These commitments also included mechanisms to develop best practices in health promotion in the "five blue cantons" of the Peninsula, strengthening support networks, and incentivizing the recuperation of life lessons and traditions. We hope you love the Blue Zone Costa Rica stays we recommend. The most popular towns to visit here are Montezuma and Santa Teresa. These cantons are: Carillo, Hojancha, Nicoya, Santa Cruz, and Nandoyure. At the southern tip of the peninsula is Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve. Pura vida means pure or simple life and Costa Ricas Nicoya Peninsula has what you could call extreme pura vida. Speaking of work, finding work/life balance is a constant challenge for many. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Are you interested in learning more about the Costa Rica Blue Zone and other zones of the world? Theyre focused on sick care, and so the actual healthcare is often neglected, says Chaves. These geographical areas are considered special, because most people live at least 90 and often over 100 years of age. We do not need to wait for our cities of residence to adopt the principles for healthier living outlined in the Blue Zones Project. This Central American nation isnt that far from the U.S. geographically, but it is way ahead of us in longevity. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Costa Rica holds one of the original 5 blue zones of the world and you will find yourself in one of them if you decide on living in the Nicoya Peninsula. Its also easy to eat healthy in Costa Rica, with its abundance of local foods grown in its fertile volcanic soil. None of these staples are processed, and because all of these foods are locally grown they are not faced with genetically modified or pesticide laden produce. Thomas Ramsauer / Shutterstock. Barrio La California, However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. They have a simplistic lifestyle - Nicoyans ordinarily make a living as farmers and or cattle ranchers, and this consistent activity is said to be one of the reasons for their longevity. Nosara also has three beaches remote black sand Playa Nosara, Playa Guiones with some of Costa Ricas best surfing, and Playa Pelada for tide pools, blow holes, snorkeling, and swimming. The proper mindset about longevity is not about aspiring to live to a very old age, but to enjoy the best quality of life possible during the last ten years we live, says Alvaro Cedeno-Molinari, a former Costa Rican diplomat and ambassador who works intensely promoting bioliteracy, regeneration, and well-being as holistic healthy mindsets. This healthy breakfast gives them the nutrients they need for a day of tending crops and livestock. 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. 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. Also, the environment just exudes joy. One of the world's Blue Zones is in Nicoya, Costa Rica. There are common factors that exist in these populations, such as good physical and mental health, a healthy traditional diet, respect for the family, deep faith, constant mobility, and a purpose in life. Or, get your zen on at La Senda, the wellness center on a 74-acre forested property near Tamarindo. Book a transfer from your hotel, opt for a shuttle or public bus, or take a domestic flight to one of the peninsulas larger towns. Montezuma: Best Hotels in Costa Rica. uma atrativa pergunta explica que os habitantes de Guanacaste e sim dvida contar com uma das cinco que existem no mundo um orgulho para todos os habitantes da provincia. Moderate alcohol intake, especially wine. Over the last several months, the world has mourned the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives. Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. There are plenty of good-for-you activities to keep you busy on the Nicoya Peninsula jump in the water with a surfboard or snorkel, get up high on a zipline, stretch out with a yoga class, or take a hike (call it forest bathing if you wish) in a nature reserve. Blue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From The People Whove Lived The Longest. The Blue Zone of the Nicoya Peninsula stands out for the beauty of its landscapes, its tourist attractions, and its conservation areas, but above all, for the stories told by the long-lived inhabitants of the region, who have exceeded the life expectancy in Costa Rica and continue to be lucid and active, and who enjoy long, healthy lives. Having a Blue Zone helps strengthen the country's constant striving for quality of life, both for Costa Ricans and for tourists. Perhaps youll also figure out your lifes purpose, which studies show contributes to a longer and higher quality life, and make the effort to reconnect with family whether youve brought them with you or will see them again once youre home. Win-win! This information is complemented by studies carried out by Costa Rican demographer Dr. Luis Rosero Bixby, which show that the mortality of inhabitants of the Nicoya Peninsula aged 90 is 10% lower than for Costa Ricans of the same age elsewhere in the country. Personally, I find that a combination of a healthy diet, exercise, and social contact all help lower my stress; which is crucial in a long life span. For one, Costa Rica is a small country and most people never move away from the area they were born in. Try our meal idea that reflects elements of the Nicoyan Peninsula Blue Zoners' diet. And here are two great reports done that will give you a better understanding of the Nicoya people, area, and mindset. According to researchers, most inhabitants live to at least the age of 90.. According to the most recent data from the Ministry of Health, this region will be painted blue for many years to come, as over 900 people over 90 have been recorded, along with over 5,000 inhabitants over 75, the majority of whom enjoy good health in their old age. Fish is a lean protein and provides oils which help with overall brain function. Rooms have a mini fridge and theres a communal kitchen plus bikes to rent. It's also one of the happiest places in Central America: Costa Ricans report a high level of life satisfaction and the country has the highest literacy rate in Latin America. Every day, most people eat a breakfast of black beans and rice (called gallo pinto), eggs, fresh corn tortillas (with batter soaked in lime juice), with a cup of coffee. Nicoya, also known as the Nicoya Peninsula has not been only recognized as one of the 5 places in the planet with surprisingly high rate of longevity but also as the highest concentration of centenarians in the world. Nicoya is located on the Guanacaste peninsula in Costa Rica, and is considered one of the 7 blue zones found worldwide. This is due to key decisions the country has taken through its history that have positively affected its performance in social progress, environment, society and overall peace indicators, explains Daniel Valverde, Essential Costa Rica country brand director. Join 19k+ in receiving Expert travel advice, news & promotions! The beautiful view of the beaches may also have a hand in this. Its difficult to maintain family bonds and friendships when school and work take us far from home, into strange communities. Wellness enthusiasts will delight in the abundance of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. Dubbed "blue zones," residents of these areas share a common environment and lifestyle that . My fourth investigation into exactly what our Blue Zone folks eat has left this dietitian, well, intrigued. The gateway to the Nicoya Peninsula is the beach town of Tamarindo on the west coast, which is very popular with international travelers. The heart is a muscle, and all muscle contractions depend on calcium. Guevara lives in the Nicoya peninsula of Costa Rica. If you want to really embrace the Nicoya Peninsula blue zone vibe, head to any small village in the area. Nearby are waterfalls at Montezuma, ziplining near the Cabo Blanco Reserve, and kite surfing. Eating fewer calories appears to be one of the surest ways to add years to your life. They also practice good physical and mental health. 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. After living there for four years I have my own theories as to what makes people so happy, and in turn have a longer life span. Costa Rica indeed does celebrate its elderly citizens; every person who has a 100 th birthday is . [Try this 5-Minute Tasty Squash and Beans for a taste of Costa Rican homecooking.]. Nicoya is a small, rural beach community located on the Guanacaste peninsula on the northwest coast of Costa Rica. 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. It is a template outlining the lifestyles of people who live in places like Nicoya, Costa Rica. Another is a focus on family and a special ability to listen and laugh. A research team is currently researching the . The forest here is more tropical than further north and is home to deer, pacas, monkeys, armadillos, laughing gulls, pelicans, frigates, and brown boobies. It would be hard to imagine two more different places than free-wheeling Costa Rica and legally rigid Singapore, yet both are among the happiest places on earth. Their traditional diet of fortified maize and beans may be the best nutritional combination for longevity the world has ever known. However, both towns have a more touristy vibe to them. All Rights Reserved. Beyond this context, however, the health authorities are taking measures to help Costa Ricans reach over 80 years of age in good health. Rare species like pumas, ocelots, and margay cats make their home here too. Most people in this area never move. Nantipa means blue in the language of the Chorotega people, some of the first known people to live in the Nicoya region. These places are full of one-hundred-year-olds who have reached such like live wires, not in bed or in hospital. While starting the day off with rice and beans may not be an ideal breakfast for most people, the key to a healthy breakfast is one rich with protein, complex carbs, and antioxidants (minus the preservatives). 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. The Tortuga Islands are offshore and are a frequent destination for snorkeling trips, even from other parts of the peninsula. Demographers have identified the area, located on Costa Rica's northern Pacific coast, as a Blue Zone or "longevity hot spot," typified by a higher-than-normal number of people living past the age of one hundred. Drain and pat the onions dry with paper towel. The term 'Blue Zone' was coined by Dan Buettner, a New York Times bestselling author, who was studying areas to some of the oldest people in the world. For just over 15 years he has been monitoring and accompanying the long-lived people that . In other words, Nicoyans receive a healthy dose of vitamins in their daily diet. 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. Getting up in the air on tree canopy tours via ziplines and rope bridges is popular throughout Costa Rica. There are five regions around the world called the Blue Zones: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece, and Loma Linda, California. El propsito de la compaa es promover y crear conciencia sobre el consumo de productos de alta calidad, con valor nutricional y . The world has 5 recognized Blue Zones (as determined by the authority of National Geographic ). We're going to focus on the last one, mostly because it hits close to home. 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. Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! 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. Black beans contain high doses of antioxidants and they are eaten for almost every meal among Nicoyans (and most Costa Ricans). They eat many fruits and vegetables often grown on their own lands, and they tend not to consume much meat. What are Blue Zones? A stay at Nantipa will help you have a true Blue Zone adventure, especially if you book its transcendental wellness experience. Although the Blue Zone Project isnt all about diet, and its certainly about more than food for the people of Nicoya it is a big difference from the typical American diet (no matter what type of community). Costa Rica Tourism Board, Institutional Site, Costa Rica Convention Center, Promotional Site, Costa Rica Tourism Board | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Site Map. There are several theories about why the Blue Zone of Costa Rica exists, but the most likely explanation is that it is due to a combination of factors. The Today Show's Cynthia McFadden accompanied Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner to Costa Rica and Singapore to learn why they these two different places have such happy residents. In Nicoya, Costa Rica, where average incomes are among the nation's lowest, the average lifespan is 85 among the world's highest. Nicoyas interior where most of the centenarians and almost-centenarians live and northeastern coast are less visited by tourists but still have much to offer. They embrace the relaxed Pura Vida lifestyle and family always comes first. If youre eating a standard American diet, its probably shaving about six to 10 years off of your life expectancy, Buettner says. We have a full guide to the ferry here. All of the international experts agreed that the factors that make healthy longevity possible must be communicated worldwide, in order to reflect on the implications of Blue Zones, unique geographical areas with a high concentration of inhabitants who live to ninety or one hundred years of age, whose aging process is positive, and most importantly, deliberate and active. Check out all of our favorite travel companies. I suggest visiting Cabuya (a small town between Montezuma and Santa Teresa) or San Francisco de Coyote (a remote beach town). Due to the Nicoya Peninsula's location in Central America, the area has an abundance of warm days with tons of sunlight. Now is the time for cities like Chicago to learn from the five Blue Zones throughout the world like Nicoya, Costa Rica. Lane reasons why Chicago should use the Blue Zones template to improve the lives of people who live there. Within Nosaras lush forest and a three-minute walk to Guiones Beach, this small hotel has a daily yoga class plus private yoga instruction, surf lessons, a large pool, hammocks, and a juice and coffee bar. Do you ever wish you could know the secrets to a long and happy life? Meat, fish, and poultry only make up 5% of the usual diet. Nicoya is a small, rural beach community located on the Guanacaste peninsula on the northwest coast of Costa Rica. While we may not increase the average life expectancy throughout the world we can use Nicoya as a template for healthier living. 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. obesity, or heart disease. I feel lucky to have found this information, though the credit doesn't belong to me, but rather to the older residents. If you would like to be near things but get a bit more of a feel for traditional Nicoya life while also enjoying a bit of the touristy perks (surfing, fun restaurants etc.) The way Nicoyans choose to live their lives gives us a template from which we can learn to improve our health and find our sense of purpose. Lets explore the Blue Zone in Nicoya, Costa Rica and what the Nicoyan lifestyle can teach us about humanity and what we could do better in the future. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. They are eye-opening and heart-tugging. Stir in two chopped plum tomatoes, half of a finely chopped onion and one . When that day comes, Nicoyas Blue Zone will continue to be an example of the resiliency of the human body and spirit. Community. The chance to do yoga in an open-air pavilion on the beach is not to be missed! Contents1 Is Costa Rica considered [] Almost 40 percent of the residents of the Nicoya Peninsula (about 5,000 of the population of 132,000) are over the age of 75, more than 900 are over the age of 90, and many are over 100. We can start making healthier choices today, thus living more enriching lives and encouraging others to adopt similar healthy ways of living. We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. Adapting our lifestyles wherever we live to healthier practices such as intermittent fasting, walkability, exploring plant-based gastronomy, and low glycemic index food intake sound like your everyday doctors recipe for a healthy life, says Cedeno-Molinari. Genetics and Costa Ricas natural environment certainly play a large part, but lifestyle is a major factor in why Blue Zone residents live so long. The 9 Secrets Boosting a Long Life in Nicoya, Costa Rica: They have a strong sense of purpose No matter how old they are, Nicoyans have a strong sense of purpose, a reason to live longer. The occasion was also used to release the most recent study on longevity by the Institute of Social Studies in Population (Instituto de Estudios Sociales en Poblacin, IDESPO) at the National University of Costa Rica. It is not unusual for many generations to live on one property or in very close proximity to each other. Arising from this need, one of the results of the meeting was the establishment of an International Network on Healthy Aging, which will be led from Costa Rica in order to "build knowledge collaboratively", said Montero. Here are some of the factors that make Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula a blue zone worth visiting. Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! Sardinia, Italy. Certain common characteristics were also established in order to determine whether additional Blue Zones could be added in the near future. But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. To my delight, Costa Rica has its own Blue Zone - the Nicoya Peninsula! 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. 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Not long after, he began to lead trips to the first Blue Zones that he had discovered. Toss gently. He cautions though that one of the reasons Nicoyas centenarians live so long is that they dont have high incomes, which means theyve had to do physical labor since they were young, their meals are light and mainly of vegetables and legumes, and they cant afford a lot of protein or processed foods. One thing I found especially interesting is the idea that this long life span is dying out. As of now, there are 5 blue zones: Icaria, Greece. Living Hotel partners with the Spacio spa, a five-minute walk away, which has several treatments geared to surfers. Nicoya. A three-course farm-to-table dinner with a tour of the organic garden is available Mondays and Thursdays. "Looking beyond Costa Ricas Blue Zone in Nicoya, elements that make our population stand out and that describe our focus on well-being can be found in every corner of our territory. We can no longer afford to allow the COVID pandemic to cause us to live in or out of a place of fear. Swimming holes dot the peninsula too, including beneath the Montezuma waterfall. This is why the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT, Instituto Costarricense de Turismo) launched the Wellness Pura Vida country strategy, which seeks to position Costa Rica as a wellness destination with a difference, which offers unique, transforming experiences. It includes black beans, cooked plantains, fresh papaya, yams, squash, homemade corn tortillas, and fish (if near the coast).
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