In the southern part of the peninsula, Santa Teresa is a popular surf area that sprawls for miles along the coast. seen in blue zones. However, both towns have a more touristy vibe to them. This vigorous village is one of the Blue Zones' unique hotspots. O que so Zonas Azuis? Montezuma is great for long beach walks and jungle hikes. Its about 75 miles long and 35 miles wide, with the northern section a part of Guanacaste province and the southern section in Puntarenas province. "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. We can start making healthier choices today, thus living more enriching lives and encouraging others to adopt similar healthy ways of living. 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. Check out all of our favorite travel companies. 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. Try opting to walk places instead of driving. They embrace the relaxed Pura Vida lifestyle and family always comes first. 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. There are five regions around the world called the Blue Zones: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece, and Loma Linda, California. Santa Teresa is great for surfing and enjoying a small but vibrant town with a backpacker vibe. Tamarindo is also a great place for solo travelers. 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. Buettner approached National Geograhic with his idea and they agreed to help fund his research. Nicoya was introduced as a Blue Zone in a 2004 National Geographic article by Dan Buettner. Compreende os 5 cantos da Pennsula de Nicoya: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz e Nicoya. 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. 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. Its difficult to maintain family bonds and friendships when school and work take us far from home, into strange communities. 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. Barrio La California, Heres how to plan a trip to the Blue Zone in Costa Rica. 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. Blessed with sandy beaches and tropical forest, it's something of a backpackers' paradise. 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. Would you like to visit the Nicoya Peninsula? The quality of Nicoyas water might be one of the reasons residents live long enough to become centenarians and almost-centenarians. 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. Where are the world's Blue Zones located? You can replicate some of the long-life characteristics of the Nicoya Peninsula on a trip to Costa Ricas Blue Zone and then turn them into healthy habits when you return home. Nicoya. This Blue Zone is in the mountains of the Nicoyan Peninsula in western Costa Rica. In other words, it lives longer than the average global life expectancy. Ed #2798 Oficina #8 By encouraging Nicoyans belief community and sense of purpose through work, family, or nature, cities could help their poorest thrive. 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. If we can harness that, we can hopefully improve the health of future generations. In the interior, the town of Nicoya is one of Costa Ricas oldest and also has one of the countrys oldest churches the Parroquia San Blas, first built in 1544. 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. You can drive to Tamarindo in about 80 minutes from the Liberia airport (its about four hours from Costa Ricas other main airport in the capital, San Jos). Rhuigi Villaseor Kept His Foot On The Gas. Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! All Rights Reserved. Nantipa means blue in the language of the Chorotega people, some of the first known people to live in the Nicoya region. The term first emerged in 2005 in a Nation Geographic magazine cover, "The Secrets of a Long Life.". 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. The Power of Nine is the name Buetnner has given to the characteristics that all Blue Zones seem to share. 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. It was a spontaneous decision to move here, but it was the best decision! Long-living creatures like sea turtles are frequent visitors to the Blue Zone too. In other words, Nicoyans receive a healthy dose of vitamins in their daily diet. 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. 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. 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. Get your fill of fresh fruits like pineapple, mango, papaya, banana, and passionfruit and vegetables and legumes like squash, cassava, plantain, yam, and beans. For most of their lives, Nicoyan centenarians ate a traditional Mesoamerican diet highlighted with the three sisters of agriculture: squash, corn, and beans. It was time for me to conquer the Nicoya Peninsula. BOOK YOUR COSTA RICA RENTAL CAR AND SAVE 10%. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Having a Blue Zone helps strengthen the country's constant striving for quality of life, both for Costa Ricans and for tourists. A three-course farm-to-table dinner with a tour of the organic garden is available Mondays and Thursdays. It is fascinating to see which factors play into long lifespan including how you can emulate this lifestyle. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Why Nicoya is Considered One of the Anti-Aging Zones in the World Few really know what aging is and how it can be controlled, here experts from Costa Rica and around the world talk about it and define the Nicoya Peninsula as one of those with the most long-lived people. 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. "The five cantons of the peninsula continue to appear with greater longevity and we've confirmed this everywhere we've investigated. Ministry of Health data indicate that life expectancy is nearly 80 years, which is the highest in Central America, according to the World Bank. It is a template outlining the lifestyles of people who live in places like Nicoya, Costa Rica. 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. Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: Researchers found that the probability of becoming a centenarian for a 60-year-old man residing in Nicoya is 4.8%, which was even more than double that of Okinawa, the second highest in the comparison, and it was almost seven times that of Sardinia and Japan (6). Maintaining close ties with family and friends helps reduce stress. 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. Directions: Toss the cabbage with the orange juice, season with salt and pepper and let sit 30 minutes. Costa Rica Experts 2023. Their traditional diet of fortified maize and beans may be the best nutritional combination for longevity the world has ever known. It is not unusual for several generations to gather on a regular basis for lively gatherings. Wildlife is abundant. 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. . If youre eating a standard American diet, its probably shaving about six to 10 years off of your life expectancy, Buettner says. "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." This calcium leads to stronger bones and the ability to stay physically active at a later age. A research team is currently researching the . Montezuma: Best Hotels in Costa Rica. Oftentimes, this helps maintain healthy and supportive relationships within their communities, and develop a strong sense of faith and purpose along the way. While we may not increase the average life expectancy throughout the world we can use Nicoya as a template for healthier living. Rooms have a mini fridge and theres a communal kitchen plus bikes to rent. We do not need to wait for our cities of residence to adopt the principles for healthier living outlined in the Blue Zones Project. You can hike along trails, go horseback riding, kayak through the mangroves, and swim off the beach. Some sea turtles have even lived to age 150. It remains to be seen if the COVID pandemic will affect that average. Offering barefoot luxury on Playa Langosta this family-owned boutique hotel is a 15-minute walk from downtown Tamarindo. 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Moais are a powerful social tradition that create feelings of belonging, purpose and security. He then had the idea to research areas in the world with the longest lifespan. Costa Rica Tourism Board, Institutional Site, Costa Rica Convention Center, Promotional Site, Costa Rica Tourism Board | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Site Map. Nicoya is a small, rural beach community located on the Guanacaste peninsula on the northwest coast of Costa Rica. 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. 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. Stir in two chopped plum tomatoes, half of a finely chopped onion and one . English is widely spoken and the town has lots of tourist infrastructure with a wide variety of restaurant and accommodation choices. Hi! Buettner's studies on the Nicoya Peninsula revealed eight key factors that affect people's life expectancy. Alternatively, Blue. Gone are the days of making your own food and growing organic produce. 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. 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. While the Blue Zones project Lane discusses isnt a cure for COVID-19, the principals lived by the people in those zones could increase the chance of livelihood for people of other cultures. Read more below about the lessons that Nicoya, Costa Rica can teach you about longevity. Many believe it will be through the cutting-edge innovations of regenerative medicine that the privileges of the Blue Zones can be democratized, so that anyone, anywhere, and at any time has access to the technology that allows us to replenish, replace and rejuvenate our physical bodies., What weve witnessed during 2020 are healthcare systems around the world that are reactive, bureaucratic, inefficient, and saturated. That sense of purpose drives them in all aspects of their lives. Certain common characteristics were also established in order to determine whether additional Blue Zones could be added in the near future. They find joy in everyday physical chores. This Central American nation isnt that far from the U.S. geographically, but it is way ahead of us in longevity. He has written numerous books on the topic, but I suggest starting with: Blue Zones of Happiness and The Blue Zones Kitchen (a cookbook). Its also easy to eat healthy in Costa Rica, with its abundance of local foods grown in its fertile volcanic soil. Also, we would love to hear your thoughts on Blue Zones and what constitutes a long lifestyle. Face-to-Face Conversations. mobile app. The gateway to the Nicoya Peninsula is the beach town of Tamarindo on the west coast, which is very popular with international travelers. They are places where people get around by walking more than by car, they eat more plants than meat, and a diet that includes beans or grains such as corn, where the family is their number one purpose. He worked with several notable anthropolgists, dieticians, historians, and geneticists to identify and further understand what contributes to a long lifespan. The reason why they are called "blue zones" is a curious story 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. Costa Ricans called Ticos say pura vida instead of hello, how are you, fine, thanks, and see you later and youll quickly find yourself saying it too. Theyre focused on sick care, and so the actual healthcare is often neglected, says Chaves. The forest here is more tropical than further north and is home to deer, pacas, monkeys, armadillos, laughing gulls, pelicans, frigates, and brown boobies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This is a BETA experience. In these areas people have low rates of chronic diseases, so they tend to live longer than in other places. We have obtained information from Nicoya, Costa Rica on ways to live longer and be happier. But we must also consider the impact of our individual health and lifestyle choices on future generations. Blue zones are regions where some of the oldest and healthiest people live. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Contents1 Is Costa Rica considered [] 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 Ikarians and the Ikaria is another one of the Blue Zones, and the Costa Ricans, Nicoya, they're taking a nap. 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. Check out all of our favorite travel companies. 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. Costa Rica Experts Wins 2022 Tripadvisor Travelers Choice Award, Where to Find Black Sand Beaches in Costa Rica, Best Time to Visit Costa Rica: What to Expect Month by Month, 11 Travel Mistakes To Avoid Before Your Trip, 8 Costa Rica Natural Mysteries You Have to See to Believe, 5 Common Misconceptions About Travel in Costa Rica, 10 Top Costa Rica Honeymoon Bungalows & Suites, 3 Costa Rica Hotels Made The Travel & Leisure Top 100 in the World List, Costa Rica Expert Interview with Aaron Daker: top destinations, new hotels, & best months to travel. Along with starting every morning with a healthy breakfast, Nicoyans also eat nutritious food throughout the day. Centenarians seem to have enjoyed physical work of all their lives. 11 talking about this. The Adobe Rent-A-Car discount includes.. DISCOUNTED SMARTPHONE USAGE WITH UNLIMITED DATA. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Nicoya is located far off in Northeastern Costa Rica. Nicoyans attribute much of their longevity to social values of faith and family. Customer Experience Critical To Consumer Preference: IAAPA CEO Comments On Key Trends, When It Comes To Advertising, Multicultural Representation Is Not Enough. The town of Nicoya is considered the oldest in Costa Rica, it is popularly known as "the colonial city". This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Despite that, the area has many of the same ideals that the rest of Costa Ricans have. 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. Now I was excited to roam off the beaten path into a world-famous Nicoya Peninsula blue zone. Nantipas special wellness booking includes yoga, meditation, Ayurvedic and sound therapies, and sessions with wellness coaches and personal trainers. Loma Linda, California. Join 19k+ in receiving Expert travel advice, news & promotions! Still planning? The Nicoya Peninsula, a Blue Zone in Costa Rica, is renowned for its tranquil, laid-back ambiance. I suggest visiting Cabuya (a small town between Montezuma and Santa Teresa) or San Francisco de Coyote (a remote beach town). March 2nd, 2023. 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. These places are full of one-hundred-year-olds who have reached such like live wires, not in bed or in hospital. 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. 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.

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