Pickleball Retreats in Costa Rica: Three Places to Play
Our family owns three group estates in three different parts of Costa Rica, and each one gives your group a different way to play: four private lit courts on a mountaintop, covered courts near Arenal Volcano, and the Hacienda Pinilla courts on the Guanacaste coast. Base your pickleball retreat at one, or play all three on one trip.
3 estates in 3 regions: the central mountains, Arenal Volcano (La Fortuna) and the Guanacaste beach
Private courts
4 lit courts on the grounds of Bella Vista, exclusive to the group renting the whole estate
Courts near our other estates
3 covered courts about 20 min from The Majestic Lodge · Hacienda Pinilla courts about 10 min from Johnny's
Players sleeping on site
Bella Vista 28 · Majestic 33 · Johnny's 28
Price per player
Bella Vista from $44.64 per player per night with 28 guests ($33.93 in May, Sept & Oct)
Rain plan
Covered courts at Arenal · Bella Vista pays for covered-court time on rained-out days for whole-property groups
Airports
Bella Vista 1 hr 20 min from SJO · Johnny's 1 hr 30 min from LIR · Majestic about 3 hrs from either
Where to play
Three places to play pickleball in Costa Rica
Mountain, volcano and beach. The courts are different at each estate, and so is everything you do between games. Here is the honest version of each.
Private courts · Central mountains
Private pickleball courts at Bella Vista Private Resort
4private lit courts
On sitesteps from your room
28players sleep on site
Bella Vista is the only one of our estates with courts on its own grounds, and it is the anchor of most pickleball retreats we host. Four dedicated courts sit on a gated mountaintop between San Ramón and Esparza, 80 minutes from the San José airport. Rent the whole estate and they belong to your group alone, from the first game before breakfast to the last one under the lights.
That changes how a week feels. Nobody books a slot or waits behind strangers, 16 players can be on court at once, and the pool is a short walk away when the midday heat arrives.
Courts: 4 outdoor courts on the property, lit for night play
Private: exclusive with a whole-property booking (rent only one of the homes and you share them with other guests)
Rain plan: on a rained-out day, whole-property groups get covered-court time about 25 minutes away at the estate’s expense
Coaching: bring your own pro, or the hosts can connect you with local coaches
Off court: infinity pool, volcano-stone jacuzzi, treehouse hot tub, the Pacific 35 minutes away
Best for: clubs, camps and tournaments that want unlimited court time without leaving the property.
The Majestic Lodge sits at El Castillo on the west side of Arenal Volcano, above the lake. There are no courts on the grounds. Instead, three covered pickleball courts about 20 minutes away can be reserved for a single afternoon or for every day of your stay, and the lodge team books the court time and drives the group as part of the stay.
The roof is the point. La Fortuna is rainforest, green all year, and it rains in every month, usually in the afternoon. On an open court that ends the session. Under cover, the game goes on.
Courts: 3 covered courts about 20 minutes from the lodge, reservable for your group
Rain: covered, so afternoon showers don’t cancel play
Paddles: bring your own; loaners at the courts aren’t guaranteed
Lodging: 10 en-suite bedrooms under one roof, breakfast included for 16
Off court: zip lines 6 minutes away, hot springs under 30, Lake Arenal a short walk
Best for: groups who want pickleball as one part of an adventure trip, with play that doesn’t stop for rain.
Pickleball in Guanacaste at Hacienda Pinilla, from Johnny's Beach Bungalow
10 minto Hacienda Pinilla
3 minwalk to the beach
28sleep on site
Johnny’s is on Playa Avellanas, and the courts are at Hacienda Pinilla, a 4,500-acre resort community ten minutes north on the road toward Tamarindo. Pinilla has pickleball and tennis courts next to its 18-hole golf course, and you don’t need to stay inside the gates to play there.
The day runs on the heat. The vans leave after breakfast, the group plays while it’s cool, and everyone is back for lunch, the pool and an afternoon on the sand. Alberto arranges the court time and drives, so nobody needs a rental car.
Courts: Hacienda Pinilla’s courts, shared with the resort community; we reserve your time
Fees: set by Hacienda Pinilla and change by season; we confirm them when you book
Rain: Guanacaste is the driest province, and green-season showers usually come after the morning session
Transport: two 12-passenger vans for court runs and the Liberia airport, 1 hr 30 min away
Off court: surf at Avellanas, golf at Pinilla, Tamarindo 30 minutes away, a pool, gym and yoga deck at home
Best for: beach lovers, golfers traveling with pickleball players, and groups who want morning games and afternoon surf.
Court time near the Majestic Lodge and at Hacienda Pinilla is booked through our hosts. Fees are set by those venues, so ask us for current rates.
Sample itinerary
The Costa Rica pickleball tour: three regions in 10 days
Three nights at each estate, three kinds of court. Fly into San José, home from Liberia, and the long drives happen only twice.
1Bella Vista
Land, transfer, first hit under the lights
80 minutes from SJO. Unpack, swim, then an easy evening session to shake off the flight.
2–3Bella Vista
Round robins and a tournament
Drills in the cool mornings, the pool at midday, a bracket across all four courts with finals after dinner.
4Majestic Lodge
Mountains to the volcano
about 2 hrs 30 min north to Arenal. Dinner on the covered deck facing the volcano.
Van transfer arranged with your booking
5–6Majestic Lodge
Covered courts and hot springs
Morning games on the covered courts about 20 minutes away, then zip lines, the La Fortuna waterfall and a soak in the hot springs.
7Johnny's Beach Bungalow
Volcano to the Pacific
about 3 hrs 50 min around Lake Arenal to Guanacaste. Sunset swim at Avellanas.
Van transfer arranged with your booking
8–9Johnny's Beach Bungalow
Hacienda Pinilla mornings, surf afternoons
Ten minutes to the courts after breakfast, back for the pool, a surf lesson or a round of golf.
10Liberia
Home from LIR
Breakfast, one more walk on the beach, then 90 minutes to the airport.
Only have a week? Play four nights at Bella Vista and three at Johnny’s, or see every route in our Costa Rica itineraries.
What a pickleball retreat costs per player
On a whole-property booking, lodging is simple division: the more players you bring, the less each one pays. Bella Vista’s rate covers up to 28 guests.
7 nights at Bella Vista
Per player / night
Per player, 7 nights incl. cleaning
Same week in May, Sept or Oct
16 players
$78.13
$576.56
$445.31
24 players
$52.08
$384.38
$296.88
28 players
$44.64
$329.46
$254.46
The math: 7 × $1,250 + $475 cleaning = $9,225 for the week, or 7 × $950 + $475 = $7,125 in the green-season months.
The 10-day tour above (three nights at each estate, breakfast included at the Majestic Lodge and Johnny’s) comes to $12,705 in lodging for 16 players, about $794 each, or $13,665 for 24 players, about $569 each. Transfers, court fees near Arenal and at Pinilla, and meals beyond breakfast are extra. Price your own mix in the trip builder or read the full group trip cost guide.
Who books a pickleball vacation with us
Clubs and leagues
Four courts keep 16 players moving with nobody sitting out, and up to 28 sleep on site at Bella Vista, so the whole club eats at one table. Groups of 33 fit at the Majestic Lodge.
Coaches hosting pickleball camps in Costa Rica
For a camp, the courts are the classroom and the estate is the dorm. Run drills on two of Bella Vista’s courts and match play on the other two, and let the hosts handle meals and airport runs. Model your price and margin in Bella Vista’s pickleball retreat calculator, and see what a pro visit looked like in pickleball camps in Costa Rica with Scott Moore.
Friend groups and families
Half the group plays every morning; the other half wants the pool, the volcano or the surf. Every estate has room for both, and the tour gives each kind of traveler a favorite stop.
Pickleball trips with Scott Moore in Costa Rica
Rain plan and what to pack
Costa Rica’s green season brings afternoon rain, and mornings are usually the clear part of the day, which is when most groups play anyway. Each estate handles the rest differently. At Bella Vista, if rain sets in early and stays, whole-property groups get covered-court time about 25 minutes away, paid by the estate: four courts for two hours or two courts for four hours per rained-out day. At Arenal the courts are covered to begin with. In Guanacaste, the driest province, showers usually arrive after the morning session. If dry weather is a must, December to April is the safe window; see our best time to visit guide.
Your own paddles and a spare. Loaners at the off-site courts aren’t guaranteed.
Outdoor balls, more than you think you need.
Court shoes with lateral support, and a second pair for damp mornings.
Hat, reef-safe sunscreen and electrolytes; the tropical sun is strong even under clouds.
“This place was amazing and a great fit for our large group of 26. Amazing pool and pool house, perfectly in the middle of Poás Volcano, Arenal, and Manuel Antonio. Patricia was great and prepared us multiple delicious meals!”
★★★★★
“Wonderful accommodation, perfect for a large group of 25 people, and we never felt cramped. The rooms and beds are very comfortable, and the terrace for dining is spectacular.”
★★★★★
“We had 21 people comfortably at the bungalow and chose to do the meals included, which were all delicious. Our crew had a lovely time hanging out by the pool and spending time at the beach.”
Questions
Pickleball retreat FAQ
Where can a group play pickleball in Costa Rica?
Our family's three estates give you three options: four private lit courts on the grounds of Bella Vista Private Resort in the central mountains, three covered courts about 20 minutes from The Majestic Lodge at Arenal Volcano, and the Hacienda Pinilla courts about 10 minutes from Johnny's Beach Bungalow in Guanacaste.
Are there private pickleball courts in Costa Rica?
Yes. Bella Vista Private Resort has four lit courts on its own grounds, exclusive to the group that rents the whole estate. It sleeps 28 and is 1 hour 20 minutes from the San José airport.
Can you play pickleball in La Fortuna?
Yes. Three covered courts about 20 minutes from The Majestic Lodge can be reserved for an afternoon or every day of your stay. The lodge team books the time and drives the group. Bring your own paddles, since loaners at the courts aren't guaranteed.
Where do you play pickleball in Guanacaste, near Tamarindo?
Hacienda Pinilla, a resort community between Tamarindo and Playa Avellanas, has pickleball and tennis courts open to groups staying outside its gates. It is about 10 minutes from Johnny's Beach Bungalow and about 30 minutes from Tamarindo. Court fees are set by Pinilla and change by season.
What happens if it rains on our pickleball trip?
The courts near The Majestic Lodge are covered. For groups renting all of Bella Vista, the estate pays for covered-court time about 25 minutes away on a rained-out day: four courts for two hours or two courts for four hours. In Guanacaste, rain usually comes in the afternoon, after the morning session.
How much does a pickleball vacation in Costa Rica cost per player?
Lodging at Bella Vista is $1,250 a night for up to 28 guests, or $950 in May, September and October. With 24 players for 7 nights, that's about $384 per player including cleaning. A 10-day tour of all three estates is about $569 per player in lodging for a group of 24.
Can we play pickleball at all three estates on one trip?
Yes. A 9- or 10-night tour plays Bella Vista's private courts, the covered courts near The Majestic Lodge and Hacienda Pinilla near Johnny's. We coordinate the dates, the court time and the vans between estates.
Check court dates
Tell us how many players and when. We'll line up the courts.
Karen checks all three estates in one go and comes back with availability, a lodging total and a suggested play schedule for your group.
Call or text +1 (602) 430-2232Email hello@bellavistacostarica.com
Three places to play
Mountain courts, volcano courts, beach courts.
Build a pickleball week at Bella Vista, or a tour across all three regions, and see the price per player.
