Many retirees wonder about staying fit in Costa Rica. Fitness is not a problem here.

We have scores of gyms and health clubs from which to choose. There is also every imaginable outdoor activity with the exception of snow skiing in Costa Rica.

Those who like to walk have come to the right place. Walking is a great way to become familiar with any area of Costa Rica. I am an avid walker and am always looking for an excuse to not use my cars. My son son jokes that the rise in gas prices will never affect me since I am always walking or taking buses instead of using my cars. Almost every day I walk one-half hour from my home to the McDonald’s in downtown Heredia. I spend about 45 minutes reading the local newspapers and then either walk home or to the Auto Mercado supermarket to do some shopping. I walk about an hour or two daily.

When I go to San Jose I take the bus and get off at the Sabana Park about 15 blocks before the downtown area. That way I get some additional exercise. Speaking of the Sabana Park, it is a another great place for walking.

Sabana Park, it is a another great place for walking.

Since I walk almost every day I am in good walking shape. A couple of years ago I walked from downtown San Jose to the city of Cartago. It’s about a five hour walk and 21 kilometers away. There is a yearly pilgrimage that follows the same route.

Costa Rica is mountainous country which lends itself to hiking. If you are really adventurous and in really good shape you can climb Cerro Chirripó which is over 10,000 feet high. It’s located about three hours from San José in southern Costa Rica near the city of San Isidro. It takes a day or two to get to the summit. The landscape and views have to be seen to be believed.

You should have no trouble staying in good physical shape during your retirement years in Costa Rica.