These cookies do not store any personal information. 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). This treasure includes the atmosphere around you." Still planning? Blessed with sandy beaches and tropical forest, it's something of a backpackers' paradise. Nicoyan centenarians frequently visit with neighbors, and they tend to live with families and children or grandchildren who provide support, as well as a sense of purpose. 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. The gateway to the Nicoya Peninsula is the beach town of Tamarindo on the west coast, which is very popular with international travelers. 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. 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. The Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone, in addition to aligning with our Wellness Pura Vida strategy, are important as a driver of wellness tourism throughout the country, highlighting the importance of creating authentic travel experiences. Longevity then would not be a luxury only reserved for a few living in Blue Zones, but a reality for billions.. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Meanwhile, last year the average individual from the United States ate 222.2 pounds of meat and poultry. Going down the west coast from Tamarindo youll find several beach towns, most notably yoga center Nosara and surfers paradise Santa Teresa. Is the Nicoya Peninsula good for a Wellness getaway? 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). Thanks to the peninsulas reputation as one of these Blue Zones, Nicoya has become a haven for digital detox. What we can incorporate about Nicoya into our culture is the sense of purpose Nicoyans enjoy. He worked with several notable anthropolgists, dieticians, historians, and geneticists to identify and further understand what contributes to a long lifespan. The forest here is more tropical than further north and is home to deer, pacas, monkeys, armadillos, laughing gulls, pelicans, frigates, and brown boobies. Access to natural foods and organic fruits and vegetables (stables of the Nicoyans) is difficult to come by. The heart is a muscle, and all muscle contractions depend on calcium. Successful centenarians have a strong sense of purpose. Poor communities are notorious for living in food deserts. A "Blue Zone" is an area of the world where it is typical for people to live past 100 years old. They eat many fruits and vegetables often grown on their own lands, and they tend not to consume much meat. For just over 15 years he has been monitoring and accompanying the long-lived people that . Rice and black beans, gallo pinto, served with eggs and tropical fruit. 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 . January 18, 2022 . Scarlet macaws are bred in Tambor and youll have a chance of seeing them, even on the beach. This has paid off, with Costa Rica frequently scoring high in world happiness and environmental rankings. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. Buettner approached National Geograhic with his idea and they agreed to help fund his research. Centenarians seem to have enjoyed physical work of all their lives. 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. 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. Located on the Guanacaste Peninsula in northwestern Costa Rica, Nicoya is a rural, beachside, blue-zone community. In other words, Nicoyans receive a healthy dose of vitamins in their daily diet. O que so Zonas Azuis? Their traditional diet of fortified maize and beans may be the best nutritional combination for longevity the world has ever known. Directions: Toss the cabbage with the orange juice, season with salt and pepper and let sit 30 minutes. 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. This Central American nation isn't that far from the U.S. geographically, but it is way ahead of us in longevity. And here are two great reports done that will give you a better understanding of the Nicoya people, area, and mindset. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. 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. 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. Located in northwestern Costa Rica, near the border with Nicaragua, Playas del Coco which is more commonly called Cocois a beach town, popular with both expats and Costa Ricans. The peak nesting time is from August to November and in the days before a new moon, thousands of turtles congregate in the Pacific waiting for the perfect time to come ashore and dig a hole to lay their eggs. Your best bet might be finding a VRBO instead of a hotel. The quality of Nicoyas water might be one of the reasons residents live long enough to become centenarians and almost-centenarians. You can hike along trails, go horseback riding, kayak through the mangroves, and swim off the beach. Blue Zones Nicoya desarrolla alimentos, bebidas y suplementos inspirados en los centenarios de la. Healthy and supportive relationships with friends and family are another one of their keys to longevity. The world has 5 recognized Blue Zones (as determined by the authority of National Geographic ). Costa Rica is known for its pura vida lifestyle and attitude. The Tortuga Islands are offshore and are a frequent destination for snorkeling trips, even from other parts of the peninsula. Youre sure to be on the path to a long and healthy life after the four-handed Abundance Treatment, which combines Reiki, Shiatsu, Swedish massage, sound and aromatherapy, and acupressure. They feel needed and want to contribute to a greater good. Where are the world's Blue Zones located? It is not unusual for many generations to live on one property or in very close proximity to each other. 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. Making the smart choice in traditional Blue Zones is often the only choice available, not really a choice at all. 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. We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. 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. 11 talking about this. It remains to be seen if the COVID pandemic will affect that average. So why is it that the people of Nicoya outlive so many others? Alternatively, Blue. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Montezuma: Best Hotels in Costa Rica. These include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece, and you guessed it; Nicoya, Costa Rica. Nicoya, Costa Rica, is a Central American Caribbean nation that boasts economic security and excellent health care. Dan Buettner is really the man behind Blue Zones, so I suggest you start your interest with him. We know we should include exercise into all parts of our lives (not just an hour at the gym). These places are full of one-hundred-year-olds who have reached such like live wires, not in bed or in hospital. 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 spending quality times with your loved ones. Speaking of work, finding work/life balance is a constant challenge for many. 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. WED LOVE IF YOUD ADD IT ON PINTEREST! You may opt-out by. 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. 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. Nicoya is a small, rural beach community located on the Guanacaste peninsula on the northwest coast of Costa Rica. We do not need to wait for our cities of residence to adopt the principles for healthier living outlined in the Blue Zones Project. In the southern part of the peninsula, Santa Teresa is a popular surf area that sprawls for miles along the coast. A nine-hole golf course is a mile away. Your email address will not be published. Nicoyans eat a light dinner early in the evening. Nicoya is located far off in Northeastern Costa Rica. 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. 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. 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. The Caribbean nation is economically secure and has excellent health care. In parallel, the ICT has drawn attention to the concept of the Blue Zone as part of its wellness tourism strategy as a distinctive feature in promoting the destination, while the Ministry of Culture and Youth has identified the long-lived inhabitants as bearers of a tradition which they can contribute to recovering for future generations. Nicoya, Costa Rica is one of those unique locations where lifestyle, diet, and low stress have dramatically bettered the lives of Ticos and expats alike. 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. This information has been translated into lessons that can be implemented into your everyday life. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. Required fields are marked *, car rental deal! All rights reserved. We have obtained information from Nicoya, Costa Rica on ways to live longer and be happier. Living Hotel partners with the Spacio spa, a five-minute walk away, which has several treatments geared to surfers. The best way we can mourn those lives lost is to honor them by creating a better future for our children, their children, and their childrens children by making healthier choices now. Hi, my name is Mike Gillespie & I'm fundraising to help support the Blue Zone communities in Nicoya Costa Rica. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. You can, thanks to the world's "blue zones." 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. Nearby are waterfalls at Montezuma, ziplining near the Cabo Blanco Reserve, and kite surfing. Its also easy to eat healthy in Costa Rica, with its abundance of local foods grown in its fertile volcanic soil. Calles 27 & 29, Ave 2, Heres how to plan a trip to the Blue Zone in Costa Rica. 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. Nicoya is a small, rural beach community located on the Guanacaste peninsula on the northwest coast of Costa Rica. Brand Storytelling At Sundance: Championing Excellence And Filmmakers With Purpose, Profitable ECommerce Growth For CPGs Is In Reach. 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. Your email address will not be published. While we may not increase the average life expectancy throughout the world we can use Nicoya as a template for healthier living. Do you have any questions about the Costa Rica Blue Zone? 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. For those who might need some meal ideas, Dan Buettner, wrote the Blue Zones Kitchen cookbook. Thomas Ramsauer / Shutterstock. Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula joins Sardinia, Italy, Okinawa, Japan, Lima Linda, California, and Icaria, Greece as one of the world's five blue zones. Physical activity, diet, good mineral-rich water, friends, a satisfying job, eating light in the evening, and a "plan de vida" are the other aspects. Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! The town of Nicoya is considered the oldest in Costa Rica, it is popularly known as "the colonial city". 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. Nicoyans often live more than 100 years and Nicoya boasts of the highest number of centenarians in the world. These centenarians help teach us the value of those important little things," said Mauricio Ventura, Minister of Tourism, with pride. Hi! 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. Thanks to the peninsula's reputation as one of these Blue Zones, Nicoya has become a haven for digital detox. uma atrativa pergunta explica que os habitantes de Guanacaste e sim dvida contar com uma das cinco que existem no mundo um orgulho para todos os habitantes da provincia. The baby turtles hatch 45 to 54 days later and, if theyre lucky, might live another 50 to 80 years. Spirituality and religious involvement/ beliefs. The surroundings dictate ways of operating, not personal decisions. Try cutting out some meat and replacing it with fresh vegetables and fruit. The beautiful view of the beaches may also have a hand in this.