Discover Blue Zone Costa Rica’s “Pura Vida for All” wellness secrets for a happier, healthier, and longer life. 

Costa Rica is a lush eco-paradise teeming with rainforests, abundant wildlife, and a deep tradition of community. According to BlueZones.com, Nicoya, an 80-mile peninsula just south of the Nicaraguan border, has a life expectancy “higher than many developed countries; while spending 15 percent of what Americans spend on health care”.

So, what do Costa Ricans know about health, happiness, and longevity that we don’t?

Kelli Ricco, Wellness and Fitness Coordinator at the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica, was determined to find out why so many Nicoyans live well over a hundred years. And what makes this region one of the “happiest on earth?” After diving into the culture and starting a family in Costa Rica, Ricco cracked the Blue Zone code and incorporated its health principles into her wellness program for guests to experience in a meaningful way.

Ricco developed “Pura Vida for All,” the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica’s wellness program that introduces the principles of Nicoya’s Blue Zone secrets to living happier, healthier and longer. In Costa Rica pura vida (pure life) is more than just a phrase. It’s a philosophy and a plan de vida, (reason to live) with distinct key aspects that Americans with our busy lives often overlook.

Here are the Four Pillars of the ‘Pura Vida for All’ Wellness Program.

#1 Nutrition & Local Natural Remedies

Cooking classes teach guests about native Costa Rican herbs and superfoods known amongst Nicoyans for their healing properties. All locally sourced, these superfoods can help to strengthen the immune system and improve daily energy. Try delicious recipes with guanbana (soursop), raw cacao, and fresh-from-the-tree coconut water with lime. Bluezones.com further explains how diet is linked to longevity, “Nicoyans eat little to no processed foods but plenty of antioxidant-rich tropical fruit.”

#2 Volunteerism

A strong sense of community is key for Blue Zone centenarians in Nicoya. Exactly why Ricco gave volunteerism such a strong emphasis in her resort wellness program. Partnering with Crescendo Juntos and Growing Together, the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica has long embraced the concept of supporting their local community. Guests are encouraged to be a “Backpack Buddy” and bring school supplies for local children. You can paint a school, teach a class or even “adopt” a family for a week. The resort supports different types of partnerships, so you can volunteer where you feel drawn to – whether it be a school or a family – to offer a truly heartfelt experience where guests feel they received more than they gave. Prepare for your heart to melt. Costa Rican students love to greet guests with a charming traditional dance.

#3 Holistic Full-body Rebalancing

At the spa, each guest in the Pura Vida for All wellness program experiences a re-balancing energy treatment where native pure-toned gems (clear quartz, amethyst, lapis lazuli, citrine, rose quartz, bloodstone, and onyx) realign your chakras. The 90-minute treatment is blended with a hot stone massage for a renewal of energy. Guests have reported the disappearance of long-term pain after treatments.

#4 Movement in Nature

Another Pura Vida for All pillar to happiness and longevity? Get moving! Not just from intense workouts at the gym but from being active in nature. Cnn.com discusses how every day in Nicoya, 105-year-old Jose Guevara wakes up at 6 am to feed his farm animals. Movement is a way of life in Costa Rica; from tending farms and riding horses to salsa dancing and walking to a friend’s house. This inspired Ricco to add nature-influenced activities to her wellness program. With two beaches to choose from on the tip of the Papagayo peninsula, it wasn’t hard to do. Guests can try the Pura Vista Climb Stairway through the rainforest teeming with life to secluded beach coves, kayak with a guide to nearby Monkey island, try SUP in placid bay waters, or choose from a myriad of other activities that puts guests (responsibly) in direct contact with Costa Rica’s lush eco-system.

In the spirit of Costa Rica’s eco-responsibility, you can feel better about flying there as well. Alaska Air, known as the most environmentally friendly airline, recently introduced direct flights to Libera and San Jose.

The golden thread weaving its way through Nicoya’s Blue Zone to Ricco’s Pura Vida for All wellness program at the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica is the unique attitude of no stress. It’s a tangible sense of happiness you can feel that Ricco hopes every guest takes home with them. Along with a renewed sense of vitality and healthy habits inspired by Costa Rica’s vibrant Blue Zone of Nicoya.

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Costa Rica is freeing the nation’s zoo animals  by next year, seeking a more ‘natural’ experience for its residents and visitors.

One of only four countries in the world that has banned live dolphin performances, Costa Rica recognizes dolphins as non-human persons, and moved away from forcing them to perform in captivity. In 2002, the country also banned circuses that use animals in performances. And now, the Latin American country says it will do the same for all caged zoo animals in the nation’s zoo exhibits.

Costa Rica has no army and spends much of its resources instead on environmental conservation and education. According to the country’s Environment Minister, Rene Castro, capital city San Jose will turn its 97-year-old Simon Bolivar zoo into an educational and environmentally-friendly botanical park next year. The Santa Ana Conservation Center, another zoo west of San Jose, will also close. More than 400 zoo animals from both facilities will be either released into the wild or sent to rescue centers or sanctuaries to live out the rest of their days.

“We’re going to get rid of cages and reinforce the concept of a botanical park so the biodiversity can be shown and interacted with in a natural manner. We don’t want any more captivity, any more caging of animals, unless it’s because they’re being rescued or saved,” said Castro in a bold move that illustrates the inhumane nature of keeping animals in captivity, particularly when so many species are threatened or endangered around the world.

Adding to the emotional decision, Castro shared a memory from his childhood, where his grandmother’s parrot left her porch for good: “One day, we took the parrot out to the patio, and a flock of wild parrots passed, and the parrot went with them,” he told La Nacion. “It made a big impression on me because I thought that we were taking good care of her. We fed her with food and affection. … all these things that we as humans thought she liked. And when she had the chance, she left.”

Zoo animals, while often appear to like their natural-looking exhibits, can experience a number of problems. From zoocosis—a condition that leads to bizarre animal behavior sometimes requiring antidepressant medication—to physical ailments from standing long periods in small enclosures, to diet-related health issues.

The documentary “Blackfish,” which is in theaters now, highlights the terrible tragedy of a SeaWorld trainer killed by Tilikum, the largest orca whale to ever live in captivity. It’s an adept commentary on the archaic practice of keeping animals in cages, or pools, as the case may be.

While considerably more animals each year are imprisoned, tortured and killed for food (tens of billions worldwide), the practice of keeping the planet’s most majestic creatures in cages is no less horrific, and perhaps even less justifiable, particularly in a country like Costa Rica where forests and jungles are naturally abundant in a number of wild animal populations.

Related stories

Ditch the Zoos and Circuses: 7 Animal Friendly Summer Activities (Without the Chains)

Movie Review: ‘Blackfish’–SeaWorld’s Six Ton Killer Secret

Keep in touch with Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

Image:  mariusz kluzniak

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In his Chronicles of Peru, Spanish conquistador Pedro Cieza de León marveled,” And to think that God should have permitted something so great to remain hidden from the world for so long in history, unknown to men, and then let it be found, discovered and won all in our own time!”

Latin America continues to inspire shock and awe in voyagers, though now they’re more of the backpacking than the stake-in-the-ground variety. Whether it’s rocky mountains, brilliant beaches, charming colonial towns, or rugged cowboys you’re after, you’re likely to find it in the countries of Central and South America.

(above) Volcan Arenal, Costa Rica

Valles Calchaquíes, Argentina

Soriano, Uruguay

Cartagena, Colombia

Salvador de Bahía, Brazil

Goff’s Caye, Belize

Pacific Coast, Costa Rica

Volcán Mombacho, Nicaragua

Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

Ruta 40, Chile

Armero, Colombia

Machu Picchu, Peru

Lago Suchitlan, El Salvador

Antigua, Guatemala

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Cordillera Province, Chile

Camino al Monte Roraima, Venezuela

Rio de la Plata, Argentina

Montevideo, Uruguay

Ica, Peru

La Paz, Bolivia

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Los Altares, Chubut, Argentina

Perito Moreno, El Calafate, Argentina

Laguna Hedionda, Bolivia

Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Chile

Mt. Humboldt, Venezuela

Concón, Chile

Amazonas, Brazil

Tenorio National Park, Costa Rica

Gamboa, Panama

La Colmena, Paraguay

Caye Caulker, Belize

Canchis, Peru

Montevideo, Uruguay

Curitiba, Brazil

Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Roatan, Honduras

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

SEE ALSO:

40 Gorgeous Photos of Europe

40 Gorgeous Photos of North America

25 Photos of Islands Threatened By Climate Change

40 Gorgeous Photos of Asia

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Costa Verde offers Costa Rica’s most original eco-suite: a vintage airplane in the rainforest.

Costa Verde nestles in the rainforest above the Pacific Ocean, next to Manuel Antonio National Park. Like many hotels in Costa Rica, it is low-rise with impressive green credentials. The owner, an ex-Peace Corps volunteer and an environmental activist left a 30-acre biological corridor around the property with the rainforest grounds sustainably maintained.

Wildlife is literally on your doorstep, as ridiculously cute squirrel monkeys perform acrobatics in the trees. The hotel’s motto is actually “still more monkeys than people.” You can’t get closer to nature than the open-air studios with no AC, no TV and no glass windows but with breezes that will keep you cool, and wild forest sights and sounds will keep you entertained (think iguanas, sloths and toucans co-starring with mini-primates).

What could be more environmentally responsible than a recycled accommodation? Here you can stay in an old passenger airplane – still in mid-air (kind of). The “727 Fuselage Home” is a suite 50 feet up in the jungle, with two beds and two baths, accessed by a private staircase with balcony views of the sea.

The hotel’s other aviation-themed talking point is a C-123 cargo airplane used in Nicaragua in the 1980s, which now serves as a restaurant and bar. El Avion, which was a CIA-funded Contra transport, sits cliff-side in peaceful retirement – if only those walls could talk…

Rates for the 727 suite start at $400/night plus tax; open-air studios $127/night plus tax; views, U.S. political scandal ghosts and wildlife shows included.

Places & Spaces is a travel guide that will inspire you to carve out a vacation on your calendar. All of the gorgeous locations and accommodations in our guide share our concern for the environment. From tent glamping to lavish built environments, fair warning, you’ll feel compelled to pack your suitcase.

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The Gaia Hotel & Preserve is a Costa Rican getaway guaranteed to bring you back to nature.

This is the first installment in a new round of Places & Spaces here on EcoSalon. Look for writer Kara DiCamillo’s travel series here every Saturday.

Situated next to the Pacific Ocean in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica is the Gaia Hotel & Reserve, an adult only luxury boutique hotel and resort. Perhaps what we love most about this tropical getaway – aside from its modern amenities, lush views, and more conveniences than one could possibly need on vacation – is that it’s smack in the middle of a lowland coastal forest. The Gaia Hotel & Reserve is committed to preserving this natural land, and with their eco-friendly and socially responsible values it shows.

The preserve was originally a center for native orchid and endangered wildlife conservation, called Jardín Gaia and today the land is still home to many native species.

Guests at Gaia Hotel & Reserve are able to experience Costa Rica’s tican hospitality and natural beauty, be it taking in vistas of the volcanic mountain range and Pacific coastline while sitting by the pool, or interacting with nature first hand snorkeling, sea kayaking, surfing and river rafting or surrendering completely to your inner romantic with a horseback ride along the shore.

Places & Spaces is a travel guide that will inspire you to carve out a vacation on your calendar. All of the gorgeous locations and accommodations in our guide share our concern for the environment. From tent glamping to lavish built environments, fair warning, you’ll feel compelled to pack your suitcase.

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Bungle in the jungle during the rain season and save on a Costa Rican getaway. Rates drop dramatically since many travelers are skittish about venturing anywhere near Nicaragua this time of year. Risky, perhaps, but for those who seek showers (thunder makes my hubby’s heart pound) then try the Corcovado Adventures Tent Camp resort in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica.

A ten minute boat ride southwest of Drake Bay on the western side and conveniently located near the Corcovado National Park and Biological Reserve, the natural setting of tropical beaches and wilderness has been called “one of the most biologically intense places on Earth.” Commune with the white face congo and spider monkeys on the beaches and enjoy sitings of the Blue Morpho Butterflies along with 350 species of birds.

The full-sized tents are shielded from the elements by a large tarp and furnished with wood-frame beds and feature a front deck with chairs providing a vantage spot for Pacific Ocean views. The meals are Tico and International cuisine and available activities include horseback riding, scuba diving, whale watching, surfing, snorkeling, hiking and kayaking. A six-night package is $765 ($70 saved per person) and covers the taxi and boat ride from Drake Bay or Palmar airport, three full meals per day, a tour of the park with a guide, lunch, a boat ride and a tour of Cano Island with a guide. Rates by the night are around $80 per person, if you prefer that route. This is my kind of camping, since I don’t love sleeping on the ground, even with the best air mattress.

For even more luxurious lodgings in a tent (above), check out the Rafiki safari Lodge, which was started by the Boshoff family in 1999 in hopes of using tourism to build a wildlife refuge to help tapirs and other species. It is nestled in the 822 acres of pristine jungle along the Savegre River, 30km south of Quepos and Manuel Antonio. Enjoy white water rafting and exploring waterfalls. Several multi-day packages are available from $480 to $780 per person during the dry season (now through Dec. 15).

Looking for a great green getaway offering an affordable way to commune with nature? Look no further. This is the first installment in a series by EcoSalon’s Senior Editor, Luanne Bradley.

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Anyone who has been to Costa Rica can understand why the people are happy. The natural surroundings are beautiful and well maintained and there is a commitment to peace (the country abolished its armed forces in 1949).

Because of these and other reasons, an op-ed article in the New York Times reports the Dutch sociologists who run the World Database of Happiness lists Costa Rica as the leader in happiness out of 148 nations. On a 10-point scale, ticos earned 8.5, followed by Denmark at 8.3. The report says the U.S. ranked 7th at 7.4, while Togo and Tanzania trail at 2.6.

Apparently a focus on sustainability in preserving its natural landscape and the choice to dissolve the army and invest instead in education has lifted the spirits of the Central American nation’s people. Such heartening prioritizing has allowed the country to score at the top in other happy indicators, such as one that calculates “happy life years” (the U.S. comes in at 19th and Zimbabwe is last) as well as the “happy planet index” operated by the  New Economics Foundation.

According to columnist Nicholas Kristof, “Rising education levels also led the country to preserve its lush environment as an economic asset,” and the country is “an ecological pioneer, introducing a carbon tax in 1997.”

He points out that this commitment to the environment has bolstered rather than threatened the Costa Rican economy, adding that it is one of the few tourist countries seeing migration from the United States. In fact, it has seen such an influx, it has had to take steps to keep its parks and rainforests from feeling the strain of too much impact.

Image: Thombo 2

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If you’re looking for happy (and green), skip Disneyland and head straight for Costa Rica. That’s the word according to the New Economic Foundation, a British NGO that just released their latest Happy Planet Index.

The Happy Planet Index is determined by calculating the life expectancy and people’s happiness against their environmental impact in 143 countries that are home to 99 percent of the world’s population.

Costa Rica, a nation without an army, scored best with an average life expectancy of 78.5 years, a very “small ecological footprint” and 85% of the country’s population saying they were happy and satisfied with their lives.

In fact, the Latin American countries topped the list. This region occupied the nine of the top 10 spots (Australia was third). Britain came in at 74th and the United States lagged way behind at 114th. Interestingly, the report said that the United States was actually greener and happier 20 years ago than it is today.

Maybe there’s something to the old saying “money doesn’t buy happiness” after all.

Read the full Happy Planet Index report.

Image: j/f/

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A tourism paradox plagues beautiful Costa Rica, the must-see destination for every family I know. Its highly visited parks, like Manuel Antonio, depend on visitors to keep the bulldozers and loggers out, yet the growing crowds pose an obvious threat to the protected birds, iguanas and sloths, not to mention the monkeys in the trees people aren’t suppose to feed.

As a result, this original capitol of eco-tourism is taking steps to reduce the impact, capping the number of daily visitors to Manuel at 600 during the week and 800 on weekends and holidays to give the animals a break. According to a travel report in the Vancouver Sun, park officials are even closing down to the pubic on Mondays, just another way to tame the traffic jams along the narrow trails. “Costa Rica’s most popular sites are at risk of being overrun by tourists tripping over each other in their search for solitude and unspoiled beauty,” says the report.

Part of slowing down the traffic is literally to slow down the traffic. In this regard, you could say Costa Rica has come full circle from 20 years ago when I first traveled there.

Just two weeks after my met my now husband, Edwin, he invited me join him on his own planned excursion to the region. It seemed sooo remote and exotic to me back then – I kept the trip a secret from my family. Political unrest was plaguing Central America at the time and I didn’t want my mother making a fuss and raining on my cloud forest fantasy. Little did I realize my biggest problem wouldn’t be an intervening Jewish mother or angry junta, but traveling with a virtual stranger in a crude rented Jeep down unpaved mountain roads for an eternity to reach our destinations.

I recall breaking down and crying en route to a hidden-away beach town called Montezuma, as the 5th hour of winding roads approached with no soda (roadside cafe) in site. “Are we ever gonna get there?” I bemoaned to the handsome Jeep driver whom I had grown to detest on the road trip.

“Montezuma looked so close on the map, but it ended up taking all day to basically travel the distance from Berkeley to San Francisco,” recalls Edwin, a noted skeptic who also was worn down by the time we pulled into the Ylang Ylang Beach Resort. If anything depicted the “old Costa Rica” it was this funky haven of surf bums and German tourists. We were convinced a few ex-cons were among the mysterious hammock potatoes lounging between trees. I coped with water on the floor of our shabby chic bungalow and dining at the El Nano Banano cafe which showed movies on a large outdoor screen at night. We watched Goodfellas. Yes, all of this fine romance and I marred Edwin, anyway.

In the years since our rugged adventure, Costa Rica became the “it” spot – and travel became manageable. A posh, 153-room Four Seasons sprang up along with other four-star resorts, and nearly two million people booked trips annually to Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, and the other attractions on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. The country took dynamite to the hilly terrain to make it easier to travel in those ubiquitous Jeeps, adhering to the notion if you blast it they will come.

But according to the Sun, eco-tourism has halted the road smoothing projects, so it’s back to four hours to cover 30 miles. Costa Rica remains a leader in eco innovations, such as the zip-line rides through the rainforest and its commitment to protecting 25 percent of its land from development. The tourists bring in twice the revenue Costa Rica can make exporting coffee and bananas. It needs us, and we can do our part by opting for sustainable travel.

According to eco travel consultants, we can shun the big corporate route and stay at inns that grow their own fruits and vegetables and hire local workers. And try to spread the wealth by opting for small-scale tours and visiting sites off the usual tourist path so large crowds don’t spoil your commune with nature.

I have to say I was pleased to learn that Montezuma hasn’t lost its quirky charm. The resort still has those little bungalows and plays nighttime movies. Best yet, it donates a dollar a day per person to the Asepaleco Foundation toward conservation efforts.

Images: baxterclaws, law_keven

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