Past Pickleball Getaways

If you’re interested in a Pickleball Getaway and are looking to find out a little more about previous trips, you’re in the right place!

Mayan Riviera, Mexico

2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

We have been hosting getaways to Mexico since 2019, and it has become a fan-favorite destination since then! We hold these getaways at The Grand Palladium Resort and Spa, which is near Cancun, Mexico. This resort lies on the beautiful Mayan Riviera, just a short drive from both Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Nestled among tropical gardens, this palatial escape is surrounded by an abundance of local flora and fauna that create a peaceful, relaxing environment. The resort offers à la carte restaurants, show-cooking restaurants, bars, and freshwater pools. Guests of Pickleball Getaways also receive a discount on spas at the resort!

Here at the Mayan Riviera, travel is all about the turquoise sea that laps at powder-fine sand. This exquisite escape offers the warmest sun, waves, reefs, and natural wells on the Caribbean coast. On previous getaways’ tours, we have visited local ruins in Tulum, swam in cenotes (naturally occurring underwater rivers), or gone on luxury catamaran adventures. On your getaway here, you might go on similar optional tours or other fun adventures!

Daily pickleball clinics are led by our top pros, accumulating to approximately 8+ hours of instruction throughout the week. There will also be plenty of time for open play every day, meetup play with players at your skill level, a pro exhibition, and play-with-the-pros time. We will have three tennis courts divided into 12 temporary pickleball courts for our use.

After playing we will be able to enjoy everything the resort has to offer. There will be various social events for fun and to meet other people on the trip, as well as some off-site excursions that may be available at an additional cost.

In the past, we have hosted getaways at the Mayan Riviera in the winter months (December/January/February).

What’s Included

Luxuriously decorated, fully equipped room
All meals, snacks and drinks (including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages)
All non-motorized activities, nightly entertainment, volleyball, fitness classes, pool activities and beach sports
Daily open pickleball play, including instructional clinics from our team of pros
Airport transfer to and from Cancun International Airport (CUN)
WiFi, taxes, and all tips and gratuities

What’s Not Included

Flights to/from Cancun
Optional, off-site tours
Your pickleball paddle!

Ecuador

2019

As one of our first ever getaways, Ecuador was a special destination that we hope to return to soon. In this South American destination, nature, culture, and pickleball came together. Our top pros brought a group of pickleball players to enjoy some of the most authentic, exciting experiences that Ecuador has to offer! Ecuador is a safe, clean, and organized country, and it is one of the safest places in South America. It has a winning combination of beautiful sights, unique experiences, and rich, flourishing culture.

We set up temporary pickleball courts for our daily use, including skill clinics with our pros, open play, mini round robins, and more.

What’s Included

9 nights of accommodations in 4-star hotels
Breakfast
Tours with private, professional, English-speaking tour guide
Ground transportation from a private, professional driver
Pickleball workshops/clinics, court access
Tours/excursions: cable car ride, market tours, a rose garden tour, equator site tour, hummingbird tour, as well as visits to hot springs, volcanos, waterfalls, and lakes
- Quito, Otavalo, Cotopaxi volcano, Quilotoa Crater Lake, Banos, and more

What’s Not Included

Airfare
Lunch & dinner

Itinerary

Day 1: Complimentary ground transportation from the airport, then a meet-and-greet dinner in the evening.

Day 2: Pickleball in the morning, then head out to Baños. On the way, stop at relaxing hot springs, watch local hummingbirds, drive through “Volcano Avenue”, and stop at “Jeans town” Palileo.

Day 3: Pickleball in the morning, then departure for a waterfall tour. Guests explored stunning nature, enjoyed a waterfall hike, cable car, bungee watch, and visited the famous “Swing at the End of the World”.

Day 4: Pickleball in the morning, then a tour of the beautiful city of Baños. This included lots of free time in Baños, where guests could do things like zip lining, paragliding, visiting hot springs, rafting, and more.

Day 5: Pickleball in the morning, then a drive to Cotopaxi National Park. Here, we visited the magnificent Cotopaxi Volcano.

Day 6: Pickleball in the morning, then a visit to Saquisili Market before hiking up to the stunning Quilotoa Crater Lake.

Day 7: Pickleball in the morning, then drive towards Quito. We stopped to visit a rose farm, equator site, and museum.

Day 8: Full day tour to Otavalo. Stop in small villages and buy local food, watch classic weaving, visit the famous Otavalo market—one of the biggest markets in South America—and listen to local musical instruments performances. We also visited the Peguche waterfall.

Day 9: Pickleball in the morning, then a day tour in Quito. Ride on a cable car, hike with amazing views of Quito, then visit old town Quito, plaza grande, the main cathedral, presidential palace, independence monument, and more.

Day 10: Pickleball in the morning, then complimentary ground transportation to the airport.

Costa Rica

2021, 2022, 2023

We have been hosting getaways to Costa Rica since 2021; getaways here have quickly become popular, and we now regularly host exciting adventures in this amazing and beautiful country. We hold these getaways at The Tilajari Hotel Resort, which is near the famous Arenal Volcano. This secluded resort is surrounded by luscious flora and fauna, creating a lovely, peaceful escape from the typical busyness of resorts.

Here in Costa Rica, beautiful views, fascinating animals, and memorable adventures are the daily norm. This stunning, exotic country is the perfect place to learn new pickleball skills and have an amazing travel experience. Costa Rica is known for its breathtaking nature, wildlife, hot springs, volcanos, and much more!

Daily pickleball clinics are led by our top pros, accumulating to approximately 8+ hours of instruction throughout the week. There will also be plenty of time for open play every day, meetup play with players at your skill level, a pro exhibition, and play-with-the-pros time. We set up temporary pickleball courts, which are covered and lighted—you can play pickleball anytime, rain or shine!

We also have a variety of tours (included in your purchase) that are scheduled around the pickleball activities. These tours include visits to the nearby Arenal Volcano, a local Safari Float Tour, and an adventure along Hanging Bridges. See more information below.

In the past, we have hosted getaways in Costa Rica in the fall and spring.

What’s Included

Luxuriously decorated, fully equipped Junior Suite rooms
3 meals a day - breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Tours/excursions
Daily open pickleball play on 12 courts (covered and lighted), including workshops and skills clinics from our team of top pros
Airport transfer to and from San Jose Airport (SJO)
WiFi and taxes

What’s Not Included

Airfare to the San Jose Airport
Your pickleball paddle
Alcoholic drinks

Tours

Eco Farm/Arenal Volcano Hike/Hot Springs Tour: This tour begins with a lunch of local Costa Rican food and coffee service, followed by a tour of a self-sustaining farm led by a guide. Guests will get the chance to prepare and drink sugarcane juice, as well as sample the farm’s homemade liquor.

The Eco Farm visit is followed by a picturesque hike led by a guide, with gorgeous views of the local volcano. There are 3 hiking options: a short, ten-minute walk straight to the view, a 1.5-mile hike on a consistent incline, or a 2-mile hike on rough terrain with ups and downs. Neither hike is recommended for guests with imperfect mobility or lung/breathing issues. The picturesque view features a cafe with snack and drink options.

The Volcano hike is followed by an evening trip to a Hot Springs World with full food and drink service, multiple pools/temperatures, free lockers/towels, and bathroom facilities. The Hot Springs concludes the tour and guests have a 1-1.5hr ride back to the resort from there.

Safari Float Tour: The Safari Float Tour takes place on a calm river on inflatable rafts that hold 4-5 people as well as a guide. Guests will travel down the river, spotting wildlife and receiving nature information from the guide. A small amount of water may get into the bottom of the raft, so we don’t recommend bringing valuables or nice shoes. There will be an opportunity to swim during the journey, so be sure to bring a swimsuit if you want to participate! The raft trip will end at a local farm where you can enjoy homemade coffee, plantains, cow cheese, and flan made of coconuts. Shuttles will transport you back to the resort.

Hanging Bridges: The Hanging Bridges Tour is a 2-mile, mainly flat hike with the option to take a route with 1 bridge or a route with 5-6 bridges, depending on your personal preference. The hanging bridges are fairly high and move slightly as guests walk over them, but they are perfectly safe and offer spectacular views. Beautiful nature can be found here, along with wildlife such as birds, monkeys, snakes, insects, peccaries, amphibians, and more! The route is shrouded by tree cover, so it stays cool throughout.

Photo Nov 07 2022, 7 12 06 PM (2) (1).jpg

Portugal

2022, 2023

As the first country in Europe where we hosted a Pickleball Getaway, Portugal is a special destination that we are looking forward to returning to again soon. Portugal is one of the most welcoming, beautiful, and historic countries in Europe. Old cities filled with rich culture, excellent food, and endless history are open for exploration, and Pickleball Getaways makes sure that guests see some of the very best parts!

We travel to multiple different hotels and resorts on our getaways to Europe, to ensure guests receive a fulfilling and thorough experience of the country. While most of our other getaways are 7-8 days, our trips to Europe are around 10 days so that we can provide a simultaneously relaxing and enriching pickleball/touring adventure.

Daily pickleball clinics are led by our top pros, accumulating to approximately 10+ hours of instruction throughout the week. There is also open play, a pro exhibition, and play-with-the-pros time. We set up temporary pickleball courts at each of the hotels we travel to, so that you can enjoy pickleball all across the country.

There are a variety of tours and excursions, which include a private bus and English-speaking tour guide. Tours in the past included visits to Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, Obidos, Sintra, Douro Valley, Aveiro, and Evora. We visit castles, monasteries, and other historic buildings, we attend private port/wine tastings and vineyards, and we leave plenty of free time for you to explore on your own, shop, and enjoy new, delicious foods. Other fun activities include a Fado performance, boat ride, and more!

In the past, our getaways to Portugal have been in June.

What’s Included

Lodgings in 4.5-5-star hotels
Breakfast is free of charge at all the hotels. Some other group meals are included
Tours/excursions with private bus, driver, and English-speaking guide
Daily open pickleball play, including workshops and skills clinics from our team of top pros
Airport transfer to and from Lisbon Airport (LIS)
WiFi and taxes