize commercial medical escorts and air ambulance transfers from Central and South America back to Canada – from first call to final handover.
Latin American Repatriation Cases require a Specialist
Latin America is a continent of vastly different health care systems and limited flight options. A repatriation from Cali, Colombia looks nothing like one from Cuzco, Peru or Bariloche, Argentina. Repatriation out of Suriname, Venezuela or Paraguay is possible but brings a different level of complexity to the operation.
But you have come to the right place. We have ample experience successfully retrieving Canadians from Latam countries. We know which airlines and routes work, and which don’t. We understand the practical obstacles. We speak Spanish – and we work with trusted assistance partners on the ground.
Medical Repatriation from Colombia to Canada
Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena are the most common starting points for medical repatriations. We use direct flights with Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet or Avianca into Montreal and Toronto.
For less common cities in Colombia like Cali, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla and Pereira we have a number of available itineraries with a stopover. A combination of domestic air ambulance and a commercial flight can start anywhere in Colombia.
A Colombia to Canada air ambulance can be arranged and coordinated at short notice out of our office in Alberta, Canada.
Medical Repatriation from Brazil to Canada
Main departure points for Canadians are Air Canada’s routes from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to either Montreal or Toronto, and later this year WestJet’s direct connection between Sao Paulo and Calgary. Pickups in the interior of Brazil often warrant separate domestic flights into the hubs first, using Azul, Gol or LATAM.
Interestingly, some medical repatriations from the lower parts of Africa, like South Africa, Angola, Botswana and Namibia to Canada can also be routed via Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Medical Repatriation from other countries in Central and South America
Ask us about our medical repatriation options out of Peru Argentina, Chile, Panama, Ecuador, Venezuela, Honduras, Belize, among other countries on the continent.
We guarantee a quick response, with a trusted Canadian company coordinating the return of a loved one either by Commercial Medical Escort, medicalized private charter or a full-scope air ambulance. Our bilingual repatriation staff is only one phone call away.
How Much does Medical Repatriation from Latin America to Canada cost?
There is a wide range of price tags when it comes to commercial medical repatriations out of Latin America. It depends on location, routing, flight availability, Cabin Class, length of the retrieval mission, third party services needed, season, etc.
- Belize to Canada: anywhere between $10,000 and 16,000 Canadian.
- Chile to Canada: $18,000 to $50,000 Canadian.
- Costa Rica to Canada: $12,000 to $25,000 Canadian.
- Brazil, Colombia, Peru or Argentina to Canada: anywhere between $15,000 to 50,000 Canadian.
For comparison: an air ambulance from South America to Canada will cost anywhere between $175,000 and $300,000 Canadian.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I get medically disembarked at a port of call, do I need to find my own way to a major hub before I can get repatriated?
No. We’ll retrieve the patient from the coastal city and organize the repatriation all the way to Canada. We’ll involve trusted local assistance partners to help.
If I experience a medical emergency high in the mountains, like La Paz, Bolivia or Cuzco in the Peruvian Andes, do I need to get transported to lower levels first, before I can be repatriated?
No. Unless your condition requires stabilization at a lower altitude. On average, commercial flights are pressurized at an altitude of 4,000 to 8,000 feet, so starting the journey at a higher altitude is not necessarily a problem.
How do you deal with the extremely long travel times between a remote location in Southern Chile or Argentina and a destination in rural Canada?
We either meet halfway with a Argentinean/Chilean team, or we deploy two medical escorts who can alternate during a repatriation by commercial flight. We plan the itinerary carefully – rest stops, seat configurations, care requirements – around what the patient can handle, not just what’s available.
How quickly can you be at bedside and start moving the patient?
Once the patient is Fit to Fly, we can have a medical escort up in the air within 24 hours. Complex routing or remote locations may add time, especially when there are delays or misconnections on the way to Latin America.
We coordinate discharge with the local hospital. We will not move a patient before it is safe to do so. If an air ambulance is the right call, we will tell you.