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). In other words, Nicoyans receive a healthy dose of vitamins in their daily diet. Not only do they live longer, their metabolism is better, the levels of cognitive impairment are lower, and they function at a higher level. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. ", 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. American researcher, Dan Buettner, discovered that people in these areas shared several lifestyle characteristics: They don't smoke; They eat a plant-based diet O que so Zonas Azuis? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. They are joined by 42 other centenarians in the Nicoya Peninsula, located in the 5 blue cantons: Nicoya, Santa Cruz, Hojancha, Nandayure and Carrillo (according to data from Jorge Vindas, a field researcher for the Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Association). Blessed with sandy beaches and tropical forest, it's something of a backpackers' paradise. This is a BETA experience. 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. Your best bet might be finding a VRBO instead of a hotel. "The sense of community, shared purpose and celebration and appreciation for life in all its forms allows for a way of thriving that can even be seen today to have a connection to vitality and mitochondrial health." So why is it that the people of Nicoya outlive so many others? 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. The most amazing part about people who live in Nicoya, Costa Rica is that many of them live without medication or disability. Buettner's studies on the Nicoya Peninsula revealed eight key factors that affect people's life expectancy. 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. Throughout the world, the average life expectancy is 71 years of age (70 for males and 72 for females). The world has a number of 'Blue Zones', areas where the locals live healthier and longer lives. Where are the world's Blue Zones located? On the peninsulas southeast coast is Tambor, with Nicoyas most southerly airport. Nicoya, Costa Rica: A Puzzling Blue Zone Diet Light on Vegetables and High in Carbohydrate and Sugar. This treasure includes the atmosphere around you." 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. 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. 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. 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. O segreto da Zona Azul de Nicoya. Longevity then would not be a luxury only reserved for a few living in Blue Zones, but a reality for billions.. Poor communities are notorious for living in food deserts. Lane cites the impact of COVID-19 on minorities like Blacks and Hispanics throughout Chicago. English is widely spoken and the town has lots of tourist infrastructure with a wide variety of restaurant and accommodation choices. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Santa Teresa is great for surfing and enjoying a small but vibrant town with a backpacker vibe. Nicoyan centenarians have been the focus of many articles. 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. Moais are a powerful social tradition that create feelings of belonging, purpose and security. These include Nicoya, Costa Rica; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece . I mean, how can you not be happy when the average daily temperature is 85 degrees fahrenheit, you can easily get to the beach or jungle, and youre surrounded by an abundance of nature and wildlife? 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. 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. The reason why they are called "blue zones" is a curious story The Nicoya Peninsula has five cantons where middle-age morality is lowest and centenarians are the most abundant. 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. It remains to be seen if the COVID pandemic will affect that average. Also, the environment just exudes joy. 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. In Nicoya, Costa Rica, where average incomes are among the nation's lowest, the average life span is 85among the world's highest. Costa Rica is known for its pura vida lifestyle and attitude. Nicoya is famous for being a marvelous playground for surfers all over the world. They first noticed that people in several villages on the Italian island of Sardinia were living well into their 90s and 100s and that they had few significant mental or physical health problems. 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. 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 Lane reported isolation, alienation, and high rates of depression in Chicagos poorest neighborhoods as some of the reasons behind the high rates of COVID cases. Nicoya isn't full of marathon runners . Nicoya has an abundance of accommodation options but these selections should help your Blue Zone focus whether its healthy food, yoga, spa, surfing, and hiking, connecting with family, or getting a sense of purpose by helping protect Nicoyas wildlife and their habitat. If youre eating a standard American diet, its probably shaving about six to 10 years off of your life expectancy, Buettner says. Now is the time for cities like Chicago to learn from the five Blue Zones throughout the world like Nicoya, Costa Rica. The volcanic beach has calm swimming in Bahia Ballena (despite the name, whales are no longer frequent visitors), and theres birdwatching and hiking along the Rio Panica. It was a spontaneous decision to move here, but it was the best decision! Costa Rica Tourism Board, Institutional Site, Costa Rica Convention Center, Promotional Site, Costa Rica Tourism Board | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Site Map. For one, Costa Rica is a small country and most people never move away from the area they were born in. They feel needed and want to contribute to a greater good. Its very interesting, and I mean, who doesnt love a good TED Talk? Over the last several months, the world has mourned the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives. The Peninsula is covered by spectacular beaches that host nature's best. 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. This is an excerpt fromBlue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From The People Whove Lived The Longestby Dan Buettner, copyright 2008, all rights reserved. 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. Pura vida means pure or simple life and Costa Ricas Nicoya Peninsula has what you could call extreme pura vida. 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. My Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Retreat. Soltara Healing Center is located on the calm and pristine Gulf of Nicoya in the mountainous jungle of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula. Of course, there is still a desire for success (especially in the cities) but in general, the priorities are shifted. 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. 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. Some sea turtles have even lived to age 150. According to researchers, most inhabitants live to at least the age of 90. The Nicoyan way of life can enlighten people to make choices that will help to increase their life expectancy. In an article in the Chicagoan, Marc J. Loma Linda, California. Guest Writer for Wake Up World. For those who want to explore the peninsula at their own pace, renting a car might be best (you can use your home countrys drivers license for a maximum of three months). The centenarians of the Nicoya Peninsula have also captured the interest of the Institute of Social Studies in Population (Instituto de Estudios Sociales en Poblacin, IDESPO) of the National University (Universidad Nacional) of Costa Rica, which is carrying out a study on the subject this year. Because of this, they enjoy extremely low rates of heart disease. The Nicoya Peninsula, a Blue Zone in Costa Rica, is renowned for its tranquil, laid-back ambiance. Rare species like pumas, ocelots, and margay cats make their home here too. It is a template outlining the lifestyles of people who live in places like Nicoya, Costa Rica. I'm a Chief Metaverse Officer and a web3 luxury and fashion innovator. All Rights Reserved. Gone are the days of making your own food and growing organic produce. Fish is a lean protein and provides oils which help with overall brain function. The Caribbean nation is economically secure and has excellent health care. He has written numerous books on the topic, but I suggest starting with: Blue Zones of Happiness and The Blue Zones Kitchen (a cookbook). Complex carbs provide the energy a person needs to get through the day. 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. My fourth investigation into exactly what our Blue Zone folks eat has left this dietitian, well, intrigued. The most southerly point is Cabo Blanco Reserve and the south coast also has the town of Tambor. 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. Stir in two chopped plum tomatoes, half of a finely chopped onion and one . These include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece, and you guessed it; Nicoya, Costa Rica. We must make the health of future generations our responsibility by implementing the lifestyles of the Blue Zones people now. Having a Blue Zone helps strengthen the country's constant striving for quality of life, both for Costa Ricans and for tourists. 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. Swimming holes dot the peninsula too, including beneath the Montezuma waterfall. Changing the American diet and culture around the food we eat can help save lives. Nicoya is located on the Guanacaste peninsula in Costa Rica, and is considered one of the 7 blue zones found worldwide. A blue zone is a geographical area in which the population is the longest-lived. These Blue Zones have a direct link to the promotion of tourism in the country, since it fits in well wellness tourism. Your email address will not be published. And a breakfast rich with antioxidants helps to protect a persons cells from disease. 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. The people of Nicoya value their families a lot, and you can often see them joking with their neighbors, working hard for long hours, and enjoying the sunshine. 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. 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? 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. - save 10% Plus other perks . 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. But we must also consider the impact of our individual health and lifestyle choices on future generations. Compreende os 5 cantos da Pennsula de Nicoya: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz e Nicoya. 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. The beautiful view of the beaches may also have a hand in this. 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. 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. We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. Getting up in the air on tree canopy tours via ziplines and rope bridges is popular throughout 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. Its also easy to eat healthy in Costa Rica, with its abundance of local foods grown in its fertile volcanic soil. Join 19k+ subscribers in receiving FREE travel advice, news & promotions! 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. Due to the Nicoya Peninsula's location in Central America, the area has an abundance of warm days with tons of sunlight. 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. Meat, fish, and poultry only make up 5% of the usual diet. Do you ever wish you could know the secrets to a long and happy life? 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. 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. First . 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. El propsito de la compaa es promover y crear conciencia sobre el consumo de productos de alta calidad, con valor nutricional y . "This meeting commits us to preserve this Blue Zone, but most importantly, it should have a multiplier effect and serve as an example for the other cantons of the country" said Ana Monge, Commissioner of the Presidential Social Council of the Government of Costa Rica. A research team is currently researching the . The term first emerged in 2005 in a Nation Geographic magazine cover, "The Secrets of a Long Life.". Costa Rica as a whole is a happy place. All rights reserved. Thomas Ramsauer / Shutterstock. He then went on release a book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who Have Lived the Longest in 2008. Try our meal idea that reflects elements of the Nicoyan Peninsula Blue Zoners' diet. Drain and pat the onions dry with paper towel. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. When that day comes, Nicoyas Blue Zone will continue to be an example of the resiliency of the human body and spirit. The Nicoya Peninsula has several on offer, including near Tamarindo, outside the Cabo Blanco Reserve near Playa Mal Pais, and above the Montezuma waterfall. Heres how to plan a trip to the Blue Zone in Costa Rica. 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 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. 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. 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. obesity, or heart disease. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Learn more about typical diet with our Guide to Costa Rican Food. Maintaining close ties with family and friends helps reduce stress. Buettner approached National Geograhic with his idea and they agreed to help fund his research. Black beans contain high doses of antioxidants and they are eaten for almost every meal among Nicoyans (and most Costa Ricans). WED LOVE IF YOUD ADD IT ON PINTEREST! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Nearby is the Barra Honda National Park with its caves, the Monte Alto Nature Reserve where a variety of orchids grow, and other natural reserves where you can see wildlife. For those who might need some meal ideas, Dan Buettner, wrote the Blue Zones Kitchen cookbook. Black bean starter To a small pot over medium-low heat, add one can of rinsed black beans. Centenarians seem to have enjoyed physical work of all their lives. 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.

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