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Get to Know Costa Rica’s Blue Zone: The Nicoya Peninsula
If you’re reading this, chances are you have some idea what a Blue Zone is.
Generally speaking, a Blue Zone is a region in the world where people regularly live to be 100 years old or more. Now, this can’t be done by magic; these aren’t people plugged into machines in a hospital somewhere. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
These are places where people live active, healthy lives, regularly making it up into three digits in age. That’s a lot of candles, and quite an accomplishment, especially for a less-developed nation. Kind of makes you wonder what all those pills and processed foods are really worth that they’re pumping into the rest of us…. but I digress…
The world has 5 recognized Blue Zones (as determined by the authority of National Geographic). These include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece, and… you guessed it; Nicoya, Costa Rica. We’re going to focus on the last one, mostly because it hits close to home…. Actually, it is home. We live here, and this is where you’ll find the Calala Lodge… tucked away in the Southern Nicoya Peninsula.
What Makes it So Good?
People here aren’t living long healthy lives because of health care or hoverboards, nor advanced nutritional supplements, nor Thai Bo…. They live long healthy lives here because of an abundance of simple things…. fresh air, clean water, simple foods, family, activity when the sun is up, and hearty sleep when the sun goes down. (Did you ever think it would be that easy?)
Visiting Costa Rica’s Blue Zone
If you want to see this longevity in action, well, you’ll have to come down for a visit, and, heck, you’ll be totally welcome! You may not live to 100 after one visit, but you will reap the benefits of this health-giving location with every breath. Here’s why:
Healthy Air/Healthy Water…
As we humans advance and progress, healthy air and healthy water seem to be victims of our industrialized brilliance in many locations. Kind of makes you stop and think what we’re doing that’s so smart, but again, I digress. Regardless of that, coming here for a visit definitely means a big fat lung-full of healthy ocean air with every breath. You don’t even have to think about it; it just happens.
The peninsula itself is surrounded by ocean on three sides, not to mention the abundance of C0-2 scrubbing foliage, which, on the Nicoya Peninsula can be found in the tropical dry forest around Tamarindo and Samara, to the intense jungle of the southern region, around the Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve. Incidentally, the natural reservoirs of the Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve are where the drinking water comes from, flowing direct into the nearby villages, like Cabuya. With super fresh air in every breath and super clean water in every sip, it’s no wonder that health is in abundance here!
Comidas Tipicas
When you see these words posted outside a restaurant, it means good things. Literally, it means you will find Costa Rican favorites available on their menu, including Gallo Pinto, the national rice and beans dish, ceviche, patacones, and a variety of fresh foods you may have never even heard of.
Never mind the regular ol’ mango, papaya, and coconut (that grow wild all over the area), how about mamay zapote, maracuya, guanabana, guyaba, or mimones…. and that’s just a start! (Did we tell you that this is where great chocolate comes from?) This area is abundant with life, and food literally grows on trees, wild as the day it started. Get a taste of this, and you’ll see what all the fuss is about.
Pura Vida
This infamous local expression has many meanings, depending on how it’s used. The most important one is not often immediately apparent to the visitor, but it plays a critical role in keeping the wheels turning peacefully, minimizing conflict, and giving everyone a shot at a longer life. Ticos have a national ethic that prefers being happy over being ‘right’, prefers compromise over conflict, and would rather see problems resolved without harsh winners and losers, embracing the ‘everybody wins’ approach whenever possible. It’s not magic, and it’s not perfect, but it beats the heck out of a stressful life!
And if you want a long one, it’s definitely worth considering. Why not join us in Costa Rica’s Blue Zone where we’ve got everything you need for proper contemplation of your future, waiting just for you…
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