Lovely Beaches & Highest Number of Centenarians

Most people have never heard of Nicoya, Costa Rica. It has lovely beaches, and the highest number of centenarians in the world. It’s one of the five Blue Zones. In Nicoya, most inhabitants live to at least 90, and often live to 100 or more. They do so without medication or any type of physical disability. That’s truly 100:100, living at 100% for 100 years…or more.

People in the Blue Zones live to a ripe old age, and enjoy a high level of independence. They live in communities, have multi-generational circles of friends, and continue to play a role and be active until they day they die. José Bonafacio Villegas has certainly checked all those boxes. H has ridden a horse nearly every day for the last 100 years. Villegas learned how to ride in 1921, and spent the next 99 years riding to school, doing farm work or visiting friends on horseback. At 102, riding is still his passion, although he’s currently sidelined – an ear infection hurt his balance and has kept him off the saddle since December.

It’s a temporary setback, says Villegas. He hopes he’ll be back on his horse soon. “Hope keeps you going. Negative thoughts annihilate.”

You want to know about the Nicoyan plan de vida? Interested in maybe seeing for yourself the place with lovely beaches and the highest number of centenarians in the world? Keep reading.