This goes along with the decision to widen the country's tourism offerings and venture into industries with high potential, such as wellness tourism. They begin each meal with a prayer. O que so Zonas Azuis? 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. The reason why they are called "blue zones" is a curious story Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! The Nicoya Peninsula has five cantons where middle-age morality is lowest and centenarians are the most abundant. All of the international experts agreed that the factors that make healthy longevity possible must be communicated worldwide, in order to reflect on the implications of Blue Zones, unique geographical areas with a high concentration of inhabitants who live to ninety or one hundred years of age, whose aging process is positive, and most importantly, deliberate and active. 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. These geographical areas are considered special, because most people live at least 90 and often over 100 years of age. We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. It requires descending 17 yards down a ladder to see cave formations that resemble fried eggs, popcorn, roses, and shark teeth. There are four similar places on earth: Costa Ricas Nicoya Peninsula, Okinawa in Japan, the Greek island of Ikaria, as well as Loma Linda in California (though that one might just be due to its large population of Seventh-day Adventists and their healthy lifestyle). Were Thomas (the German) and Sarah (the US-er). Costa Rica Tourism Board, Institutional Site, Costa Rica Convention Center, Promotional Site, Costa Rica Tourism Board | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Site Map. They feel needed, and their daily lives revolve around their family and community. Warm, Sunny Climate. 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. In one of Buettner's most recent visits to Costa Rica, he defined Blue Zones as "a kind of lifestyle and environment that creates longevity. 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. Alternatively, Blue. He then went on release a book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who Have Lived the Longest in 2008. Those who want to enjoy the pura vida life for more than a week or two often end up here, given Santa Teresas gorgeous beaches, busy nightlife, and excellent wifi. Your email address will not be published. seen in blue zones. Predominantly catering to families, this 402-room property has four restaurants, including for surf and turf and Japanese, two pools, a nightclub, and a 200-seat amphitheater. The world has a number of 'Blue Zones', areas where the locals live healthier and longer lives. The Nicoya Peninsula is on Costa Ricas north Pacific coast. 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. By TCRN STAFF October 5, 2022 528 0 The quality of Nicoyas water might be one of the reasons residents live long enough to become centenarians and almost-centenarians. It includes black beans, cooked plantains, fresh papaya, yams, squash, homemade corn tortillas, and fish (if near the coast). Sardinia, Italy. Every day, most people eat a breakfast of black beans and rice (called gallo pinto), eggs, fresh corn tortillas (with batter soaked in lime juice), with a cup of coffee. He finished, stating emphatically "please keep it and put the new generation on the same line in the treasure of this Blue Zone.". Some sea turtles have even lived to age 150. One is the plan de vida, or reason to live, which propels a positive outlook among elders and helps keep them active. Fish is a lean protein and provides oils which help with overall brain function. 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. It is home to some of the most active, hard-working, and friendliest people on earth. Barrio La California, Getting up in the air on tree canopy tours via ziplines and rope bridges is popular throughout Costa Rica. 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. The Nicoya Peninsula, a Blue Zone in Costa Rica, is renowned for its tranquil, laid-back ambiance. The forest here is more tropical than further north and is home to deer, pacas, monkeys, armadillos, laughing gulls, pelicans, frigates, and brown boobies. 11 talking about this. Lets explore the Blue Zone in Nicoya, Costa Rica and what the Nicoyan lifestyle can teach us about humanity and what we could do better in the future. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. They wake up. Community. One thing I found especially interesting is the idea that this long life span is dying out. This Central American nation isnt that far from the U.S. geographically, but it is way ahead of us in longevity. Healthy and supportive relationships with friends and family are another one of their keys to longevity. 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. Its difficult to maintain family bonds and friendships when school and work take us far from home, into strange communities. When you book through our trusted partners we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Pablo Jenkins, a regenerative investor and futurist explains that it is a great time to take on that wisdom from the local ancestors and combine it with new regenerative ways of living. Rare species like pumas, ocelots, and margay cats make their home here too. 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. They embrace the relaxed Pura Vida lifestyle and family always comes first. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *, car rental deal! Longevity then would not be a luxury only reserved for a few living in Blue Zones, but a reality for billions.. 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. 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. We have obtained information from Nicoya, Costa Rica on ways to live longer and be happier. These characteristics are: Despite this, it is believed that 30% of a long healthy life comes from genes and 70% is based on lifestyle. 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. 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. Directions: Toss the cabbage with the orange juice, season with salt and pepper and let sit 30 minutes. 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. For one, Costa Rica is a small country and most people never move away from the area they were born in. The beautiful view of the beaches may also have a hand in this. 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. The chance to do yoga in an open-air pavilion on the beach is not to be missed! So, what's the secret behind our region's long life? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. These centenarians help teach us the value of those important little things," said Mauricio Ventura, Minister of Tourism, with pride. Complex carbs provide the energy a person needs to get through the day. About two hours down the coast from Tamarindo is Nosara, Nicoyas yoga center (the Nosara Yoga Institute here offers teacher training). That sense of purpose drives them in all aspects of their lives. 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. These regions are considered Blue Zones. My fourth investigation into exactly what our Blue Zone folks eat has left this dietitian, well, intrigued. 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. Would you like to visit the Nicoya Peninsula? 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. In a few, unique communities around the globe, people live long and heathy lives, up to and past 100. 1 - The Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. The world has 5 recognized Blue Zones (as determined by the authority of National Geographic ). Nicoyans eat a light dinner early in the evening. 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. The Peninsula is covered by spectacular beaches that host nature's best. Its one of our favorite places in Costa Rica and most likely where we would move if we ever moved to the beach. Also on offer are boat trips to the volcanic Tortuga Islands, where snorkelers might spot angelfish and porcupine fish, and theres a chance of seeing dolphins, manta and spotted eagle rays, and turtles on the way. Oftentimes, this helps maintain healthy and supportive relationships within their communities, and develop a strong sense of faith and purpose along the way. There are 5 Blue Zones around the world, one of which is located on the Nicoya Peninsula; the others on the list are Sardinia in Italy, Okinawa in Japan, Loma Linda in the United States, and Icaria, in Greece. Also, the environment just exudes joy. 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. Because of this, they enjoy extremely low rates of heart disease. 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. The Tortuga Islands are offshore and are a frequent destination for snorkeling trips, even from other parts of the peninsula. 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. Hi, my name is Mike Gillespie & I'm fundraising to help support the Blue Zone communities in Nicoya Costa Rica. First and foremost, the competition to get ahead isnt the same here as it is in some other western countries. I will be visiting Costa Rica next week to meet with Jorge who founded a local organization that helps the small Blue Zone villages. Nicoya is famous for being a marvelous playground for surfers all over the world. Speaking of work, finding work/life balance is a constant challenge for many. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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". We are always happy to help you out! This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 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. The distinguished list included pioneering researchers on this subject: Michel Poulain of Belgium, Dr. Gianni Mario Pes and Paolo Francalacci from Sardinia, Italy, Christina Chrysochoou from Icaria, Greece, Makoto Suzuki from Okinawa, Japan, Gina Siapco from Loma Linda, USA, and Diego Bernardini from Argentina. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2008-2023 Law Dissertation Writing Services. Living Hotel partners with the Spacio spa, a five-minute walk away, which has several treatments geared to surfers. Having a Blue Zone helps strengthen the country's constant striving for quality of life, both for Costa Ricans and for tourists. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. We hope you love the Blue Zone Costa Rica stays we recommend. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. 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). Jorge Vindas, Costa Ricas Blue Zone expert, says that its a combination of good genes, healthy food and water, regular low-intensity exercise, few vices, a strong connection to family, putting importance on religion or spirituality, and having a sense of purpose. The world has a number of Blue Zones, areas where the locals live healthier and longer lives. While Nicoyans start their day by eating a healthy breakfast, their diet is not the only secret to living long lives. We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. They know how to listen, laugh, and appreciate what they have. Specifically, the rural landscapes of the Nicoya Peninsula, where people have some of the longest lifespans in the world. 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.

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