Nantipa means blue in the language of the Chorotega people, some of the first known people to live in the Nicoya region. Go to a soda, thats the name of a small, local caf, and look for casado this popular dish is rice and beans served with vegetables and either fish or meat. He cautions though that one of the reasons Nicoyas centenarians live so long is that they dont have high incomes, which means theyve had to do physical labor since they were young, their meals are light and mainly of vegetables and legumes, and they cant afford a lot of protein or processed foods. 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. For just over 15 years he has been monitoring and accompanying the long-lived people that . For the first time ever, the world's most prominent researchers shared their knowledge and most recent research on the topic of Blue Zones. A blue zone is a geographical area in which the population is the longest-lived. They begin each meal with a prayer. I feel lucky to have found this information, though the credit doesn't belong to me, but rather to the older residents. To my delight, Costa Rica has its own Blue Zone - the Nicoya Peninsula! Your best bet might be finding a VRBO instead of a hotel. Thanks to the peninsula's reputation as one of these Blue Zones, Nicoya has become a haven for digital detox. Costa Rica indeed does celebrate its elderly citizens; every person who has a 100 th birthday is . Or, get your zen on at La Senda, the wellness center on a 74-acre forested property near Tamarindo. 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 . The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica is one of the five areas in the world that hold the distinguished classification of a Blue Zone. Try cutting out some meat and replacing it with fresh vegetables and fruit. Also, we would love to hear your thoughts on Blue Zones and what constitutes a long lifestyle. Black beans contain high doses of antioxidants and they are eaten for almost every meal among Nicoyans (and most Costa Ricans). When you book through our trusted partners we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. obesity, or heart disease. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Customer Experience Critical To Consumer Preference: IAAPA CEO Comments On Key Trends, When It Comes To Advertising, Multicultural Representation Is Not Enough. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This Central American nation isn't that far from the U.S. geographically, but it is way ahead of us in longevity. If you would like to be near things but get a bit more of a feel for traditional Nicoya life while also enjoying a bit of the touristy perks (surfing, fun restaurants etc.) He worked with several notable anthropolgists, dieticians, historians, and geneticists to identify and further understand what contributes to a long lifespan. Lunch is the main meal in Costa Rica (its better for your digestion to eat a bigger breakfast and lunch and a lighter dinner). However, both towns have a more touristy vibe to them. The peninsula is one of the worlds five Blue Zones where many people live exceptionally long and healthy lives. 4. Moais are a powerful social tradition that create feelings of belonging, purpose and security. For many the hope is that the lessons that these centenarians can teach us and the secrets of well-being and longevity that live in this extraordinary part of the world, will be able benefit all of humanity in the future. We hope you love the Blue Zone Costa Rica stays we recommend. The chance to do yoga in an open-air pavilion on the beach is not to be missed! But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. "This meeting commits us to preserve this Blue Zone, but most importantly, it should have a multiplier effect and serve as an example for the other cantons of the country" said Ana Monge, Commissioner of the Presidential Social Council of the Government of Costa Rica. Are you interested in learning more about the Costa Rica Blue Zone and other zones of the world? We know we should include exercise into all parts of our lives (not just an hour at the gym). Even the cancer rates on the Nicoya Peninsula are lower than those elsewhere in the world! 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. 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. What are Blue Zones? But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. This is an excerpt fromBlue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From The People Whove Lived The Longestby Dan Buettner, copyright 2008, all rights reserved. A "Blue Zone" is an area of the world where it is typical for people to live past 100 years old. He added that "we must somehow emulate, duplicate or copy the lifestyle of centenarians, and their way of living, but above all, their environment, diet, activity; above all, the connections they make, human connections, not technological ones. 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. Conzcanos. 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. Nicoyan centenarians have been the focus of many articles. Every morning, at dawn, before the men of Nicoya ride their horses through the mountains of the Costa Rican peninsula, they eat a healthy breakfast. 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. Loma Linda, California. Heres how to plan a trip to the Blue Zone in Costa Rica. 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. Where are the world's Blue Zones located? Several of Nicoyas beaches like those in the Ostional National Wildlife Reserve are nesting grounds for Kemps Ridley, green, and leatherback turtles. Almost 40 percent of the residents of the Nicoya Peninsula (about 5,000 of the population of 132,000) are over the age of 75, more than 900 are over the age of 90, and many are over 100. I mean, how can you not be happy when the average daily temperature is 85 degrees fahrenheit, you can easily get to the beach or jungle, and youre surrounded by an abundance of nature and wildlife? So why is it that the people of Nicoya outlive so many others? For most of their lives, Nicoyan centenarians ate a traditional Mesoamerican diet highlighted with the three sisters of agriculture: squash, corn, and beans. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. In other words, Nicoyans receive a healthy dose of vitamins in their daily diet. Community. 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. Still planning? This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. However, altering your diet, increasing the amount of exercise you get in a given day, and embracing relationships with family and friends are good places to start. Lane cites the impact of COVID-19 on minorities like Blacks and Hispanics throughout Chicago. 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. Nicoya is a small, rural beach community located on the Guanacaste peninsula on the northwest coast of Costa Rica. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2008-2023 Law Dissertation Writing Services. It includes the five cantons of the Nicoya Peninsula: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz and Nicoya. Nicoya is located far off in Northeastern Costa Rica. 3 International Psychedelic Retreats Poised To Take Wellness Travel Into the Future, The Most Romantic Couples Massages in Las Vegas, The 20 Happiest Countries in the World, 2022, What Its Like To Stay at Hilton Head Health, One of Americas Most Renowned Wellness Resorts, 5 Types of Meditation That Will Relieve Your Travel Stress, long-life characteristics of the Nicoya Peninsula, How To Move To Costa Rica and Live There on the Cheap, These Stunning Cabins Are the Ultimate Zion National Park Basecamps, 8 of the Coolest Airbnbs Near Disney World, Orlando, 8 La Condesa Airbnbs To Settle Into Mexico Citys Coolest Neighborhood, The 11 Absolute Best Beaches in Costa Rica, This Luxury Hotel Has Transformed a Plane Into a Suite in the Costa Rican Jungle, A Guide To Feeling Your Best as a Plus-Size SpaGuest, The Best Airbnbs in Venice, From a Rialto Flat To a San Marco Studio, Download the 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). "Looking beyond Costa Ricas Blue Zone in Nicoya, elements that make our population stand out and that describe our focus on well-being can be found in every corner of our territory. Rare species like pumas, ocelots, and margay cats make their home here too. The town of Nicoya is considered the oldest in Costa Rica, it is popularly known as "the colonial city". Guevara lives in the Nicoya peninsula of Costa Rica. For most Americans, an entrance ramp for a new lifestyle change is through their mouth, Buettner says. In other words, people in these zones to live longer than any other areas in the world. The five blue zones are: Loma Linda, California; Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; and the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. That means family ties are the backbone for most peoples existence. 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. Nosara also has three beaches remote black sand Playa Nosara, Playa Guiones with some of Costa Ricas best surfing, and Playa Pelada for tide pools, blow holes, snorkeling, and swimming. For more information read our privacy policy. Tamarindo is the most popular destination for international visitors with its golden beaches, many with consistent and gentle surfing waves, and nearby national parks and wildlife refuges. But we must also consider the impact of our individual health and lifestyle choices on future generations. Centenarians seem to have enjoyed physical work of all their lives. American researcher, Dan Buettner, discovered that people in these areas shared several lifestyle characteristics: They don't smoke; They eat a plant-based diet Ed #2798 Oficina #8 Fish is a lean protein and provides oils which help with overall brain function. And here are two great reports done that will give you a better understanding of the Nicoya people, area, and mindset. The Nicoya Peninsula, in Costa Rica, is one of them, . Drain and pat the onions dry with paper towel. 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. Many of us in Western countries know we need to eat less junk and add more natural food to our diets. 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. This Central American nation isnt that far from the U.S. geographically, but it is way ahead of us in longevity. They feel needed and want to contribute to a greater good. 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. Longevity then would not be a luxury only reserved for a few living in Blue Zones, but a reality for billions.. The gateway to the Nicoya Peninsula is the beach town of Tamarindo on the west coast, which is very popular with international travelers. Nicoya was introduced as a Blue Zone in a 2004 National Geographic article by Dan Buettner. 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. It consists of 100 recipes with ingredients used by those who live in Nicoya, Costa Rica and the other four Blue Zones. Now is the time for cities like Chicago to learn from the five Blue Zones throughout the world like Nicoya, Costa Rica. The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica is one of the five areas in the world that hold the distinguished classification of a Blue Zone. They also practice good physical and mental health. But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. It is home to some of the most active, hard-working, and friendliest people on earth. 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. Making the smart choice in traditional Blue Zones is often the only choice available, not really a choice at all. There are many factors that go into the long life of Nicoyans, and some of them will be impossible for you to replicate (unless you plan to move to an area of the world where the sun is always shining, the nature is amazing, and then you also need to bring all of your family with you). They are eye-opening and heart-tugging. We must make the health of future generations our responsibility by implementing the lifestyles of the Blue Zones people now.