PHOTOS: Costa Rica hosts World Meeting of Blue Zones

Costa Rica hosted the World Meeting of Blue Zones from Nov. 16-18. The event celebrated regions around the world where people exceed the average life expectancy, oftentimes reaching the age of 100 or more.

Costa Rica’s Blue Zone is located in the Nicoya Peninsula, encompassing five Guanacaste cantons: Santa Cruz, Hojancha, Carrillo, Nandayure and Nicoya.

José Bonifacio Villegas Fonseca is 100 years and six months old. He still loves riding horses. Courtesy of Mónica Quesada

María Gapita Chavarría Cerrano is 84 years old and Blass Angulo Chinchilla is 91 years old. They've been married for 64 years and live in Carrillo. Courtesy of Mónica Quesada

See also: Costa Rica studies the longevity of its centenarian citizens

Pablo Castillo Carrillo is 95 years old and lives in Hojancha. His mother was renowned as one of the oldest people in the region: her name was Panchita Castillo Carrillo and she died at the age of 110 in December 2016. Courtesy of Mónica Quesada

Students show their love of the elderly during the event. Courtesy of Mónica Quesada

The inaugural event included a musical act. Courtesy of Mónica Quesada

The Marimba Brisas del Norte played during the event at Nicoya's Central Park. Courtesy of Mónica Quesada

Costa Rican Vice President Ana Helena Chacón gives her speech at the event. Mónica Quesada / The Tico Times

Soledad Cantillo and Eliecer Torres dance swing criollo at the centenarian meeting after the inauguration. Mónica Quesada / The Tico Times

Estebana García Pérez, 97 years old (center), is accompanied by her daughter Elizabeth García Pérez. Mónica Quesada / The Tico Times

A woman from Carrillo participates in a Nicoya Peninsula water tasting organized by the National Training Institute (INA). Mónica Quesada / The Tico Times

A traditional dance presentation at Nicoya's park kiosk. Mónica Quesada / The Tico Times

Dan Buettner, who spoke at the event, is a National Geographic Fellow who made the world's Blue Zones famous through his articles and books about the regions. His presentation in Costa Rica included a series of questions to help participants determine their average life expectancy. Mónica Quesada / The Tico Times

Dr. Gianni Pes of Italy is responsible for establishing Sardinia as a Blue Zone, the second zone confirmed after Okinawa, Japan. He delivered the lecture "Longevity in Sardinia: Debunking Myths and Future Perspectives." Mónica Quesada / The Tico Times

Mónica Quesada is a Costa Rican photojournalist and former Tico Times photographer. Learn more about her work at her website.