When you book through our trusted partners we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Buettner approached National Geograhic with his idea and they agreed to help fund his research. 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. Also, we would love to hear your thoughts on Blue Zones and what constitutes a long lifestyle. Customer Experience Critical To Consumer Preference: IAAPA CEO Comments On Key Trends, When It Comes To Advertising, Multicultural Representation Is Not Enough. Nicoya is located on the Guanacaste peninsula in Costa Rica, and is considered one of the 7 blue zones found worldwide. 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. This calcium leads to stronger bones and the ability to stay physically active at a later age. 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. There are two trails for visitors and a pristine white sand beach. Guest Writer for Wake Up World. We are always happy to help you out! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Research shows that 30% of longevity comes from genes, and the remaining 70% from lifestyle. It's also an area identified as a "Blue Zone . For just over 15 years he has been monitoring and accompanying the long-lived people that . The Nicoyan way of life can enlighten people to make choices that will help to increase their life expectancy. By Ty and Charlene Bollinger. All Rights Reserved. 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. Nicoya isn't full of marathon runners . This Blue Zone is in the mountains of the Nicoyan Peninsula in western Costa Rica. Nicoya, Costa Rica: A Puzzling Blue Zone Diet Light on Vegetables and High in Carbohydrate and Sugar. 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. We do not need to wait for our cities of residence to adopt the principles for healthier living outlined in the Blue Zones Project. Wellness enthusiasts will delight in the abundance of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. 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. Now I was excited to roam off the beaten path into a world-famous Nicoya Peninsula blue zone. Were Thomas (the German) and Sarah (the US-er). This healthy breakfast gives them the nutrients they need for a day of tending crops and livestock. The gateway to the Nicoya Peninsula is the beach town of Tamarindo on the west coast, which is very popular with international travelers. We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. Successful centenarians have a strong sense of purpose. It was a spontaneous decision to move here, but it was the best decision! When that day comes, Nicoyas Blue Zone will continue to be an example of the resiliency of the human body and spirit. Gone are the days of making your own food and growing organic produce. The Blue Zone of the Nicoya Peninsula stands out for the beauty of its landscapes, its tourist attractions, and its conservation areas, but above all, for the stories told by the long-lived inhabitants of the region, who have exceeded the life expectancy in Costa Rica and continue to be lucid and active, and who enjoy long, healthy lives. They feel needed, and their daily lives revolve around their family and community. The Caribbean nation is economically secure and has excellent health care. Do you ever wish you could know the secrets to a long and happy life? Try our meal idea that reflects elements of the Nicoyan Peninsula Blue Zoners' diet. Rice and black beans, gallo pinto, served with eggs and tropical fruit. Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! Montezuma: Best Hotels in Costa Rica. He has written numerous books on the topic, but I suggest starting with: Blue Zones of Happiness and The Blue Zones Kitchen (a cookbook). Full of natural beauty, endless sunlight, white beaches and radiant ocean, Nicoya reigns as one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica. They also practice good physical and mental health. We know we should include exercise into all parts of our lives (not just an hour at the gym). Your best bet might be finding a VRBO instead of a hotel. Some sea turtles have even lived to age 150. If youre eating a standard American diet, its probably shaving about six to 10 years off of your life expectancy, Buettner says. In an article in the Chicagoan, Marc J. So, having extra-hard water may help keep Nicoyans' hearts strong, and longer. In mid-November 2017, the first World Meeting of Blue Zones was held. 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. 11 talking about this. The Nicoya Peninsula has five cantons where middle-age morality is lowest and centenarians are the most abundant. Everywhere you go in Costa Rica, youll hear pura vida! and soon feel the freedom to adopt the pura vida lifestyle yourself. Modern Nicoyans roots to the indigenous Chorotega and their traditions have enabled them to remain relatively free of stress. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. For those that don't know, there are a few communities around the globe where people live long and healthy lives, up to and past 100, dubbed "blue zones." "The five cantons of the peninsula continue to appear with greater longevity and we've confirmed this everywhere we've investigated. 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). Now is the time for cities like Chicago to learn from the five Blue Zones throughout the world like Nicoya, Costa Rica. Blessed with sandy beaches and tropical forest, it's something of a backpackers' paradise. And here are two great reports done that will give you a better understanding of the Nicoya people, area, and mindset. Were Thomas (the German) and Sarah (the US-er). On today's podcast, Gina does some serious myth-busting about what has kept the centenarians so well, for so long. 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. Long-living creatures like sea turtles are frequent visitors to the Blue Zone too. One is the plan de vida, or reason to live, which propels a positive outlook among elders and helps keep them active. The Caribbean nation is economically secure and has excellent health care. 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. Many of us in Western countries know we need to eat less junk and add more natural food to our diets. 4. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. 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. Another option is to take the 75-minute ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya from Puntarenas to Paquera. I cant blame 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. The Tortuga Islands are offshore and are a frequent destination for snorkeling trips, even from other parts of the peninsula. Nicoyans eat a light dinner early in the evening. Fish is a lean protein and provides oils which help with overall brain function. Get some sensible sun. Of course, there is still a desire for success (especially in the cities) but in general, the priorities are shifted. The five blue zones are: Loma Linda, California; Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; and the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. Though Costa Rica has just 0.03 percent of the planets surface, it has almost six percent of the worlds biodiversity and you might see (or hear!) 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? Eating fewer calories appears to be one of the surest ways to add years to your life. He then had the idea to research areas in the world with the longest lifespan. Warm, Sunny Climate. The occasion was also used to release the most recent study on longevity by the Institute of Social Studies in Population (Instituto de Estudios Sociales en Poblacin, IDESPO) at the National University of Costa Rica. While Nicoyans start their day by eating a healthy breakfast, their diet is not the only secret to living long lives. These cookies do not store any personal information. 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. January 18, 2022 . For more information read our privacy policy. A blue zone is a geographical area in which the population is the longest-lived. 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. You can hike along trails, go horseback riding, kayak through the mangroves, and swim off the beach. The baby turtles hatch 45 to 54 days later and, if theyre lucky, might live another 50 to 80 years. First and foremost, the competition to get ahead isnt the same here as it is in some other western countries. Out of these, 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. He worked with several notable anthropolgists, dieticians, historians, and geneticists to identify and further understand what contributes to a long lifespan. 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. Montezuma is great for long beach walks and jungle hikes. Complex carbs provide the energy a person needs to get through the day. Barrio La California, Living Hotel partners with the Spacio spa, a five-minute walk away, which has several treatments geared to surfers. So, what's the secret behind our region's long life? Meat, fish, and poultry only make up 5% of the usual diet. March 2nd, 2023. 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. Though Chicago is not one of those cities that uses the template outlined in the Blue Zones Project, the city could adapt to the Blue Zones principals. A three-course farm-to-table dinner with a tour of the organic garden is available Mondays and Thursdays. To understand some of the reasons why Blue-Zoners live healthier, longer lives, let's take another look at Ricardo's daily routine. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Nicoya, Costa Rica, is a Central American Caribbean nation that boasts economic security and excellent health care. Along with starting every morning with a healthy breakfast, Nicoyans also eat nutritious food throughout the day. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Having worked with the pioneers in mind-body research and psychoneuroimmunology. When on vacation in Costa Rica, its also easy to pick up Blue Zone habits like getting regular outdoor exercise and a good nights sleep (though be sure to go to bed early if you want to do your sun salutations at actual sunrise). Nicoyan centenarians have been the focus of many articles. Despite that, the area has many of the same ideals that the rest of Costa Ricans have. Because of this, they enjoy extremely low rates of heart disease. Dinner is typically a light meal, consumed early in the evening which allows plenty of time for digestion before bed. Nicoya is located far off in Northeastern Costa Rica. O que so Zonas Azuis? We can start making healthier choices today, thus living more enriching lives and encouraging others to adopt similar healthy ways of living. Dan discovered five places where residents have low rates of chronic disease and live longer than anywhere else. [Try this 5-Minute Tasty Squash and Beans for a taste of Costa Rican homecooking.]. They begin each meal with a prayer. Also, calcium is important for bones. Technology permeates everyday life and Nicoya is the perfect place to go for a digital detox. Nicoya is a small, rural beach community located on the Guanacaste peninsula on the northwest coast of Costa Rica. Due to the Nicoya Peninsula's location in Central America, the area has an abundance of warm days with tons of sunlight. The quality of Nicoyas water might be one of the reasons residents live long enough to become centenarians and almost-centenarians. By comparison, a person in the United States can reasonably expect to live to just 77, according to federal census data. 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. The five known Blue Zones identified in Buettner's book include:. Rooms have a mini fridge and theres a communal kitchen plus bikes to rent. 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. Join 19k+ in receiving Expert travel advice, news & promotions! 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. In the south between the Paquera ferry and the village of Tambor, youll have an excellent chance of seeing wildlife within the privately-owned Cur Wildlife Reserve. 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. 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). . Blue Zones Nicoya desarrolla alimentos, bebidas y suplementos inspirados en los centenarios de la. My Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Retreat. obesity, or heart disease. 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". By TCRN STAFF October 5, 2022 528 0 1 - The Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Poor communities are notorious for living in food deserts. It remains to be seen if the COVID pandemic will affect that average. 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. By encouraging Nicoyans belief community and sense of purpose through work, family, or nature, cities could help their poorest thrive. There will be a lot to learn and a lot to do to get back to a healthier normal. LIKED THIS? Several of Nicoyas beaches like those in the Ostional National Wildlife Reserve are nesting grounds for Kemps Ridley, green, and leatherback turtles. Pura vida means pure or simple life and Costa Ricas Nicoya Peninsula has what you could call extreme pura vida. Currently, three emblematic examples of this Blue Zone include the centenarians Jos Bonifacio "Pachito" Villegas, from Pochote de Quebrada Honda, Nicoya, who rides a horse every day at age 100, Trinidad Espinoza, who recounts anecdotes from Costa Rica in the 1930s continuously while she feeds her chickens, and Dmaso Mendoza, age 102, who, on receiving a visitor, always talks about her years as a dancer and how she enjoys the company of the five generations of her family in Santa Ana de Beln, Carillo. Barra Honda is on the peninsulas northeast about a half hours drive from the town of Nicoya. The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica is one of the five areas in the world that hold the distinguished classification of a Blue Zone. In Nicoya, Costa Rica, where average incomes are among the nation's lowest, the average lifespan is 85 among the world's highest. Get your fill of fresh fruits like pineapple, mango, papaya, banana, and passionfruit and vegetables and legumes like squash, cassava, plantain, yam, and beans. Look for howler and capuchin monkeys, parrots and parakeets, and bigger birds like herons and hawks. They have a simplistic lifestyle - Nicoyans ordinarily make a living as farmers and or cattle ranchers, and this consistent activity is said to be one of the reasons for their longevity. 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Thanks to the peninsulas reputation as one of these Blue Zones, Nicoya has become a haven for digital detox. Costa Rica as a whole is a happy place.
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