5 Blue Zone Destinations Where People Actually Live to 100 — and Why You Should Visit

Sardinia, Italy — Where the Shepherds Outlive Everyone

Sardinia’s eastern Barbagia and Nuoro provinces are known for having one of the world’s highest concentrations of male centenarians, which is unusual enough on its own. Globally, women tend to outlive men, but here, men reach very old age at striking rates. One theory points to the terrain: local shepherds traditionally walk miles each day across steep mountain paths, getting steady cardiovascular exercise without ever framing it as exercise.

For visitors, that same landscape makes this serious walking country, whether you want gentle village strolls or more demanding mountain hikes. You can wander the stone streets of Orgosolo, known for its vivid political murals, or head into quieter hill villages where older men still gather in piazzas in the evening. The food follows the same logic as the lifestyle: unhurried, unfussy, and rooted in local staples. Think minestrone, pane carasau flatbread, fava beans, aged pecorino, and Cannonau wine, a local red often noted for its polyphenol content.

Best time to visit: Shoulder season is the sweet spot here. May to June and September to October bring good weather, more reasonable prices, and far fewer crowds than peak summer on the coast.

Okinawa, Japan — The Island That Taught the World About Ikigai

Okinawa’s older generation, particularly its women, spent decades holding the global longevity record. The lifestyle behind that record helped make the island famous: plant-heavy eating, lifelong social bonds known as moai, the practice of stopping when you’re about 80% full, or hara hachi bu, and a cultural focus on ikigai, your personal reason for being.

It is worth noting that Dan Buettner has since delisted Okinawa as an active Blue Zone, citing the impact of Westernization on younger generations. Still, the older cohorts remain remarkable subjects of longevity research, and the island itself is gorgeous.

For travelers, Okinawa offers subtropical beaches, lush green mountains, and a culture that feels distinct from mainland Japan. The village of Ogimi, in the island’s north, has one of the highest ratios of centenarians in the world. In Naha, the Makishi Public Market is a great place to try traditional staples like purple sweet potato, seaweed, bitter melon, and tofu prepared in ways you won’t find anywhere else.

Best time to visit: Spring (March–May) or fall (October–November) to avoid typhoon season and peak summer heat.

Ikaria, Greece — Aging is Entirely Optional Here

Ikaria is the island that made the Blue Zones concept feel almost mythological. Residents are known for living longer than average, with lower rates of heart disease and dementia than many comparable populations. Locals joke that they simply forget to die, and then dance until 2 a.m. to prove it.

The pace is the thing here. Days start late. Lunches stretch into the afternoon. Naps are not treated as indulgent so much as part of the rhythm of daily life. The island’s mountainous terrain and pine-scented trails make it naturally active, while the thermal springs at Therma offer a restorative counterweight. The village of Nas makes a lovely base: quiet, small, and close to the water.

If you can time your visit around a panigiri, do it. These traditional village feasts, with slow-roasted goat, local wine, live music, and dancing until sunrise, are one of the most genuinely joyful communal experiences you’ll find anywhere in Greece. The local toast, stin ygeia mas, means “cheers to our health.”

Best time to visit: May to June or September to October for warm seas without the summer rush.

Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica — Pura Vida, Lived Literally

Men on the Nicoya Peninsula have an unusually high chance of reaching age 90 compared with men in many developed countries. The driving forces are refreshingly low-tech: a simple diet built around black beans, corn tortillas, squash, and tropical fruit; strong faith and community ties; multigenerational households; and the concept of plan de vida, or a clear sense of purpose.

The peninsula is also a beautiful place to spend time. Beaches like Nosara draw yoga retreats and surfers, while quieter inland towns offer a more traditional slice of Nicoyan life. In some communities, sabaneros, Costa Rican cowboys, still ride horses well into old age. Head to Santa Cruz for a more local feel, or explore the wildlife-rich national parks along the coast.

Best time to visit: The dry season runs from December through April, when the beaches are most reliable and the outdoor lifestyle that helps define the region is easiest to experience firsthand.

Loma Linda, California — The Blue Zone in Your Backyard

The only Blue Zone in the U.S. does not look like the others. Loma Linda is a small city about an hour east of Los Angeles, and its longevity story is less about the landscape than the community. The city is home to a large Seventh-day Adventist population, many of whom follow a plant-based diet, avoid alcohol and tobacco, observe a weekly Sabbath rest, and stay deeply connected to volunteer and faith community life. The result: Loma Linda Adventists are often reported to live roughly seven to ten years longer than the average American.

For visitors, Loma Linda works best as an easy add-on to a Southern California trip rather than a standalone destination. The city has vegetarian and vegan restaurants, weekly farmers markets, and access to trails in the nearby San Bernardino Mountains for hiking and cycling. It is also genuinely interesting as a cultural stop: a reminder that the lifestyle factors linked to longevity are not always about exotic geography. They can exist in the suburbs of LA.

Best time to visit: March to May or October to November, when Southern California is warm but not brutally hot, and the nearby mountain trails are more pleasant for hiking.

What these five places share is not one perfect diet, one magic ingredient, or one postcard-worthy landscape. It is a way of living that makes room for movement, community, purpose, rest, and food that still feels connected to place.

That may be the real reason Blue Zones are so compelling as travel destinations. You don't have to arrive looking for the secret to living to 100. But after a few days of long walks, slower meals, strong coffee, village squares, ocean air, and conversations that are not rushed, you may leave with something almost as useful: a better idea of what a good day can look like.

Frequently Asked Questions: Blue Zone Destinations

What are the five Blue Zones?

The five original Blue Zones are Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California.

Why do people in Blue Zones live longer?

Researchers identified nine shared lifestyle habits, including natural daily movement, plant-heavy diets, strong social bonds, a sense of purpose, and built-in stress reduction rituals that appear across all five regions regardless of culture or geography.

Is Okinawa still considered a Blue Zone?

Dan Buettner has delisted Okinawa as an active Blue Zone, citing the significant impact of Westernization, particularly fast food and reduced physical activity on younger generations. The older cohorts remain compelling subjects of longevity research, but it's a meaningful distinction for anyone visiting with the Blue Zones concept specifically in mind.

What's the best Blue Zone to visit?

Sardinia and Ikaria are the most rewarding for travelers looking for a classic European trip with a wellness angle. Nicoya is ideal if you want beaches, nature, and an easy-going pace. Loma Linda is the most accessible for Americans wanting a quick domestic taste of Blue Zone living.

When is the best time to visit Blue Zone destinations?

Shoulder seasons — spring and fall — are generally best for all five zones. For Nicoya, December through April is the dry season and most reliable for beach travel. For Okinawa, avoid July through September for typhoon season.

Can you actually adopt Blue Zone habits on a regular vacation?

Yes, and more easily than you'd think. Eating at local restaurants instead of tourist spots, walking instead of taking taxis, taking afternoon downtime, and eating with other people rather than alone are all Blue Zone habits that translate naturally into travel.