[Try this 5-Minute Tasty Squash and Beans for a taste of Costa Rican homecooking.]. It is a template outlining the lifestyles of people who live in places like Nicoya, Costa Rica. This has paid off, with Costa Rica frequently scoring high in world happiness and environmental rankings. Calles 27 & 29, Ave 2, In Nicoya, Costa Rica, where average incomes are among the nation's lowest, the average lifespan is 85 among the world's highest. Several of Nicoyas beaches like those in the Ostional National Wildlife Reserve are nesting grounds for Kemps Ridley, green, and leatherback turtles. Nantipas special wellness booking includes yoga, meditation, Ayurvedic and sound therapies, and sessions with wellness coaches and personal trainers. You can hike along trails, go horseback riding, kayak through the mangroves, and swim off the beach. This vigorous village is one of the Blue Zones' unique hotspots. Wellness enthusiasts will delight in the abundance of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. Famous for its gorgeous Pacific Coast beaches and well known for its surfing, wellness, yoga, and vibrant sunsets, the Nicoya peninsula is a paradise for the mind, body, and soul. A blue zone is a geographical area in which the population is the longest-lived. El propsito de la compaa es promover y crear conciencia sobre el consumo de productos de alta calidad, con valor nutricional y . Swimming holes dot the peninsula too, including beneath the Montezuma waterfall. Costa Rica is generally a healthy country because its government decided that education, healthcare, and protecting the environment are more important than funding its armed forces and it abolished its army in 1948. Also, we would love to hear your thoughts on Blue Zones and what constitutes a long lifestyle. He then went on release a book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who Have Lived the Longest in 2008. I'm a Chief Metaverse Officer and a web3 luxury and fashion innovator. Another option is to take the 75-minute ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya from Puntarenas to Paquera. Though Chicago is not one of those cities that uses the template outlined in the Blue Zones Project, the city could adapt to the Blue Zones principals. Blue Zones, those special places on earth where people live longer and healthier lives, first came to prominence in the ground-breaking book by Dan Buettner, Blue Zones. This healthy breakfast gives them the nutrients they need for a day of tending crops and livestock. Costa Rica as a whole is a happy place. In the Nicoya Peninsula, the water is particularly rich in calcium and magnesium which studies show is good for cardiovascular health and preventing cancer. Learn more about typical diet with our Guide to Costa Rican Food. Healthy Blue Zone Recipes | Best Health Magazine Its very interesting, and I mean, who doesnt love a good TED Talk? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Blue Zone - Samara, Costa Rica, Samara Beach, Playa Samara, Carrillo Add the red onions, sliced radishes, tomatoes, orange supremes, cilantro and 3 tablespoons oil to the cabbage. I also suggest watching his TED Talk. Nicoya, Costa Rica - And then there's Nicoya, where Ricardo and his family live, a notable exception to the rule that people in developing countries have shorter life spans than those in developed ones. Currently, three emblematic examples of this Blue Zone include the centenarians Jos Bonifacio "Pachito" Villegas, from Pochote de Quebrada Honda, Nicoya, who rides a horse every day at age 100, Trinidad Espinoza, who recounts anecdotes from Costa Rica in the 1930s continuously while she feeds her chickens, and Dmaso Mendoza, age 102, who, on receiving a visitor, always talks about her years as a dancer and how she enjoys the company of the five generations of her family in Santa Ana de Beln, Carillo. These characteristics are: Despite this, it is believed that 30% of a long healthy life comes from genes and 70% is based on lifestyle. Blue Zones Nicoya - Esencial Costa Rica Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula joins Sardinia, Italy, Okinawa, Japan, Lima Linda, California, and Icaria, Greece as one of the world's five blue zones. Community. To understand some of the reasons why Blue-Zoners live healthier, longer lives, let's take another look at Ricardo's daily routine. Tamarindo is the most popular destination for international visitors with its golden beaches, many with consistent and gentle surfing waves, and nearby national parks and wildlife refuges. These centenarians help teach us the value of those important little things," said Mauricio Ventura, Minister of Tourism, with pride. Cala Luna won most innovative wellness hotel from the Global Beauty & Wellness Awards thanks to daily complimentary wellness activities like hatha yoga, bikes to borrow, farm-to-table cuisine (from La Sendas farm) with organic and biodynamic wines, and the innovative treatments at its Lahari Wellness Center spa. What Costa Rica's Blue Zone Can Teach Us About The Future Of - Forbes These places are full of one-hundred-year-olds who have reached such like live wires, not in bed or in hospital. Nicoya, Costa Rica is one of those unique locations where lifestyle, diet, and low stress have dramatically bettered the lives of Ticos and expats alike. Centenarian Dietary Secrets - The Weston A. Price Foundation In parallel, the ICT has drawn attention to the concept of the Blue Zone as part of its wellness tourism strategy as a distinctive feature in promoting the destination, while the Ministry of Culture and Youth has identified the long-lived inhabitants as bearers of a tradition which they can contribute to recovering for future generations. It was a spontaneous decision to move here, but it was the best decision! The agreement was signed by the Vice President of Costa Rica, Ana Helena Chacn, as well as ministries and institutions of the government and the mayors of the cantons of Nicoya Peninsula: Nandayure, Hojancha, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. Join 19k+ in receiving Expert travel advice, news & promotions! In the future, when we do emerge from the current pandemic, many cities and companies will revisit well-being as a main topic for their citizens and employees. If you want to get underground, Barra Honda National Park has a system of 42 caves and you can explore Terciopelo Cave on a tour. So, having extra-hard water may help keep Nicoyans' hearts strong, and longer. Gone are the days of making your own food and growing organic produce. But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. The Nicoya Peninsula has five cantons where middle-age morality is lowest and centenarians are the most abundant. We use cookies for analytics tracking and advertising from our partners. The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica is one of the five areas in the world that hold the distinguished classification of a Blue Zone. The five known Blue Zones identified in Buettner's book include:. Technology permeates everyday life and Nicoya is the perfect place to go for a digital detox. The information and example set by the inhabitants of the Blue Zone of Nicoya are highly valuable, and some of the life habits can be emulated, planting a blue seed throughout the country. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In parallel, and with the purpose of generating public policies, a Framework Cooperation Agreement in order to establish, promote and support the Blue Zone in the Nicoya Peninsula. Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Market Brief: Nosara, Costa Rica Stomp Capital Do you ever wish you could know the secrets to a long and happy life? Maintaining close ties with family and friends helps reduce stress. People from Nicoya enjoy an ample dose of Vitamin D. They spend most of their time outside tending to the land and enjoy a healthy relationship with surrounding nature. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. In the south between the Paquera ferry and the village of Tambor, youll have an excellent chance of seeing wildlife within the privately-owned Cur Wildlife Reserve. In a few, unique communities around the globe, people live long and heathy lives, up to and past 100. Guevara lives in the Nicoya peninsula of Costa Rica. This trend has been here for many years, but I was the one to notice this special feature in the data," said Bixby, a pioneer in longevity research. Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! However, altering your diet, increasing the amount of exercise you get in a given day, and embracing relationships with family and friends are good places to start. First and foremost, the competition to get ahead isnt the same here as it is in some other western countries. Win-win! Nearby are waterfalls at Montezuma, ziplining near the Cabo Blanco Reserve, and kite surfing. These include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece, and you guessed it; Nicoya, Costa Rica. What are Blue Zones? Go to a soda, thats the name of a small, local caf, and look for casado this popular dish is rice and beans served with vegetables and either fish or meat. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The sustainable and equitable promotion of the long-living population of seniors and the establishment of a cultural agenda aimed at strengthening sustainable, rural, community tourism stood out among the commitments made. Were Thomas (the German) and Sarah (the US-er). It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. That's why this part of Costa Rica is designated a Blue Zone, the term used for just five areas of the world where people live extraordinarily long and vibrant lives. Everything You Need To Know About the Blue Zone in Costa Rica The quality of Nicoyas water might be one of the reasons residents live long enough to become centenarians and almost-centenarians. Nicoya is famous for being a marvelous playground for surfers all over the world. The World Meeting of Blue Zones laid the groundwork, in a spirit of s se puede (yes we can), envisioning a blue Costa Rica, following the example of healthy habits set by more than 900 inhabitants aged 90 or older, and the centenarians of Nicoya Peninsula. Soltara Healing Center is located on the calm and pristine Gulf of Nicoya in the mountainous jungle of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula. Look for howler and capuchin monkeys, parrots and parakeets, and bigger birds like herons and hawks. While a Blue Zone indicates a hotspot of healthy longevity, it also presents a challenge of how to extend these benefits throughout the population outside of these redoubts. One thing I found especially interesting is the idea that this long life span is dying out. Successful centenarians have a strong sense of purpose. In one of Buettner's most recent visits to Costa Rica, he defined Blue Zones as "a kind of lifestyle and environment that creates longevity. Or, get your zen on at La Senda, the wellness center on a 74-acre forested property near Tamarindo. Blue Zones: How the Oldest People in the World Make Their Money Last Here you will find some of the most beautiful beaches and hotels in Costa Rica, along with lush tropical forests perfect for hiking or horseback riding. The town of Nosara, located in the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, is a surfing and wellness hot spot located in one of the five "blue zones" in the world. Many of us in Western countries know we need to eat less junk and add more natural food to our diets. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The Caribbean nation is economically secure and has excellent health care. I had visited the famous Costa Rica "must-see" spots - Arenal, Manuel Antonio, the cloud forest, the Osa Peninsula - some of them a few times. English is widely spoken and the town has lots of tourist infrastructure with a wide variety of restaurant and accommodation choices. Residents of this 80-mile peninsula found south of the Nicaraguan border have the world's lowest middle-age mortality rates, and the second highest number of male centenarians in the world. When Dan Buettner introduced the concept of Blue Zones, he formed the Blue Zones Project. For more information read our privacy policy. Sign up for theBLUE ZONES free weekly email where webring youexclusive interviews, cutting edge longevity news, and fresh tips for living longer, better. Try spending quality times with your loved ones. Staples of the traditional Nicoya diet include homemade corn tortillas, black beans, white rice, a variety of squash, yams, papaya, bananas, and pejibayes. The Nicoya Peninsula, in Costa Rica, is one of them, . Costa Rica is home to one of the five original blue zones regions, the Nicoya peninsula, with a high number of centenarians in excellent health. The world has 5 recognized Blue Zones (as determined by the authority of National Geographic ). Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The peninsula is one of the worlds five Blue Zones where many people live exceptionally long and healthy lives. Costa Rica is one of the few tropical countries where its safe to drink tap water even for foreigners and theres no need to buy plastic water bottles. Nicoyan centenarians have been the focus of many articles. Now, visiting Nicoya doesnt mean youll automatically live to 100, but a trip there is likely to put you on the path to pure life thanks to its natural environment and abundance of healthy activities. What they generally don't know, however, is that a part of Costa Rica tourists rarely visit (the rural Nicoya Peninsula towns of Nicoya, Santa Cruz and environs) contains the largest. Customer Experience Critical To Consumer Preference: IAAPA CEO Comments On Key Trends, When It Comes To Advertising, Multicultural Representation Is Not Enough. Blue Zone: Nicoya, Costa Rica - Plant-Based Life Foundation Oftentimes, this helps maintain healthy and supportive relationships within their communities, and develop a strong sense of faith and purpose along the way.