Pickleball in Paradise – Stay, play and vacay in gorgeous Costa Rica!
You’re invited to stay, play, and vacay in gorgeous Costa Rica!
By Lorie Steiner
If you’re an avid pickleballer, you love hearing that distinctive ‘pop’ of the ball hitting the paddle; the challenge of the game; the satisfaction that you gave it your all; and leaving the court keen to play again. So, imagine playing that next match at a fabulous tropical retreat in the Costa Rican rainforest. Exciting, right?
Enter Invictus, the home of Pickleball Vacations Costa Rica, with an invitation for you to enjoy a first-class pickleball getaway, just outside the beautiful town of Uvita. The all-inclusive retreats and coaching camps combine daily court time, luxury jungle accommodations, chef-prepared meals, wellness classes and adventure-filled excursions. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newbie, you’ll enjoy expert instruction, socializing and time to just relax.
In the beginning…
It all started with three Canadians, and a shared love for pickleball, adventure and the beauty of Costa Rica. Founded by Sheila Carroll, who envisioned a unique retreat experience, Invictus was brought to life with the dedication of her nephews, Michael and Jason Hogue.
Sheila shares, “Michael and I started developing these 30 acres four years ago. We now have two restaurants, a bar near the courts, a plunge pool, the stunning yoga deck and a daycare centre with a playground setup. That’s important because a lot of the local folks that come here want to be able to drop their kids off at daycare and go play pickleball. Or if one parent wants to play pickleball and the other wants to do a yoga class or a barré class, we now have the yoga deck with different types of wellness classes, or they might just want to go to the beach.”
Michael built the property from the ground up, creating a space that blends respectfully into the lush Costa Rican jungle. Together, he and Jason manage the Airbnb, ensuring every guest enjoys a welcoming stay in their cabina. Thanks to Jason’s passion and knowledge as a pickleball coach and player, Invictus has now transformed into a must-go pickleball vacation retreat centre, where guests can train, play and unwind in paradise.
Jason explains, “This isn’t your typical, sit on the beach with a drink kind of retreat. It’s a really cool, Costa Rican jungle adventure. We include excursions to the gorgeous waterfalls and the scenic national park, and pickleball is included as a fun part of the experience. Every day, you’re being active and inspired.”
What began as a love of sport has evolved into a boutique experience that blends luxury hospitality, world-class coaching and Costa Rica’s effortless charm. Whether you come solo, as a couple or with friends, you’ll discover that Invictus offers more than a game – it’s a celebration of balance, connection and play.
Catch the vibe
Invictus pickleball retreats are hosted at the private jungle resort just outside the charming town of Uvita. Surrounded by lush rainforest, it’s the ideal setting for adventure, relaxation and high-level pickleball in paradise.
Most retreats host between 12–20 guests. This small group format allows personalized attention, tailored coaching to your needs and a fun, community vibe throughout the week. Non-playing guests are absolutely welcome and receive a reduced rate. They can enjoy all meals, excursions and resort amenities – just without the pickleball programming.
Tailor your pickleball vacay, your way
Jason notes, “We also do custom retreats, so if a pickleball club, say from Canada, wants to bring a crew of 26 people, we can rent out the whole resort to them and they can play as much as they like. They can plan the trip, tell us what they want to include, and we can customize the entire vacation for them. Give them exactly what they want.”
As part of the customized experience, you can choose from pickleball clinics, private lessons, types of gameplay, thrilling excursions, wellness packages and flexible options for group size, stay length and meal preferences. You’ll also have exclusive access to four covered top-line pickleball courts. Or join one of the outstanding, ready-made pickleball retreats, carefully curated by Invictus to group guests with similar pickleball skill levels, ensuring a balanced, fun experience.
“I’m a major pickleballer,” Jason says, “and I made these facilities and options exactly the way I would want it if I was going on a trip. We’re an interesting breed… we’re addicted to the sport. So, if you get a good vibe from somewhere, you will come back. I think pickleball players are going to fall in love with this.”
Accommodation
When it comes to where to stay, it’s all cabinas, all the time. But, wow, are they special. No matter how many are in your group, you’ll be accommodated in style. For example, the large, 6-bedroom cabina has its own infinity pool!
PRIVATE SIX BEDROOM (sleeps up to 10 guests). Escape to a luxurious 6-bedroom jungle cabina, tucked away in the heart of Costa Rica’s rainforest. Enjoy a private infinity pool, full outdoor kitchen, BBQ and expansive decks with swing chairs and serene views. With king and queen bedrooms, spa-style bathrooms – including outdoor showers and a deep soaking tub – plus a washer/dryer, kitchenette and dedicated workspaces, this is your private paradise in the jungle.
There are also two 4-bedroom units, four 2-bedroom units and four 1-bedroom units. All are modern and comfy, each with their own front porch. Sheila says, “We’ve been renting our cabinas for two years through Airbnb and guests love them. The 6-bedroom is especially stunning because the infinity pool is in the living room/dining room.”
Invictus Pickleball Club
A short walk from your cabina, the Invictus Pickleball Club boasts four professionally built pickleball courts, all covered and fully lit for play at any time of day or night. Features include high-quality nets, court dividers to prevent balls from crossing over, roofing for sun and rain protection, and a large, air-conditioned lounge beside the courts with drinks, tables and video analysis stations. “You can sit, have a drink, watch your friends play, and relax,” says Jason. “We also have a large double-sided bar and a plunge pool, where you can hop in after playing to cool off. And a ping-pong table. If you want, you can just chill there during the day and enjoy your vacation.”
Location, location, location
“This is a huge property and there are a lot of people in the surrounding area that are really excited about what we’ve done here,” says Sheila. “Uvita, where we’re located, is considered the fastest growing area in Costa Rica. The surrounding area has a population of about 3500. What is important to note is that we have a 10-day festival here – at the end of February and beginning of March – called the Envision Festival. It’s a little like Burning Man and it draws eight to ten thousand people from around the world to this area. We are already booked up for that entire time this year.”
The town of Uvita is one of the most beautiful and adventure-packed areas in Costa Rica and only a 10-minute walk from Invictus. There you’ll find a fab food scene – everything from local Costa Rican sodas and seafood shacks to smoothie bars, Italian bistros and craft breweries.
Popular activities include whale and dolphin tours, snorkeling at Marino Ballena, surfing and paddleboarding, mangrove tours, chocolate & coffee farm experiences, zip-lining, ATV rides and more. Walk the trails, pick fruit, enjoy the toucans flying by and the howler monkeys swinging in the trees. Breathtaking Nauyaca Waterfalls is 18 miles from the resort village and a wonderful day trip destination.
A whale of a tail
Just a 20-minute walk from Invictus pickleball resort is Ballena National Park and the famous Whale’s Tail beach. This is the favorite spot of humpback whales and several types of dolphins, and they put on quite a show. Depending on the season, the park turns into natural scenery for viewing. Humpback whales arrive every year (from July to October) to carry out their reproductive cycles, at a point in the park with a rocky and sandy formation resembling a whale’s tail. This curiosity is the park’s main attraction. Inside the park you can visit the tombolo (whale’s tail), enjoy and walk along the beaches or snorkel or scuba dive to see a wide variety of marine life.
Wellness
Movement doesn’t just happen on the pickleball courts at Invictus. A unique variety of wellness classes, with experienced studio practitioners, are open for guests to participate.
Sophia Warner’s Disco Dance Camp is a lively community outreach program hosted by the Invictus Pickleball Retreat Center and designed especially for children ages 6 to 13. The wellness deck transforms into a dazzling dance space where local kids gather together to exercise and move their bodies. The monkeys have also been coming out to join in the trees enjoying the music and the dance! Kids are encouraged to explore rhythm, coordination and teamwork while having fun and building healthy habits. Sophia’s Disco Dance Camp represents Invictus’s growing commitment to community wellness for all ages. Invictus is a place for not just adults to enjoy a healthy experience but for kids too.
Taught by Kai Warner, HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) is a fast-paced workout that alternates short bursts of intense exercise with brief recovery periods. It efficiently boosts cardiovascular fitness, burns fat and builds strength in a short amount of time. Typical sessions last 30-60 minutes and can include exercises like squats, sprints or burpees, making it ideal for improving endurance and metabolism with minimal time commitment. You’ll find Kai teaching and training on the Invictus platform, as it becomes filled with locals and tourists who enjoy getting an intense workout in the jungle setting. Kai combines strength and cardio with each routine to maximize the experience. The music in her class is another highlight her clients enjoy. You don’t have to miss a great workout while you’re on vacation at Invictus. Join Kai on the platform for her HIIT class. You won’t be disappointed!
Leading the BARRE program, Kathia is a passionate movement artist and educator, who has trained, created and performed alongside critically acclaimed teachers and artists around the world. Her experience as a dance artist deeply informs her teaching, where she weaves various movement modalities and invites participants to connect with sensation, groove and authentic expression. Her classes have been described as creative, invigorating and motivating. Kathia has facilitated specialized movement workshops, Barre teacher training, and holds certifications in Barre, Pilates, Pre/Postnatal Fitness, Core Confidence, Yoga 650 hours and Meditation. Most recently, she completed her Pilates Teacher Training in Reformer, Cadillac, Barrel and Chair.
An active getaway
The pickleball vacation at Invictus is different from a regular tropical getaway. Jason describes a typical day:
“It starts with a healthy breakfast and then we go down to the pickleball courts around 8am. We do a 90-minute lesson and then they play for 90 minutes. Sometimes we go on outings in the afternoon, and guests have the option to play again for an hour or two at night. They can choose open play because we also have a membership at our Invictus Pickleball Club. Our plan is to have ‘ladder night’ where they can play with the locals if they choose or join into league nights. It’s a combination with as much pickleball as they want or as little.
“Most of our bookings are couples, but a lot of singles as well, and groups of six come together and I’ll join them in with other groups. We’re shooting for about 20 people maximum, so it’s close-knit and people will know each other really well by the end of it. We leave a lot of free time during the day, except for the three days when we take them for a three-four-hour guided excursion. There are great options for extra excursions – we’ve chosen simple ones, and we can set up other ones that people choose.
Are you ready to play?
Jason & Michael hail from Deep River in the Ottawa Valley and Sheila from the Beaches area in Toronto. Together, they’re living their best lives in Costa Rica and want so much to share the joy with pickleball enthusiasts from ‘back home’ and beyond.
Looking ahead:
Michael is starting to build luxe Bali-style villas on the Invictus property, just up above the hill with an ocean view, yet still secluded.
Sheila is embracing her passion for giving back to the community, so the daycare is a project close to her heart. Her goal is to continue doing development work for single mothers and youth in Costa Rica.
And Jason… he’s excited to meet you here on the courts at Invictus. He shares, “As proud Canadians, we want to bring fellow Canadians together for a good time, and where better than our ultimate pickleball playground in Uvita.”
At Pickleball Vacations Costa Rica, competition gives way to connection, and luxury is measured not just in amenities but in experience – from the laughter shared between matches to the sunsets that end each day. These amazing retreats bring together the best of Costa Rica’s natural beauty, boutique hospitality, wellness classes and the joyful rhythm of pickleball. For travelers seeking a playful escape, Invictus proves that paradise can come with a paddle.
Now is the time to plan your exciting Pickleball Vacation Retreat in Costa Rica – and tell your friends! Visit pickleballvacationscostarica.com for all the details. To learn more about Invictus wellness programs, go to invictus.biz.
