How Blue Zone Resorts Bring Something Unique to Wellness Travel

After serving executive roles for Four Seasons in the U.S., Neal Herman moved from New York to Costa Rica to live a slower, calmer lifestyle about 14 years ago. Soon enough, he found himself making friends there and being invited to their weddings and birthday parties. At the first function he attended, he learned something extraordinary about the people living in the country.

“In the early days I remember going to this wedding, and a grandfather shows up, gives a great handshake, holds a great conversation,” Herman told Travel Market Report, “and he’s 104.” 

Herman soon realized that “many people I work with have a grandpa just like that” and that meeting centenarians – people who live to be over 100 – was not uncommon in this area of Costa Rica. 

Nicoya, Costa Rica is one of five blue zones, places that have produced more centenarians than anywhere else around the world, along with Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; and Loma Linda, California. Dan Buettner, Blue Zones founder, closely studied each of these regions, trademarked the term, and now runs a brand to bring their teachings to the Americas. 

In Buettner’s 2023 Netflix series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, he put Nicoya, Costa Rica at the top of his longevity list. Similar to its counterparts, the keys to a longer life there include a mix of healthy eating, natural movement, life purpose, and community. 

“When I got exposure to this concept [of the blue zones], I said, ‘that is exactly what I see happening here on a day-to-day basis,'” Herman said. “Those principles do a good job of helping people understand and identify this way of life.” 

Costa Rica in general has become a huge wellness and nature destination for luxury travelers in recent years. Publicity of Blue Zones has helped drive tourists to Costa Rica, Okinawa, and Sardinia specifically, whereas Ikaria and Loma Linda are a bit more insular and not as dense with tourism. 

When he first moved to Costa Rica, Herman was president and COO of Las Catalinas, a luxury beach town development that encompasses small hotels, retail, parks, restaurants and more. Now, as president of Punta Cacique, he is at the helm of creating another similar luxury community. Already, a Waldorf Astoria resort has opened there, and two more upscale hotels are in the works. “Punta Cacique is uniquely positioned to use a homebase for connection to further adventure and connection to those blue zones,” Herman said.

Travel to each of the three most-touristed blue zones is ever-evolving; here’s how travelers can engage with the cultures there and learn more about longevity when they stay at their resorts.

Okinawa

The small, southern Japanese island of Okinawa is the first place that Buettner discovered as having a significantly older, healthier population. He credited this to the region’s low-calorie diet, daily gardening, ikigai (sense of purpose), and moai (tight-knit communities). 

Commercialization and the beginnings of overtourism have taken hold in Okinawa, causing the blue zone to shrink in recent years, now only present in the most rural areas. Still, there are some travel experiences there that carry on Okinawa’s blue zone roots.  

Halekulani Okinawa, a 5-star beach resort and spa on the island, has partnered with Buettner’s Blue Zones to offer a six-night Blue Zones Retreat this October. The program teaches travelers the nine principles of longevity in six modules and will include a tea ceremony, cooking classes using fresh Okinawan ingredients, and visits to cultural sites. 

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Blue Zones for the second year, offering exclusive experiences for guests to explore the island’s cuisine, traditions and lifestyle, while gaining insights for their own health,” said Shigeki Yamamoto, director of sales and marketing at Halekulani Okinawa. “By weaving Okinawa’s cultural heritage into every aspect of the retreat, we hope to offer visitors a meaningful and lasting connection to Japan’s only blue zones hotspot.”   

Costa Rica

Buettner found Costa Rican culture most impressive when measuring its longevity practices, including the residents’ plan de vida, which promotes a positive outlook, focus on family, regular physical activity that’s woven into daily life, and light, healthy meals. 

Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort also partners with the Blue Zones organization for its Blue Zones Retreats, which launched in 2024 and continued in February 2025. Interest has only continued to grow for the retreat, led by Blue Zones Retreats and Hospitality Expert Céline Vadam. It includes daily workshops that explore happiness, purpose, and mindset shifts, among other activities. 

“Given our location in one of the world’s original Blue Zones, it felt natural to bring these longevity-inspired principles to life for our guests,” said Patrick Schori, general manager of Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort. “We saw increasing demand from travelers seeking deeper wellness experiences rooted in authenticity and purpose. Partnering with the official Blue Zones organization allowed us to deliver an evidence-based, meaningful program.” 

Also on Costa Rica’s Nicoya peninsula, Nantipa is a beachfront boutique hotel that began offering a Blue Wellness experience in 2023. The property tailors the package to each individual guest based on the blue zone pillars they want to focus on. If guests want to feel a spiritual connection to nature, there are volunteer opportunities at local non-profit ranches. If they want to engage in physical activity, they can hike, fish, zipline, or go horseback riding. If they want a social experience, they can visit a local family. And so on. 

“I believe what we offer, which is different [from retreats elsewhere], is being immersed in one of the five blue zones of the world. Here, you breathe, you eat, you live, what it is all about,” Harry Hartman, general manager of Nantipa, told TMR. “We thought that it was a good way to bring people and immerse them in what the Blue Zone really means. It’s not just a retreat or a specific wellness activity. It’s a way of life.” 

“A vacation that incorporates natural ways to enjoy enhanced physical health, minimal stress, active days, and fulfilling local encounters, allows guests to truly create a shift and lasting change in their daily lives and habits beyond the scope of their trip,” he added. 

Sardinia

When visiting Sardinia, Buettner recognized the extraordinary ways that Sardinians care for their families, especially their elders, as well as how they get natural, daily exercise because of how steep the village roads are. Sardinia hotels are now sharing their way of life with travelers every day. 

Sardinia’s Longevity Experience visits four different properties over nine nights and immerses guests in the region’s way of life. Set for September this year, activities will focus on food and wine, movements, and culture and history. 

“This curated annual event brings together scientists, wellness experts, chefs, and local communities to explore the secrets of Sardinian longevity through talks, tastings, and immersive experiences,” Renzo Presico, president of the Consorzio Costa Smeralda, a development property in the area, told TMR. “It’s a unique opportunity for guests to engage directly with the culture of well-being that defines our island.”   

Other hotels in Sardinia may not have specific blue zone events or packages, but rather infuse the practices into the overall guest experience. That’s exactly how it’s done at 7Pines Resort, where everything is inspired by Sardinian traditions that have bred so many centenarians.  

From outdoor yoga and scenic walks to guided hikes and cooking classes, resort staff ties everything back to blue wellness. The resort also offers a “Sheperd for a Day” experience that introduces guests to Sardinia’s rural traditions, as well as a Kids Club where the resort teaches young guests the values of healthy living.  

“There is a growing global awareness of the Blue Zone concept, and more and more travelers are seeking destinations that promote longevity, well-being, and a healthier lifestyle,” said Pasquale Lelapi, marketing manager at 7Pines Resort Sardinia.  “At 7Pines, we’ve seen a steady increase in guests who choose us not only for the natural beauty of Sardinia, but also for the unique atmosphere of the resort, which is deeply immersed in nature and offers a sense of true balance and serenity.”