Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Youll stay in one of 21 suites, bungalows, and villas; lounge in poolside hammocks; walk on the beach; swim; and enjoy seafood purchased from local fishers and bread by the local baker in the open-air Manzu Restaurant thats right on Playa Santa Teresa. Their traditional diet of fortified maize and beans may be the best nutritional combination for longevity the world has ever known. 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. Nicoya, Costa Rica. These cookies do not store any personal information. Barrio La California, One Nicoyan, a centenarian, said he knew death would eventually come for him but it is the love for his children that motivates him to keep going every day. January 18, 2022 . Dinner is typically a light meal, consumed early in the evening which allows plenty of time for digestion before bed. 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 Try cutting out some meat and replacing it with fresh vegetables and fruit. Fish is a lean protein and provides oils which help with overall brain function. Try opting to walk places instead of driving. Are We Headed To A World In Which We Own Nothing? By TCRN STAFF October 5, 2022 528 0 Black beans contain high doses of antioxidants and they are eaten for almost every meal among Nicoyans (and most Costa Ricans). 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. Blue Zones Nicoya desarrolla alimentos, bebidas y suplementos inspirados en los centenarios de la. They have groups of friend with whom they share healthy habits.". They include good physical and mental health, upholding a traditional diet, a deep faith and spirituality, support and respect to family networks that go across generations, where grandchildren spend time with their grandparents and share in their knowledge, physical activity and constant mobility, and a purpose in life associated with spirituality. The traditional diet in the area is also notable. In other words, people in these zones to live longer than any other areas in the world. Required fields are marked *, car rental deal! Come to Nicoya, Costa Rica, One of the World's Five 'Blue Zones' The Nicoya Peninsula has a high concentration of people over 100 years old and a low incidence of health problems like cancer or heart disease. Butterflies in Costa Rica The Best Places to See Them, Irazu Volcano Visit the Highest Volcano in Costa Rica, 20 Free Things to Do in Costa Rica That Youll Love, Costa Rica Rental Car Discount Save Up to 20%, The feeling of a sense of purpose in life. Each region has its own diet, types of exercise, and community structure, but each has specific elements in common - all starting with a sense of purpose. For most Americans, an entrance ramp for a new lifestyle change is through their mouth, Buettner says. Nicoya is located on the Guanacaste peninsula in Costa Rica, and is considered one of the 7 blue zones found worldwide. obesity, or heart disease. The heart is a muscle, and all muscle contractions depend on calcium. These cantons are: Carillo, Hojancha, Nicoya, Santa Cruz, and Nandoyure. 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. So, having extra-hard water may help keep Nicoyans' hearts strong, and longer. Nicoyans regularly take in the sunshine, which helps their bodies produce vitamin D for strong bones and healthy body function. 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. howler and white face monkeys, red variegated squirrels, sloths, anteaters, raccoon-like coatis, butterflies, plus some 900 bird species including the fiery-billed aracari toucan and the rufous-tailed hummingbird. Nicoya is a small, rural beach community located on the Guanacaste peninsula on the northwest coast of Costa Rica. Your best bet might be finding a VRBO instead of a hotel. One is the plan de vida, or reason to live, which propels a positive outlook among elders and helps keep them active. Nicoyans eat a light dinner early in the evening. Now is the time for cities like Chicago to learn from the five Blue Zones throughout the world like Nicoya, Costa Rica. Healthy and supportive relationships with friends and family are another one of their keys to longevity. 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. Also, calcium is important for bones. 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 term first emerged in 2005 in a Nation Geographic magazine cover, "The Secrets of a Long Life.". The Nicoya Peninsula has several on offer, including near Tamarindo, outside the Cabo Blanco Reserve near Playa Mal Pais, and above the Montezuma waterfall. Eating fewer calories appears to be one of the surest ways to add years to your life. Protein helps to rebuild and repair tissue, as well as it helps a person to feel full. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. It helps them remain positive. Do you ever wish you could know the secrets to a long and happy life? We know we should include exercise into all parts of our lives (not just an hour at the gym). Because of this, they enjoy extremely low rates of heart disease. Nicoyans regularly take in the sunshine, which helps their bodies produce vitamin D for strong bones and healthy body function. 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. We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. 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. 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. For example, we know that Nicoya is the driest part of Costa Rica, that it used to be part of Nicaragua, and that more Indians intermarried with the Spanish who began settling here in 1510. 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. As indicated by the World Health Organization, "active or positive aging is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age". The surroundings dictate ways of operating, not personal decisions. Most people in this area never move. 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. 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. 1 - The Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Sardinia, Italy. That sense of purpose drives them in all aspects of their lives. The most popular towns to visit here are Montezuma and Santa Teresa. A Blue Zone is the name given to one of the areas in the world where a majority of people have a life expectancy of at least 100 years old. Many of us in Western countries know we need to eat less junk and add more natural food to our diets. Near the fishing village of Tambor (reached by a 20-minute flight from San Jos or a drive down from the Paquera ferry) is Costa Ricas first all-inclusive. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Imagine yourself in a future not-so-distant, where more conscious lifestyle decisions you make at an individual level, are supported by a branch of medicine that attempts to change the course of diseases and regenerates failing parts of our bodies. Face-to-Face Conversations. 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. These factors are present, to some degree, in the other four Blue Zones in the world, according to world experts who participated in the World Meeting in Nicoya in mid-November. 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 . They typically do not consume a lot of meat. Jorge Vindas, Costa Ricas Blue Zone expert, says that its a combination of good genes, healthy food and water, regular low-intensity exercise, few vices, a strong connection to family, putting importance on religion or spirituality, and having a sense of purpose. The baby turtles hatch 45 to 54 days later and, if theyre lucky, might live another 50 to 80 years. 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. 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. But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. Those who want to enjoy the pura vida life for more than a week or two often end up here, given Santa Teresas gorgeous beaches, busy nightlife, and excellent wifi. Access to natural foods and organic fruits and vegetables (stables of the Nicoyans) is difficult to come by. Feel free to leave them in the comment section below. It is the reason why the founder of Omega Institute set up Blue Spirit in Nosara and a Longevity center. To my delight, Costa Rica has its own Blue Zone - the Nicoya Peninsula! 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. Speaking of work, finding work/life balance is a constant challenge for many. The template laid out in the Blue Zones Project: natural foods, daily movement, community, and sense of purpose, can help anyone develop stronger immune systems, so they can live healthier and longer lives. Guevara lives in the Nicoya peninsula of Costa Rica. My Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Retreat. In other words, Nicoyans receive a healthy dose of vitamins in their daily diet. 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. 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. WED LOVE IF YOUD ADD IT ON PINTEREST! We are always happy to help you out! In the Nicoya Peninsula, the water is particularly rich in calcium and magnesium which studies show is good for cardiovascular health and preventing cancer. 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. If youre eating a standard American diet, its probably shaving about six to 10 years off of your life expectancy, Buettner says. 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. One of the world's Blue Zones is in Nicoya, Costa Rica. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. These include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece, and you guessed it; Nicoya, Costa Rica. Nicoya isn't full of marathon runners . Montezuma: Best Hotels in Costa Rica. 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. Swimming holes dot the peninsula too, including beneath the Montezuma waterfall. This treasure includes the atmosphere around you." The Nicoya Peninsula, a Blue Zone in Costa Rica, is renowned for its tranquil, laid-back ambiance. The world has a number of 'Blue Zones', areas where the locals live healthier and longer lives. However, both towns have a more touristy vibe to them. We do not need to wait for our cities of residence to adopt the principles for healthier living outlined in the Blue Zones Project. By comparison, a person in the United States can reasonably expect to live to just 77, according to federal census data. Nicoya is famous for being a marvelous playground for surfers all over the world. Theyre focused on sick care, and so the actual healthcare is often neglected, says Chaves. Not only do they live longer, their metabolism is better, the levels of cognitive impairment are lower, and they function at a higher level. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Costa Rica Tourism Board, Institutional Site, Costa Rica Convention Center, Promotional Site, Costa Rica Tourism Board | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Site Map. Nicoya, Costa Rica A Latin American Blue Zone. They feel needed, and their daily lives revolve around their family and community. It consists of 100 recipes with ingredients used by those who live in Nicoya, Costa Rica and the other four Blue Zones. 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. Buettner had spent several years before penning the article leading expeditions including tracing Darwin's route in the Galapagos and Marco Polo's trip along the Silk Road. Possessing the highest density of biodiversity of any country in the world, it is also labeled as one of the 5 "blue zones", a term coined by National Geographic author Dan Buettner, describing places where a high percentage of the population lives active . Sign up for theBLUE ZONES free weekly email where webring youexclusive interviews, cutting edge longevity news, and fresh tips for living longer, better. Eco-tourism is a natural must in this out-of-this-world scenario, where everything that happens is in a quiet, lovely pace. 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. Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! Just note, you might have trouble finding a place to stay. These characteristics are: Despite this, it is believed that 30% of a long healthy life comes from genes and 70% is based on lifestyle.