Experience the residents’ longevity-enhancing lifestyles firsthand.
Traveling has long been regarded as a powerful self-care tool. A vacation provides a dedicated time to disconnect from the day-to-day grind and indulge in yourself, whether that’s by relaxing on a beach for a week or exploring the cultural fascinations of a new city. It’s no surprise that, in a survey of American travelers by the Global Coalition on Aging, 93 percent of respondents felt happier after spending time away. What’s more, 77 percent of respondents believed their health improved afterward and about 80 percent said travel increased their productivity, energy, and focus.
But these days, some jet-setters are taking health-conscious travel a step further, seeking out experiences that could — potentially — improve their longevity. Enter: Blue Zone travel, which Condé Nast Traveller declared as one of the top travel trends of the year.
Blue Zone travel involves visiting one of the five destinations around the world that have been identified as places where the inhabitants live longer than the global average, including Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California. Coined by National Geographic Explorer Dan Buettner in 2004, Blue Zones is the result of his worldwide travel with a team of scientists and demographers. During their trips, they sought out communities in which people not only lived longer but also enjoyed a high quality of life in their old age. When Netflix released the documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones last year, interest in uncovering the secrets to longevity in these famous locations boomed.
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While scientists aren’t exactly sure what’s behind the phenomenon, the improved lifespan of the residents in these destinations is broadly believed to be tied to a combination of the landscape, diet, weather, and mental attitude. Based on their research, Buettner and his team determined nine evidence-based common denominators that are believed to have contributed to the longevity of the world’s centenarians. They’re called the Power Nine principles: Move naturally, have purpose, downshift (have routines that lower stress), follow the 80 percent rule (stop eating when you feel 80 percent full), prioritize plant foods, wine at 5 (drink alcohol moderately and regularly), belong to a faith-based community, put loved ones first, and live in social circles that support these healthy behaviors.
These practices are as clear as day in Costa Rica. “Costa Rica's Pura Vida motto is the ultimate extolment of Blue Zone values — that a simple, happiness-oriented life will lead to longevity,” says Colin Heinrich, the director of global impact at the membership-based luxury travel company and Equinox Circle partner Indagare. "The motto is so well known that it's used as a casual greeting and goodbye, showing just how deeply embedded the lifestyle is for locals.”
Many of these principles can be embraced in life at home, but traveling to these Blue Zone destinations allows visitors to truly immerse themselves in this rejuvenating lifestyle. “In Costa Rica, you can disconnect, calibrate, and reconnect with the things that truly matter: the natural world, the people around you, and the voice that sings inside you,” says Elizabeth Harvey, a senior editor at Indagare. “That voice can be hard to hear amid the din of daily life, but in the forests of Guanacaste, with the stars above and the sea below, the world gets a little bit quieter.”
The Blue Zone residents are well aware of the draw; today, you can find plenty of curated experiences that give you a taste of the world’s healthiest lifestyles. For example, on the small Greek island Ikaria, Indagare organizes for visitors to meet locals in the village of Christos Raches, where they’ll learn about herbal therapies that have been passed down from generation to generation. In September, there’s also a wine harvest, allowing visitors to discover the island’s famous antioxidant-packed red wine. The local toast, “Stin Ygeia mas,” translates to “cheers to our health.”
Embracing the local diet is essential. In Sardinia, this means enjoying a lean, plant-based menu with occasional meat — all of which you can source from the weekly markets — as well as a daily glass or two of red wine.
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That said, you may not need to travel to the Blue Zones to experience their health-enhancing lifestyles. “We are seeing an increasing interest in destinations that embrace the Blue Zone ethos, where healthy habits are just built into the daily lifestyle,” says Indagare COO Eliza Harris. “These could be destinations where walking everywhere or being outside in nature all day is the norm or where the food is naturally farm-to-table. It could also mean choosing a hiking trip, a vacation at a spa, or achieving a lifelong goal like going on [a] safari or epic family adventure.”
By embracing the principles of these Blue Zone destinations — no matter where you are in the world — your next vacation won’t just be relaxing, but it may be life-extending, too.
Through Equinox Circle, Equinox members have insider access to Indagare’s curated journeys, a 30-day complimentary trial of Self Planner membership, and $100 off annual subscription, plus access to VIP benefits including upgrades, complimentary breakfast, spa credit, and more.