Nicoya is famous for being a marvelous playground for surfers all over the world. 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. The term Blue Zone was first used in a 2005 National Geographic cover story entitled The Secret of Long Life written by a man named Dan Buettner. Results were also shared from the research carried out by the demographer Luis Rosero and Dr. Elizabeth Lopez, both from Costa Rica, who made significant contributions on the subject of healthy longevity. 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Barra Honda is on the peninsulas northeast about a half hours drive from the town of Nicoya. It remains to be seen if the COVID pandemic will affect that average. 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. It is not unusual for many generations to live on one property or in very close proximity to each other. Blue Zones Nicoya naci en 2014, una empresa 100% costarricense, que durante los ltimos 6 aos ha sido destacada por la investigacin de alimentos locales de la Zona Azul de Nicoya-Guanacaste. These places are full of one-hundred-year-olds who have reached such like live wires, not in bed or in hospital. Costa Rica Experts 2023. 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. Wellness enthusiasts will delight in the abundance of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. That sense of purpose drives them in all aspects of their lives. "Year after year, our surveys indicate that its the Costa Ricans themselves that set our destination apart, and it's certainly always a marvelous experience to spend time with the older generation. The climate in the Blue Zone is very mild, which may help to protect against diseases. This vigorous village is one of the Blue Zones' unique hotspots. 1 - The Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Montezuma is great for long beach walks and jungle hikes. Throughout Costa Rica, youll find vegetarian gallo pinto (rice and beans) served at breakfast, lunch, and dinner the name means spotted rooster because the black beans dot the rice. In the southern part of the peninsula, Santa Teresa is a popular surf area that sprawls for miles along the coast. 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. The Ikarians and the Ikaria is another one of the Blue Zones, and the Costa Ricans, Nicoya, they're taking a nap. Nicoyan water has the countrys highest calcium content, perhaps explaining the lower rates of heart disease, as well as stronger bones and fewer hip fractures. 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. It is not unusual for several generations to gather on a regular basis for lively gatherings. These centenarians help teach us the value of those important little things," said Mauricio Ventura, Minister of Tourism, with pride. 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. They embrace the relaxed Pura Vida lifestyle and family always comes first. By encouraging Nicoyans belief community and sense of purpose through work, family, or nature, cities could help their poorest thrive. Nicoya is a small, rural beach community located on the Guanacaste peninsula on the northwest coast of Costa Rica. Try opting to walk places instead of driving. Another option is to take the 75-minute ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya from Puntarenas to Paquera. We are always happy to help you out! Do you ever wish you could know the secrets to a long and happy life? "The five cantons of the peninsula continue to appear with greater longevity and we've confirmed this everywhere we've investigated. What Is The Potential Of Generative AI In Healthcare? 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. Get some sensible sun. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Technology permeates everyday life and Nicoya is the perfect place to go for a digital detox. That is when brands, businesses and cities will be able to look at Blue Zones like the one in Nicoya and find a model to follow. There are four similar places on earth: Costa Ricas Nicoya Peninsula, Okinawa in Japan, the Greek island of Ikaria, as well as Loma Linda in California (though that one might just be due to its large population of Seventh-day Adventists and their healthy lifestyle). We can no longer afford to allow the COVID pandemic to cause us to live in or out of a place of fear. Get your fill of fresh fruits like pineapple, mango, papaya, banana, and passionfruit and vegetables and legumes like squash, cassava, plantain, yam, and beans. Just note, you might have trouble finding a place to stay. 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. The daily breakfast consists of gallo pinto (rice and beans) with a basket of homemade corn tortillas and hot coffee. Beyond this context, however, the health authorities are taking measures to help Costa Ricans reach over 80 years of age in good health. Conzcanos. Thanks to the peninsulas reputation as one of these Blue Zones, Nicoya has become a haven for digital detox. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This Blue Zone is in the mountains of the Nicoyan Peninsula in western Costa Rica. 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. Now is the time for cities like Chicago to learn from the five Blue Zones throughout the world like Nicoya, Costa Rica. You may opt-out by. While walking gives Nicoyans a chance to exercise and get fresh air, it also gives them time to enjoy the natural beauty for which Nicoya is known. Scarlet macaws are bred in Tambor and youll have a chance of seeing them, even on the beach. I'm a Chief Metaverse Officer and a web3 luxury and fashion innovator. In these areas people have low rates of chronic diseases, so they tend to live longer than in other places. Would you like to visit the Nicoya Peninsula? 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. Youre sure to be on the path to a long and healthy life after the four-handed Abundance Treatment, which combines Reiki, Shiatsu, Swedish massage, sound and aromatherapy, and acupressure. 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. Everywhere you go in Costa Rica, youll hear pura vida! and soon feel the freedom to adopt the pura vida lifestyle yourself. Community. Most people in this area never move. 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. Nicoyas west and south coasts are the most popular for visitors and offer a wide range of accommodations and access to the peninsulas wilderness and activities. Nicoya, Costa Rica A Latin American Blue Zone. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2008-2023 Law Dissertation Writing Services. To understand some of the reasons why Blue-Zoners live healthier, longer lives, let's take another look at Ricardo's daily routine. We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. La Senda has a 2.5-acre labyrinth with a two-mile-long path (said to be the biggest in the world) as well as horseback riding. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. Nicoyan centenarians tend to live with their families, and children or grandchildren provide support and a sense of purpose and belonging. Where are the world's Blue Zones located? We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. 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. Blessed with sandy beaches and tropical forest, it's something of a backpackers' paradise. When that day comes, Nicoyas Blue Zone will continue to be an example of the resiliency of the human body and spirit. Costa Rica Tourism Board, Institutional Site, Costa Rica Convention Center, Promotional Site, Costa Rica Tourism Board | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Site Map. According to Buettner's studies, the Nicoya Peninsula has the world's lowest rates of middle-age mortality and the second highest convergence of male centenarians. 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. Here are some of the factors that make Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula a blue zone worth visiting. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Nicoyans regularly take in the sunshine, which helps their bodies produce vitamin D for strong bones and healthy body function. 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. These include Nicoya, Costa Rica; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece . It consists of 100 recipes with ingredients used by those who live in Nicoya, Costa Rica and the other four Blue Zones. A "Blue Zone" is a region of the world where people commonly live past the age of 100 years.In "Blue Zone Nicoya Peninsula", residents live even longer than those in other areas of Costa Rica. Its name is due to the tribe that reigned prior to the arrival of the Spanish in 1520, it is said to come from the Nahuatlas words Nica, Necoclau or Necocyanh, which means surrounded by water. ", For Belgian researcher Michel Poulain, one of the most important message of the World Meeting of Blue Zones is to tell the world that "Costa Rica has a treasure of longevity in the Nicoya Peninsula, that comes from the past generations, which has been built year by year. Meaning, family ties are strong. The distinguished list included pioneering researchers on this subject: Michel Poulain of Belgium, Dr. Gianni Mario Pes and Paolo Francalacci from Sardinia, Italy, Christina Chrysochoou from Icaria, Greece, Makoto Suzuki from Okinawa, Japan, Gina Siapco from Loma Linda, USA, and Diego Bernardini from Argentina. 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 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. Actually, it is home. Customer Experience Critical To Consumer Preference: IAAPA CEO Comments On Key Trends, When It Comes To Advertising, Multicultural Representation Is Not Enough. Blue zones are regions where some of the oldest and healthiest people live. 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). We hope you love the Blue Zone Costa Rica stays we recommend. Nantipa means blue in the language of the Chorotega people, some of the first known people to live in the Nicoya region. So, Nicoya is another blue zone in the world alongside Okinawa (Japan), Cerdea (Italia), Icaria (Greece) and Loma Linda (California). But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. I also suggest watching his TED Talk. 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. Black bean starter To a small pot over medium-low heat, add one can of rinsed black beans. Rooms have a mini fridge and theres a communal kitchen plus bikes to rent. What we can incorporate about Nicoya into our culture is the sense of purpose Nicoyans enjoy. Dan Buettner is really the man behind Blue Zones, so I suggest you start your interest with him. You can design your own holistic retreat too, choosing from a Kirtan sound bath, detox program, cacao ceremony, blue clay treatment, drum circles, and more. The best way we can mourn those lives lost is to honor them by creating a better future for our children, their children, and their childrens children by making healthier choices now. Rare species like pumas, ocelots, and margay cats make their home here too. 3 International Psychedelic Retreats Poised To Take Wellness Travel Into the Future, The Most Romantic Couples Massages in Las Vegas, The 20 Happiest Countries in the World, 2022, What Its Like To Stay at Hilton Head Health, One of Americas Most Renowned Wellness Resorts, 5 Types of Meditation That Will Relieve Your Travel Stress, long-life characteristics of the Nicoya Peninsula, How To Move To Costa Rica and Live There on the Cheap, These Stunning Cabins Are the Ultimate Zion National Park Basecamps, 8 of the Coolest Airbnbs Near Disney World, Orlando, 8 La Condesa Airbnbs To Settle Into Mexico Citys Coolest Neighborhood, The 11 Absolute Best Beaches in Costa Rica, This Luxury Hotel Has Transformed a Plane Into a Suite in the Costa Rican Jungle, A Guide To Feeling Your Best as a Plus-Size SpaGuest, The Best Airbnbs in Venice, From a Rialto Flat To a San Marco Studio, Download the While Nicoyans start their day by eating a healthy breakfast, their diet is not the only secret to living long lives. In terms of a definition, these zones are geographical areas with a high concentration of long-lived populations, who frequently reach ninety or one hundred years of age. Dan discovered five places where residents have low rates of chronic disease and live longer than anywhere else. 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. I suggest visiting Cabuya (a small town between Montezuma and Santa Teresa) or San Francisco de Coyote (a remote beach town). What are Blue Zones? For Priscila Chaves, a Costa Rican social tech-entrepreneur and ethics thought leader, the question that still stands is, how can we translate these apparent otherworldly effects, to the rest of us? Meanwhile, last year the average individual from the United States ate 222.2 pounds of meat and poultry. Look for howler and capuchin monkeys, parrots and parakeets, and bigger birds like herons and hawks. It's a question that inhabitants of Guanacaste are happy to be asking themselves, since it's a true pride for the province's population to be home to one of the five such zones that exist worldwide. Nicoya is located on the Guanacaste peninsula in Costa Rica, and is considered one of the 7 blue zones found worldwide. 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. The Nicoya Peninsula has five cantons where middle-age morality is lowest and centenarians are the most abundant. Were Thomas (the German) and Sarah (the US-er). This provides the nutrition they need to work hard during the day. They have been able to exceed their life expectancy and serve as an example for the entire world. And now, it's a well-known fact: Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula, dubbed as a "high-longevity island," is one of the world's rare blue zones - one of only five original regions, joined by Icaria (Greece), Okinawa (Japan), Lima Linda (California, USA), and Sardinia (Italy). Predominantly catering to families, this 402-room property has four restaurants, including for surf and turf and Japanese, two pools, a nightclub, and a 200-seat amphitheater. It was a spontaneous decision to move here, but it was the best decision! My fourth investigation into exactly what our Blue Zone folks eat has left this dietitian, well, intrigued. Every morning, at dawn, before the men of Nicoya ride their horses through the mountains of the Costa Rican peninsula, they eat a healthy breakfast. A three-course farm-to-table dinner with a tour of the organic garden is available Mondays and Thursdays. 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). In other words, Nicoyans receive a healthy dose of vitamins in their daily diet. Nicoyans often live more than 100 years and Nicoya boasts of the highest number of centenarians in the world. Fish is a lean protein and provides oils which help with overall brain function. Modern Nicoyans roots to the indigenous Chorotega and their traditions have enabled them to remain relatively free of stress. Located in northwestern Costa Rica, near the border with Nicaragua, Playas del Coco which is more commonly called Cocois a beach town, popular with both expats and Costa Ricans. We know that the diet here is different than that of the rest of the country, and that the character of the people here is unique in the world. A hike from the town of Montezuma will bring you past several cooling-off pools on your way to the three cascades of this waterfall, perhaps the most visited one on the peninsula. Buettner had spent several years before penning the article leading expeditions including tracing Darwins route in the Galapagos and Marco Polos trip along the Silk Road. Reporter Dan Buettner closed by saying "it is a great honor to see the results of the idea of researching the issue of longevity that emerged fifteen years ago is coming to fruition in the meeting of the major scientific researchers on the subject of Blue Zones." Your email address will not be published. To my delight, Costa Rica has its own Blue Zone - the Nicoya Peninsula! And here are two great reports done that will give you a better understanding of the Nicoya people, area, and mindset. Blue Zone is a term created by author Dan Buettner, building off of research by demographers Michel Poulain, Ph.D., and Giovanni Pes, Ph.D. I will be visiting Costa Rica next week to meet with Jorge who founded a local organization that helps the small Blue Zone villages. 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. Several of Nicoyas beaches like those in the Ostional National Wildlife Reserve are nesting grounds for Kemps Ridley, green, and leatherback turtles. In a few, unique communities around the globe, people live long and heathy lives, up to and past 100. 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. The gateway to the Nicoya Peninsula is the beach town of Tamarindo on the west coast, which is very popular with international travelers. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Nicoya. O que so Zonas Azuis? Loma Linda, California. The forest here is more tropical than further north and is home to deer, pacas, monkeys, armadillos, laughing gulls, pelicans, frigates, and brown boobies. Thomas Ramsauer / Shutterstock. It helps them remain positive. Whether this pandemic impacts the average lifespan of people around the world or not, a lot can be gained by studying five specific regions in the world where people seemingly effortlessly live to over 90 years in age. Another is a focus on family and a special ability to listen and laugh. 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. 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. Is the Nicoya Peninsula good for a Wellness getaway? 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. Longevity then would not be a luxury only reserved for a few living in Blue Zones, but a reality for billions.. Contents1 Is Costa Rica considered [] So, what's the secret behind our region's long life? The expat community in Coco is generally older retirees, however, there are some younger expats running around. They feel needed and want to contribute to a greater good. Due to the Nicoya Peninsula's location in Central America, the area has an abundance of warm days with tons of sunlight. 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. Without a doubt, this is a challenge for the next generations, in the context of the world's age pyramid turning upside down, with ever more senior citizens. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a host of problems, such as osteoporosis and heart disease, but regular, smart sun exposure (about 15 minutes on the legs and arms) can help supplement your diet and make sure youre getting enough of this vital nutrient. 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. Your best bet might be finding a VRBO instead of a hotel. It includes black beans, cooked plantains, fresh papaya, yams, squash, homemade corn tortillas, and fish (if near the coast). Let's start with our home - the Nicoya Peninsula.This tropical region in the north west of Costa Rica, has the world's lowest rate of middle-aged mortality, and the second highest amount of men over 100 years of age. The chance to do yoga in an open-air pavilion on the beach is not to be missed! It definitely runs contrary to what was written up about the Nicoya people in "The Blue Zones." In that book, their diet was characterized as primarily vegetarian. Along with starting every morning with a healthy breakfast, Nicoyans also eat nutritious food throughout the day. But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. My Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Retreat. There will be a lot to learn and a lot to do to get back to a healthier normal. 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. Try spending quality times with your loved ones. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. This information has been translated into lessons that can be implemented into your everyday life. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. 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. Sustainability is said to be a way of life, and Costa Rica has actually reversed deforestation; protects more than a quarter of its landmass via 29 national parks, 19 wildlife refuges, and eight biological reserves; gets 93 percent of its electricity from renewable resources, and aims to be completely decarbonized by 2050. They feel needed, and their daily lives revolve around their family and community. Cities throughout the world can use this template to encourage people to live healthier lives. If you want to really embrace the Nicoya Peninsula blue zone vibe, head to any small village in the area. Having a Blue Zone helps strengthen the country's constant striving for quality of life, both for Costa Ricans and for tourists. Black beans contain high doses of antioxidants and they are eaten for almost every meal among Nicoyans (and most Costa Ricans). He added that "we must somehow emulate, duplicate or copy the lifestyle of centenarians, and their way of living, but above all, their environment, diet, activity; above all, the connections they make, human connections, not technological ones. It is home to some of the most active, hard-working, and friendliest people on earth. 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. If youre eating a standard American diet, its probably shaving about six to 10 years off of your life expectancy, Buettner says. There are many factors that go into the long life of Nicoyans, and some of them will be impossible for you to replicate (unless you plan to move to an area of the world where the sun is always shining, the nature is amazing, and then you also need to bring all of your family with you).
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