The hottest way to travel in 2026 has a name: the "playcation" — a trip planned around a hobby instead of a landmark. And no hobby is driving it harder than pickleball, now the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. with more than 24 million players. Resorts everywhere are scrambling to add courts. Bella Vista already has four — private, lit, and reserved entirely for your group. Here's what a Costa Rica pickleball playcation actually looks like.
What's a "playcation"?
A playcation is a vacation built around an activity you love — you pick the destination for the play, and everything else follows. Pickleball is the engine behind the trend: participation has exploded (roughly 5 million players in 2020 to over 24 million by the end of 2025), and travelers are now booking whole trips around it — clinics, round-robins, and friendly tournaments in the sun. The catch at most "pickleball resorts" is that you're still sharing courts with hundreds of other guests. A private-estate playcation flips that.
Why a private-court playcation beats the crowds
On a typical pickleball trip you hunt for open public courts, wait your turn, and scatter your group across hotel rooms. At Bella Vista you rent the entire resort — so the four private courts belong to your group alone, all day, every day. Play a few games before breakfast, break for the pool, and pick it back up under the lights after dinner. No booking, no waiting, no strangers.
The Costa Rica pickleball playcation at Bella Vista
Bella Vista is a gated mountaintop resort you book as a whole — four private homes that sleep up to 28, a private infinity pool, a volcano-style jacuzzi, and the four pickleball courts. It's a true stay-and-play setup: everyone lives and plays on one property. On-site caretakers can cook fresh local meals (optional meal plans; food is extra), and there's a van and SUV to rent right at the property so you explore on your own schedule.
Build your own tournament, camp, or casual getaway
- Clubs & leagues: bring the whole club for a week of unlimited play and a private bracket across all four courts.
- Friends & families: a multi-generational trip where everyone plays, then gathers under one roof for meals and downtime.
- Coaches & organizers: run your own clinic or camp — take over the courts, house everyone on-site, and let us handle lodging, meals, and transfers. (Estimate the numbers with our pickleball retreat calculator.)
Why Costa Rica for a pickleball playcation
Warm winter weather, 360° mountain-and-valley views, and a central location make it easy: Bella Vista is about 1 hour 15 minutes from the San José (SJO) airport, 30 minutes from the beach, and 30 minutes from a waterfall — so your playcation can mix morning pickleball with an afternoon adventure. And if you travel in the green season (May–November), you'll find lush landscapes, fewer crowds, and better rates.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pickleball playcation?
A playcation is a vacation planned around a hobby. A pickleball playcation centers the trip on playing pickleball — at Bella Vista, that means renting a private resort with four courts reserved just for your group.
Does Bella Vista have private pickleball courts?
Yes — four private, lit courts on the property, available to your group all day with no public booking or waiting. It's one of the only whole-property pickleball resorts in Costa Rica.
How many people can come on a pickleball playcation?
The resort sleeps up to 28 across four private homes and ten bedrooms — ideal for clubs, friend groups, families, and camps.
Ready to plan yours? Tell us your dates and group size, or see the full Costa Rica pickleball resort details.