Direct Aeroméxico, LATAM, Avianca, and Copa Airlines routes make LAX the natural West Coast departure point for pet moves to Mexico, Central America, and South America — most with no quarantine and no titer test required.
From a quick Mexico City move to a multi-leg trip through Panama, we coordinate the full LAX departure and destination paperwork.
Why LAX for this route: Aeroméxico flies direct from LAX to Mexico City, Guadalajara, and other major Mexican cities, making LAX the natural West Coast departure point for Mexico moves. For Central and South America, LAX connects through major hubs like Panama City (Copa Airlines) and has direct LATAM and Avianca service to several countries — though for some South American destinations, Miami remains the larger overall gateway. We'll always route your pet through whichever airport gives the safest, most direct path for your specific destination.
Mexico, Central America, and South America are consistently among the destinations we ship pets to most often from LAX — driven by retirement relocations, returning expat families, and Southern California's deep ties to Latin America. The good news for most of this region: no mandatory quarantine, no rabies titer test, and often no cargo-only restriction, which makes these routes considerably simpler than moves to Australia, the UK, or parts of Asia.
That said, "Latin America" spans dozens of countries with their own import authorities — SENASICA in Mexico, MIDA in Panama, the ICA in Colombia, and SENASA in Costa Rica, among others. Our Latin America Relocation Hubs guide covers the airports and government offices in detail; this page focuses on what's specific to departing from LAX.
Airlines Flying Pets from LAX to Latin America
Unlike routes that force cargo-only travel, most of this region allows pets in the cabin or as checked baggage depending on size and airline policy — giving you more flexibility than routes like the UK or Australia:
Aeroméxico
LAX → Mexico City, Guadalajara & more
Direct flights, in-cabin and checked baggage options for small/medium pets.
LATAM Airlines
LAX → Lima, Santiago & connections
Direct South America service with its own pet policy per country.
Avianca
LAX → Bogotá & connections
Common routing into Colombia and onward South America.
Copa Airlines
LAX → Panama City (Tocumen) & connections
The "Hub of the Americas" — used for Panama and onward Central/South America routing. Pet cargo program doesn't run every day; see our Tocumen hub notes.
Confirm your exact route before booking. Not every airline flies pets nonstop from LAX to every Latin American country — some routes require a connection through Panama City, Mexico City, or Miami. We check current airline pet policy and routing availability before recommending your departure plan.
Requirements by Destination
Here's how the four countries we ship to most often from LAX compare:
🇲🇽
Mexico
Easiest
No quarantine, no titer test. A health certificate valid for 15 days is checked on arrival at the SENASICA/OISA office, with the import certificate issued the same day for most U.S. travelers. Often the fastest destination on this entire cluster of pages — frequently completed in 2–3 weeks.
🇨🇷
Costa Rica
Easy
No quarantine, no titer test — just a properly timed rabies vaccination (21+ days before travel) and a USDA-endorsed health certificate. See our full Costa Rica guide for the complete SENASA requirements.
🇵🇦
Panama
Easy
No quarantine, no titer test. Import permit and health certificate reviewed by MIDA on arrival at Tocumen. Typically routed via Copa Airlines, whose pet cargo program has limited weekly operating days — something we plan your travel date around.
🇨🇴
Colombia
Moderate
No quarantine required, but the ICA (Colombian Agricultural Institute) requires advance pre-registration and a Sanitary Inspection Certificate (CIS) issued at El Dorado (Bogotá). Slightly more document-intensive than Mexico, Costa Rica, or Panama, but still well short of the complexity of Australia or the UK.
Moving somewhere else in the region? Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and most of the rest of Latin America follow similarly straightforward, documentation-focused rules with no mandatory quarantine for pets from the U.S. Contact us for a country-specific breakdown — we've completed real relocations across the region, including Seattle to LAX to Uruguay and Seattle to Panama City.
Estimated Cost: LAX to Mexico & Latin America
This is generally the most affordable region we ship to from LAX, since most countries avoid quarantine fees and allow lower-cost cabin or checked-baggage travel instead of cargo-only fares:
Destination
Typical Timeline
Estimated Total Cost (USD)
Mexico
2–3 weeks
$500 – $1,800
Costa Rica
6–8 weeks
$800 – $3,000+
Panama
6–8 weeks
$1,000 – $3,200
Colombia
8–10 weeks
$1,200 – $3,500
Ranges include airline fare, crate, documentation, and destination permit fees. Get a personalized quote for your specific pet, destination, and travel method.
Planning a Move to Mexico or Latin America From LAX?
We coordinate airline booking, documentation, and destination-country requirements so your pet's move goes smoothly from the very first step.
Is it easier to ship a pet to Latin America than to Australia or the UK?
Generally, yes. Most Latin American countries don't require quarantine or a rabies titer test for pets from the U.S., and several allow in-cabin or checked-baggage travel rather than forcing cargo-only shipping. Mexico in particular is one of the fastest destinations we handle, often completed in 2 to 3 weeks.
Can my pet fly in the cabin with me to Mexico or Costa Rica?
Often, yes, depending on your pet's size and the specific airline's policy. Unlike the UK or Australia, most of this region does not mandate manifest cargo travel, so smaller pets frequently qualify for in-cabin or checked-baggage transport.
Do you fly pets direct from LAX, or through another hub like Panama or Miami?
It depends on your destination. Mexico and several South American cities have direct LAX service via Aeroméxico, LATAM, and Avianca. Other routes, particularly into Central America, commonly connect through Panama City on Copa Airlines. We confirm the safest, most direct routing for your specific destination before booking.
What if my destination country isn't listed here?
This page covers the four countries we ship to most often from LAX, but we've completed pet relocations across Latin America, including Uruguay and others. Contact us for a country-specific requirements breakdown and quote.
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2901 Friendly Grove RD NE Olympia, WA 98506 Washington & the Pacific Northwest (SEA-TAC)
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