
There are plenty of fun things to do when you retire in Costa Rica
Retirement is what you make it, and retirement in Costa Rica is bound to be anything but boring.
Suppose you’re wondering what to do in Costa Rica when retired and new to the country. In that case, you’ll be happy to know that there is plenty to keep you busy and active, all while enjoying and exploring your new home.
If you’ve purchased a condo or home in or near Los Sueños Resort, Herradura, Costa Rica, you’ll be excited to learn that there are numerous activities to enjoy right in your own home or “backyard.”
Here are a few ideas:
Golf La Iguana Golf Course in Los Sueños Resort
La Iguana Golf Course, located within the Los Sueños Resort in Herradura, Costa Rica, boasts 18 championship holes with a 73.4-course rating, par-72, and slope 145.
Designed by Ted Robinson, this beautiful golf course is surrounded by nature. Costa Rica’s lush jungle rainforest is teeming with exotic birds and animals, which will accompany you during your game.
Naturally challenging for players of any skill level, this course’s layout and design are second to none.
With PGA-qualified golf professionals available to coach or assist you, a vast driving range, putting green, and custom rental equipment, you’ll enjoy the finest facilities and services that Costa Rica golf has to offer.
No matter what your current level of play, this top-notch facility will advance your game.
Sports fishing in the Pacific waters off the Costa Rica coast
An exciting sport for anyone, the waters just outside of Los Sueños Resort and Marina offer up some of the world’s most prolific sport fishing.
Whether you’re a boat owner or not, you can enjoy in-shore or deep-sea fishing any day of the week during your retirement in Costa Rica. With a 200 slip marina and readily available charters, the ocean is yours to conquer.
Take up Yoga
Private yoga teachers and yoga studios abound in the Jaco Beach and Herradura area near Los Sueños Resort. Costa Rica has hundreds of yoga studios and retreat centers all over the country.
Whether you’re interested in learning how to do yoga and wish your practice to be facilitated by an instructor, or you want to go all out and take a yoga teacher training course, your options in Costa Rica are wide open.
Bird watching in Costa Rica is nothing short of spectacular
With nearly 1000 known bird species in Costa Rica classified within 82 different families, there is plenty of plumage to catch sight of in the beautiful jungles surrounding your new home.
There are often variations in plumage between females and males within each species, breeding, nonbreeding males, and adults and juveniles.
Bird watching may sound boring at first, but birds can be pretty fascinating. In Costa Rica, you’re bound to catch sight of some birds that you’ve only ever seen in a zoo or on a cereal box. From Quetzals to Macaws, Toucans, and Hummingbirds, the bird population is quite diverse, and you’re likely as not to see them right outside your bedroom window.
Gardening
With Costa Rica’s rich soil, humidity, and temperate weather, growing vegetables, herbs, flowers, and trees, this beautiful Central American country is a gardener’s dream come true.
Forget about trying to find beautiful fresh produce and herbs at your local grocery store- you’ll be able to have everything you need right in your backyard.
For those who love to compost and go all organic, y0u’ll find plenty of resources for that too. Check out 360 Solutions Verdes for all your composting equipment needs.
Start a blog or other online gig
Retired but not quite ready to play all day and hang up your working hat? Why not start a blog or an online business? Costa Rica has good internet service providers, and all you need is a good computer and Internet connection. You’re on your way to beating boredom, making money, and perhaps starting a whole new career after your career.
Learn Spanish while living as a retiree in Costa Rica
Who says an “old dog” can’t learn new tricks? What could be more fun– and valuable– than learning to speak Spanish while living in retirement in Costa Rica?
With plenty of Spanish teachers and language schools to choose from, you can opt for a local experience or get online and learn by using an application such as Duolingo or Busuu.
A few more tips?
- Watch television and listen to the radio in Spanish
- Get out your Spanish/ English dictionary and start reading some Spanish language books or newspapers
- Practice practice practice, even if you feel a little nervous that you’ll get it wrong. Ticos are very kind and appreciate it when someone tries. They will likely understand what you are trying to say – though they may or may not correct you if you make a mistake. Ticos are inordinately polite, so ask them to help by correcting your pronunciation or vocabulary missteps.
Make new friends and socialize in the Costa Rica expatriate community
With such a vast ex-pat community in Costa Rica, making new friends who are like-minded people can be effortless.
Where to find them?! There are Facebook groups, there is Internations.org, and there are some political groups like Democrats Abroad and Republicans Abroad.
Want more? Check out the Tico Times extensive list of clubs and organizations for expatriate English speakers in Costa Rica.
Explore Costa Rica and surrounding Latin American countries
If you read our last article about buying a car in Costa Rica, you’ve probably got wheels by now and can start exploring this beautiful country.
For such a small country, there is plenty to see and experience. Costa Rica has rainforest, cloud forests, and dry forests. There are hundreds of beaches down the Pacific coast and on the Caribbean side, we well.
Hiking trails, waterfalls, rivers, and lagoons, the country is rich with flora and fauna. You’ll find plenty of adventure and discovery as you take your time and explore Costa Rica and its beautiful Latin American neighbors.