Tourism has spiked in Costa Rica, with visitors trying to get a taste of the Blue Zone lifestyle. But as tourists flood the area, locals say key elements of the Blue Zone life are fading away. Tourists want more amenities, infrastructure, and foods not found in the area, changing local habits.
Tourists are flocking to , with visitors trying to get a taste of the Blue Zone lifestyle that promises better-than-average health and longevity. And while the country's economy has grown to depend on the tourism industry, locals say the surge in outside influence has resulted in key elements of the 's customs fading away. Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula is one of five "Blue Zones" known for residents who live longer and healthier lives than others around the world.
In this sliver of the land in the Central American country, locals' lives have historically centered on strong community ties, purposeful and physical daily work, and a of fresh produce and lean proteins. Longevity researchers attribute these lifestyle habits to residents' lasting wellness. Business Insider previously reported that the average lifespan in the area is 85 years old.
"One of the reasons we came here was because there was so little here, and we really enjoyed the real Costa Rica — the jungle and everything being very local, things like that," Thomas Jones, who has lived in the coastal town of Paquera, at the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, for nearly 20 years, told Business Insider. "Of course, it's never going to .