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. In Nicoya, Costa Rica, where average incomes are among the nation's lowest, the average life span is 85among the world's highest. Nicoyans often live more than 100 years and Nicoya boasts of the highest number of centenarians in the world. There are common factors that exist in these populations, such as good physical and mental health, a healthy traditional diet, respect for the family, deep faith, constant mobility, and a purpose in life. Nicoyans attribute much of their longevity to social values of faith and family. Rare species like pumas, ocelots, and margay cats make their home here too. 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. Everywhere you go in Costa Rica, youll hear pura vida! and soon feel the freedom to adopt the pura vida lifestyle yourself. 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. 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. Costa Rica is one of the few tropical countries where its safe to drink tap water even for foreigners and theres no need to buy plastic water bottles. In the future, when we do emerge from the current pandemic, many cities and companies will revisit well-being as a main topic for their citizens and employees. BOOK YOUR COSTA RICA RENTAL CAR AND SAVE 10%. 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'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. 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. Going down the west coast from Tamarindo youll find several beach towns, most notably yoga center Nosara and surfers paradise Santa Teresa. Compreende os 5 cantos da Pennsula de Nicoya: Hojancha, Nandayure, Carrillo, Santa Cruz e Nicoya. Now I was excited to roam off the beaten path into a world-famous Nicoya Peninsula blue zone. 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. The Nicoya Peninsula has five cantons where middle-age morality is lowest and centenarians are the most abundant. A Blue Zone is the name given to one of the areas in the world where a majority of people have a life expectancy of at least 100 years old. One of the five designated blue zones in the world, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica features residents who live even longer than those in the rest of the country. 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). Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica: Researchers found that the probability of becoming a centenarian for a 60-year-old man residing in Nicoya is 4.8%, which was even more than double that of Okinawa, the second highest in the comparison, and it was almost seven times that of Sardinia and Japan (6). It consists of 100 recipes with ingredients used by those who live in Nicoya, Costa Rica and the other four Blue Zones. You may opt-out by. I also suggest watching his TED Talk. They also practice good physical and mental health. Gone are the days of making your own food and growing organic produce. 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. Join 19k+ subscribers in receiving FREE travel advice, news & promotions! When Dan Buettner introduced the concept of Blue Zones, he formed the Blue Zones Project. He then went on release a book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who Have Lived the Longest in 2008. Adapting our lifestyles wherever we live to healthier practices such as intermittent fasting, walkability, exploring plant-based gastronomy, and low glycemic index food intake sound like your everyday doctors recipe for a healthy life, says Cedeno-Molinari. All of our step by step Costa Rica planning tips in one spot. Complex carbs provide the energy a person needs to get through the day. Check out all of our favorite travel companies. When you book through our trusted partners we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. About two hours down the coast from Tamarindo is Nosara, Nicoyas yoga center (the Nosara Yoga Institute here offers teacher training). And here are two great reports done that will give you a better understanding of the Nicoya people, area, and mindset. That's why this part of Costa Rica is designated a Blue Zone, the term used for just five areas of the world where people live extraordinarily long and vibrant lives. 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. Community. 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. mobile app. But other factors are at play, especially in Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border. Nicoya is located far off in Northeastern Costa Rica. O segreto da Zona Azul de Nicoya. These places are full of one-hundred-year-olds who have reached such like live wires, not in bed or in hospital. Barrio La California, This has paid off, with Costa Rica frequently scoring high in world happiness and environmental rankings. He worked with several notable anthropolgists, dieticians, historians, and geneticists to identify and further understand what contributes to a long lifespan. Moderate alcohol intake, especially wine. This calcium leads to stronger bones and the ability to stay physically active at a later age. It requires descending 17 yards down a ladder to see cave formations that resemble fried eggs, popcorn, roses, and shark teeth. Successful centenarians have a strong sense of purpose. If coming from San Jose, the easiest way to get to the Nicoya Peninsula is to take the ferry from Puntarenas. So, having extra-hard water may help keep Nicoyans' hearts strong, and longer. Customer Experience Critical To Consumer Preference: IAAPA CEO Comments On Key Trends, When It Comes To Advertising, Multicultural Representation Is Not Enough. 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. Lunch is the main meal in Costa Rica (its better for your digestion to eat a bigger breakfast and lunch and a lighter dinner). 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. We're going to focus on the last one, mostly because it hits close to home. It remains to be seen if the COVID pandemic will affect that average. There are other blue zones in California, Italy, Greece, and Japan. Ministry of Health data indicate that life expectancy is nearly 80 years, which is the highest in Central America, according to the World Bank. Research shows that 30% of longevity comes from genes, and the remaining 70% from lifestyle. Several of Nicoyas beaches like those in the Ostional National Wildlife Reserve are nesting grounds for Kemps Ridley, green, and leatherback turtles. 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. The peninsula is one of the worlds five Blue Zones where many people live exceptionally long and healthy lives. There are five areas of the world that meet the qualifications of Blue Zone as defined by Buettner. This Blue Zone is in the mountains of the Nicoyan Peninsula in western Costa Rica. In an article in the Chicagoan, Marc J. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Feel free to leave them in the comment section below. The Adventists are praying. A blue zone is a geographical area in which the population is the longest-lived. Throughout Costa Rica, youll find vegetarian gallo pinto (rice and beans) served at breakfast, lunch, and dinner the name means spotted rooster because the black beans dot the rice. Thanks to the peninsulas reputation as one of these Blue Zones, Nicoya has become a haven for digital detox. These areas are: Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda, California; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Ikaria, Greece. 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. Drain and pat the onions dry with paper towel. 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. "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. There will be a lot to learn and a lot to do to get back to a healthier normal. Nicoya is famous for being a marvelous playground for surfers all over the world. Sardinia, Italy. The proper mindset about longevity is not about aspiring to live to a very old age, but to enjoy the best quality of life possible during the last ten years we live, says Alvaro Cedeno-Molinari, a former Costa Rican diplomat and ambassador who works intensely promoting bioliteracy, regeneration, and well-being as holistic healthy mindsets. Scarlet macaws are bred in Tambor and youll have a chance of seeing them, even on the beach. Nicoyans eat a light dinner early in the evening. The Nicoya Peninsula is in many ways isolated from the rest of Costa Rica due to geography. This treasure includes the atmosphere around you." 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. 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." 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.