InsidePanamaComparisons
Heading to Bocas, France, or on a business trip and looking for where to leave your dog in Panama City? Comparison of the 5 options: professional kennels, high-end pet hotels, app-based dog-sitters, home pet-sitters.
Updated : May 2026
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| Service | Score | Price | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
 Doggy Spa PanamaWinnerPet hotel le plus utilisé par expats. Costa del Este, anglais, photos quotidiennes envoyées par WhatsApp. | 4.6 | 35 USD | |
Wagaboo Pet HotelPet hotel haut de gamme. Punta Pacifica, design soigné, espaces individuels avec terrasse. | 4.5 | 45 USD | |
Pet Vacay (Boquete)Kennel en province (Boquete, montagne). Idéal long séjour ou chiens qui n'aiment pas la chaleur PA City. | 4.4 | 25 USD | |
Rover / DogHero / Facebook expatPet-sitters indépendants. Plus reposant pour le chien (à domicile chez vous ou chez le sitter). | 4.3 | 30 USD | See offer ↗ |
K9 Resort PanamaPet hotel + dressage. Pour chiens actifs qui ont besoin de stimulation pendant le séjour. | 4.2 | 32 USD |
Doggy Spa Panama
4.6
Pet hotel le plus utilisé par expats. Costa del Este, anglais, photos quotidiennes envoyées par WhatsApp.
Pros
Cons
Wagaboo Pet Hotel
4.5
Pet hotel haut de gamme. Punta Pacifica, design soigné, espaces individuels avec terrasse.
Pros
Cons
Pet Vacay (Boquete)
4.4
Kennel en province (Boquete, montagne). Idéal long séjour ou chiens qui n'aiment pas la chaleur PA City.
Pros
Cons
Rover / DogHero / Facebook expat
4.3
Pet-sitters indépendants. Plus reposant pour le chien (à domicile chez vous ou chez le sitter).
Pros
Cons
K9 Resort Panama
4.2
Pet hotel + dressage. Pour chiens actifs qui ont besoin de stimulation pendant le séjour.
Pros
Cons
Our pick
For a weekend or 1-7 days, Doggy Spa Panama is the expat standard: Costa del Este, English, daily photos. For 2+ weeks, a home pet-sitter via Rover or expat Facebook groups is gentler on the dog.
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Premium pet hotel (Doggy Spa, Wagaboo): $30-45/day, 1-night min. Standard kennel: $18-25/day. Home pet-sitter (Rover or Facebook): $25-35/day for visit + meals + walk. Resident pet-sitter at your place: $40-60/day (dog in its environment). 30-50% high-season surcharge (July-August, Christmas, mid-February).
Rover (the US app) has limited presence in Panama City — a few active sitters in expat neighborhoods (Costa del Este, Bella Vista, El Cangrejo). More effective: "Panama Expats" and "Pet Sitters Panama" Facebook groups. Spanish app DogHero also has some sitters in Panama (~$25/day).
Doggy Spa Panama (Costa del Este, most used by expats), Wagaboo Pet Hotel (Punta Pacifica, higher-end), Hilton Hotel for Pets (Albrook, mid-range), K9 Resort Panama (Costa del Este, sport/training integrated). All require: up-to-date vaccinations, recent antiparasitic, social behavior.
Yes — several provincial kennels take long stays (2 weeks to 6 months). Pet Vacay in Boquete is best known (~$25/day, 5-hectare grounds, daily walks). For dogs that dislike Panama City heat, it's even better. Transport from PA City possible (~$80-120 round-trip).
Always do a 1-night trial before the long trip. Ask: cédula or passport number (ID verification), 2 references from recent expats, photo of their home (if at theirs), knowledge of 24h vet emergencies (preferred clinic). Written contract with: price, period, emergency contact, dog instructions (meds, allergies, fears).
Tested one of these? Share your take — it helps the next reader.