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Living in a Blue Zone

Soaking up beautiful rays of sunshine, while maintaining a low stress profile, eating local and home grown food, and enjoying some of the most beautiful beaches in the world…..This is life on the Nicoya Peninsula, and yes it is pura vida at its best.

The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica is one of the world’s only Blue Zones, an area where people are known to live measurably longer lives.  Blue Zones have the highest percentage of centenarians living along side some of the happiest people in the world.  They are small pieces of paradise with lots of sunshine, healthy diets, low stress, and areas with a strong sense of family and community.

Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula is approximately 80 miles long and 30 miles wide.  It consists of ranch lands, pristine rivers, and un-touched beaches. Here in Santa Teresa, home to Florblanca, the culture is laid back and revolves around the travelers who journey here from all over the world to enjoy the lifestyle of our village.  Surfing and basking in the awe-inspiring natural beauty of this place is a way of life for many of us who live here.

The typical food eaten by locals is black beans and rice accompanied with the fresh catch of the day and a raw cabbage salad.  This plate is referred to as a casado.  Seafood from our surrounding waters is a part of our daily diet as well as an abundance of fresh tropical fruit. At Nectar Restaurant, we source our ingredients from local farms and fishermen to serve the most fresh, local dishes and to support our community.

Our private villas are designed to bring the outside in, with open-air living spaces and natural elements incorporated throughout. Connection to nature is an important component of life in a Blue Zone and at Florblanca, we’re careful to preserve this way of life.

“Nowhere else on Earth makes me feel so alive and so healthy as Playa Santa Teresa.  The surf, the sun, and the peaceful sounds of nature make me excited to wake up everyday” says Cody Dillon, General Manager of Hotel Florblanca. “There is something magical about the Nicoya Peninsula, and that is why many of us who traveled here for a vacation have never left.”

To read more about The Nicoya Peninsula and other Blue Zones, see these two articles:

International Business Times – Nicoya Costa Rica Paradise: Good Health, Long Lives

 Nat Geo Travel: Happiest Places: Blue Zones in Costa Rica

Where We Belong

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Where We Belong: Pete

“For me it’s a wild place that calls you out of yourself and into the world full of wonder” As the staff photographer for Florblanca, Santa Teresa has been my hidden treasure for years. This community is special to say the least. With my boys growing up and time slipping by, I knew now is […]

Pete Artemenko | Florblanca Photographer
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Where We Belong: Raul Castro

“I started washing dishes for Florblanca many years ago” Rual’s story is one of our amazing employees’ stories. He started willing to put in time and learn and has made strides each and every day. If we can learn anything from Rual, it would be don’t be afraid of humble beginnings, because you will eventually […]

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Where We Belong: Stefano

“Being a father gave me the opportunity to completely open my heart.”   The spirit of Florblanca here in Costa Rica is channeled through the jungle and wildlife that envelops us, through the ocean that is ever-present, and through the people that bring all this beauty to life.  And Stefano sits at the heart and […]

Stefano and Ashoa
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Celebrate Your Journey Together

  It’s so easy to get lost in our busy lives. With all the details of our day-to-day existence, we can easily lose the connection with our true passion, our energy, and our spirit.   This lost connection can be magnified to even greater degrees when we’re in a relationship.  The journey we’re on together loses […]