InsidePanamaComparisons
Landing in Panama City with a young child and looking for a bilingual daycare? Comparison of the 5 most-used structures by French- and English-speaking expat families — accepted ages, languages, rates, waitlists.
Updated : May 2026
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| Service | Score | Price | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
 The Children's GardenWinnerCosta del Este. Bilingue EN/ES, équipe internationale, horaires 7h-18h. La référence expat. | 4.6 | 950 USD | |
Knightsbridge SchoolsSan Francisco. Curriculum britannique IB, anglais courant. Communauté expat britannique + nordique. | 4.5 | 1100 USD | See offer ↗ |
Casa de NiñosBella Vista. Bonne crèche bilingue panaméenne. Rapport qualité-prix solide. | 4.3 | 720 USD | |
Aprende Bilingual DaycareEl Cangrejo. Bilingue, équipe latino-américaine. Bon pour intégration linguistique. | 4.2 | 800 USD | |
Smart Kids CenterMarbella + plusieurs sites. Multi-établissements, prix corrects, ambiance familiale. | 4.0 | 680 USD |
The Children's Garden
4.6
Costa del Este. Bilingue EN/ES, équipe internationale, horaires 7h-18h. La référence expat.
Pros
Cons
Knightsbridge Schools
4.5
San Francisco. Curriculum britannique IB, anglais courant. Communauté expat britannique + nordique.
Pros
Cons
Casa de Niños
4.3
Bella Vista. Bonne crèche bilingue panaméenne. Rapport qualité-prix solide.
Pros
Cons
Aprende Bilingual Daycare
4.2
El Cangrejo. Bilingue, équipe latino-américaine. Bon pour intégration linguistique.
Pros
Cons
Smart Kids Center
4.0
Marbella + plusieurs sites. Multi-établissements, prix corrects, ambiance familiale.
Pros
Cons
Our pick
For French- and English-speaking families: Costa del Este, fluent English, international team, solid bilingual program. Costa del Este safety + extended hours (7am-6pm). Long waitlists — reserve 2-3 months ahead.
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Private international daycares: $750-1,300/month (Costa del Este, San Francisco). Private bilingual local: $500-850/month (Bella Vista, El Cangrejo). Public (CEFACEI/IPHE): free but mostly Panamanian residents only. Meals and supplies often extra ($50-150/month).
Most accept from 6 months ("infant care"). The Children's Garden and Knightsbridge from 4 months on file review. Casa de Niños from 1 year. Beyond 4 years, move to preschool before international school.
No purely French daycare in Panama City. Lycée Paul Gauguin (AEFE) offers nursery from age 3 in French. For 0-3, solution: bilingual EN/ES daycare + French immersion at home. Some French-speaking nannies via expat Facebook groups.
No, most private daycares accept expat children without cédula, on passport + Panama lease + deposit. Public daycares require cédula. For Friendly Nations Visa in progress, attorney letter suffices in 95% of cases.
Child + parent passports, up-to-date vaccination record (Panamanian equivalent within 3 months of arrival), health booklet, lease, parents' employment/SA proof. Pediatric medical test sometimes required ($50-80 at a private pediatrician).
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