It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. 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. It includes black beans, cooked plantains, fresh papaya, yams, squash, homemade corn tortillas, and fish (if near the coast). Lane cites the impact of COVID-19 on minorities like Blacks and Hispanics throughout Chicago. 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. Black beans contain high doses of antioxidants and they are eaten for almost every meal among Nicoyans (and most Costa Ricans). 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. 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. Costa Rica Retreat Center in the Blue Zone - Soltara Why are Costa Rica and Singapore Two of the Happiest - Blue Zones They know how to listen, laugh, and appreciate what they have. Actually, it is home. That sense of purpose drives them in all aspects of their lives. Nicoya, Costa Rica: A Puzzling Blue Zone Diet Light on Vegetables and High in Carbohydrate and Sugar. In other words, people in these zones to live longer than any other areas in the world. English is widely spoken and the town has lots of tourist infrastructure with a wide variety of restaurant and accommodation choices. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Get to Know Costa Rica's Blue Zone: The Nicoya Peninsula Nearby are waterfalls at Montezuma, ziplining near the Cabo Blanco Reserve, and kite surfing. Access to natural foods and organic fruits and vegetables (stables of the Nicoyans) is difficult to come by. Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula is a Blue Zone for long life | Enchanting We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. 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. Gone are the days of making your own food and growing organic produce. Do you ever wish you could know the secrets to a long and happy life? About two hours down the coast from Tamarindo is Nosara, Nicoyas yoga center (the Nosara Yoga Institute here offers teacher training). One of the world's Blue Zones is in Nicoya, Costa Rica. Montezuma: Best Hotels in Costa Rica. This provides the nutrition they need to work hard during the day. It is a template outlining the lifestyles of people who live in places like Nicoya, Costa Rica. Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! Cities throughout the world can use this template to encourage people to live healthier lives. These include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece, and you guessed it; Nicoya, Costa Rica. 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. Meat, fish, and poultry only make up 5% of the usual diet. Or, get your zen on at La Senda, the wellness center on a 74-acre forested property near Tamarindo. . 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. Going down the west coast from Tamarindo youll find several beach towns, most notably yoga center Nosara and surfers paradise Santa Teresa. Water sports are on offer pretty much everywhere along Nicoyas coast, whether you prefer surfing, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, or just checking out whats happening in the tide pools. Several of Nicoyas beaches like those in the Ostional National Wildlife Reserve are nesting grounds for Kemps Ridley, green, and leatherback turtles. 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. The sustainable and equitable promotion of the long-living population of seniors and the establishment of a cultural agenda aimed at strengthening sustainable, rural, community tourism stood out among the commitments made. Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. Nicoyan centenarians get frequent visits from neighbors. 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. These characteristics are: Despite this, it is believed that 30% of a long healthy life comes from genes and 70% is based on lifestyle. In other words, it lives longer than the average global life expectancy. 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. The five blue zones are: Loma Linda, California; Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; and the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. Feel free to leave them in the comment section below. For most of their lives, Nicoyan centenarians ate a traditional Mesoamerican diet highlighted with the three sisters of agriculture: squash, corn, and beans. Guest Writer for Wake Up World. Nicoya Peninsula - A Blue Zone In Costa Rica | Villa Firenze Conzcanos. Try opting to walk places instead of driving. By encouraging Nicoyans belief community and sense of purpose through work, family, or nature, cities could help their poorest thrive. 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. Not long after, he began to lead trips to the first Blue Zones that he had discovered. 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. Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! Wellness enthusiasts will delight in the abundance of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. Toss gently. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. So, Nicoya is another blue zone in the world alongside Okinawa (Japan), Cerdea (Italia), Icaria (Greece) and Loma Linda (California). 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. 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. Getting up in the air on tree canopy tours via ziplines and rope bridges is popular throughout Costa Rica. I have been exploring the data reported by National Geographic and Dan Buettner in the Blue Zones Solution: . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. How Much Does it Cost to Live in Costa Rica? (2023) - A Little Adrift Moais are a powerful social tradition that create feelings of belonging, purpose and security. One thing I found especially interesting is the idea that this long life span is dying out. 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. There are five areas of the world that meet the qualifications of Blue Zone as defined by Buettner. Sardinia, Italy. Costa Rica's Blue Zone - Special Places of Costa Rica Barra Honda is on the peninsulas northeast about a half hours drive from the town of Nicoya. 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. Santa Teresa is great for surfing and enjoying a small but vibrant town with a backpacker vibe. 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. These include Nicoya, Costa Rica; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece . 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. These cantons are: Carillo, Hojancha, Nicoya, Santa Cruz, and Nandoyure. 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. Blue Zone: Nicoya, Costa Rica - Plant-Based Life Foundation Healthy and supportive relationships with friends and family are another one of their keys to longevity. We use cookies for analytics tracking and advertising from our partners. According to researchers, most inhabitants live to at least the age of 90.. 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). 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). They feel needed, and their daily lives revolve around their family and community. These regions are considered Blue Zones. The peninsula is one of the worlds five Blue Zones where many people live exceptionally long and healthy lives. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. A blue zone is a geographical area in which the population is the longest-lived. Costa Rica Experts 2023. Brand Storytelling At Sundance: Championing Excellence And Filmmakers With Purpose, Profitable ECommerce Growth For CPGs Is In Reach. 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. "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." For just over 15 years he has been monitoring and accompanying the long-lived people that . March 2nd, 2023. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Soltara Healing Center is located on the calm and pristine Gulf of Nicoya in the mountainous jungle of Costa Rica's Nicoya 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. 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. Thanks to the peninsulas reputation as one of these Blue Zones, Nicoya has become a haven for digital detox. 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. O segreto da Zona Azul de Nicoya | Visitar Costa Rica | Costa Rica A way of life that keeps cells young in one region of Costa Rica How many blue zones are in Costa Rica? - 2023 Thomas Ramsauer / Shutterstock. Black bean starter To a small pot over medium-low heat, add one can of rinsed black beans. Scarlet macaws are bred in Tambor and youll have a chance of seeing them, even on the beach. 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. There will be a lot to learn and a lot to do to get back to a healthier normal. Meaning, family ties are strong. In a few, unique communities around the globe, people live long and heathy lives, up to and past 100. "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. 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 World Meeting of Blue Zones laid the groundwork, in a spirit of s se puede (yes we can), envisioning a blue Costa Rica, following the example of healthy habits set by more than 900 inhabitants aged 90 or older, and the centenarians of Nicoya Peninsula. My Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Retreat | Costa Rica Experts Calles 27 & 29, Ave 2, Buettner's studies on the Nicoya Peninsula revealed eight key factors that affect people's life expectancy. 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. Where are the world's Blue Zones located? So, what's the secret behind our region's long life? 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. Why People Live So Long On Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula - TravelAwaits This Blue Zone is in the mountains of the Nicoyan Peninsula in western Costa Rica. Casado - the Blue Zone lunch | The Garum Factory Healthy Blue Zone Recipes | Best Health Magazine Costa Rica as a whole is a happy place. Some of the roads in Nicoyas interior and south arent paved, so the deeper you go into the peninsula the more you may prefer to fly (for example, its a 20-minute flight from San Jos to the tiny Tambor airport in the south). 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. The world has a number of Blue Zones, areas where the locals live healthier and longer lives. The world has 5 recognized Blue Zones (as determined by the authority of National Geographic ). 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). Even in areas like Nicoya, this has been replaced with the ease of processed meals and fast food (although there are very few fast food options in Nicoya in my experience). The world has a number of 'Blue Zones', areas where the locals live healthier and longer lives.