Playa los Cedros

We made our way to one of our favorite beaches in this area, playa los Cedros which is nestled along the Pacific coast on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula heading North West from Montezuma towards Cabuya...what a gem with the cool clean river that flows to the ocean rich with pelicans, fishermen, and surfers too if the tide is right - Pura Vida in Costa Rica...

Tiny dancer...little lizard

This very small lizard danced it's way across the floor to our daughter's  delight..Pura Vida from Montezuma Costa Rica

Green Salad everyday for good digestion

Here in Montezuma we benefit from salad everyday with our meals because we like the way it tastes and because its healthy too.

We are lucky that Costa Rica has an abundant and easily available supply of farm fresh produce and dairy.

Nature Retreats in Costa Rica

Join us at Casa Bellavista in the Costa Rica blue zone for a customized nature retreat with your friends and family.

Nine Core Principles of Longevity

According to National Geographic and author Dan Buettner, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica is one of the few blue zones on the planet where people live longer, happier lives..

when looking for a retirement home, we decided living a longer happier life sounded good, so we invested in a home and retreat center in one of the few blue zones and began to embrace the blue zone principles. there are nine core principles that people in blue zones live by:

1) Move naturally
2) Cut calories by 20 percent
3) Plant-based diet
4) Drink red wine
5) Plan de Vida: determine your life purpose
6) Down shift -- take time to relieve stress
7) Belong / participate in a spiritual community
8) Put loved ones first / make family a priority
9) Pick the right tribe, the people around you influence your health

Come to visit us at Casa Bellavista to enbrace these principles and create lasting habits you can bring back with you when you return to your own home.

Pura vida,
Justine Smythe
www.bellavistamontezuma.com

WELLNESS RETREATS

January 11-18, 2016-
Reclaim Your Health Wellness Adventure
with Susun Weed

January 19-26, 2016
Divine Love Spiritual Intensive
with Suzy Meszoly
February 15-21, 2016- 
Qigong Exercise and Meditation Retreatwith Paul Bloom

retreats are limited to 8-12 participants...

Surrounded by lush jungles, with panoramic mountain and ocean views, Casa Bellavista was chosen for its ideal location for wellness retreats. As you sit by the spa pool, watching the grazing arabian horses, you will find deep peace and relaxation, tropical birds and howler monkeys call this home and you will too. Come to visit for a few days, a week, or longer... register for a retreat for complete nourishment and revitalization of your spirit.

fresh Ceviche the Costa Rica way...

Living in the blue zone has its benefits, especially on the Southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in beautiful Costa Rica right on the Pacific Ocean, where the fish is always caught daily...It's important to know what time the fishermen will be ready to sell their catch, bring a cooler in the car to keep the fish as fresh as possible, unless of course you are walking to the beach.... 

Here is a healthy yet delicious recipe for you...

Once home, skin and debone the fish (should be light fleshed non-oily fish such as tilapia, snapper, or even mahi mahi is ok, but not tuna or salmon or mackerel), and cut it up into bite size pieces, keep the fish cold in the fridge while preparing the rest of the ingredients: fresh squeezed lime/lemon juice, chopped parsley or dill or cilantro, and optional chopped vegetables and or fruits - onion (red or white or green), tomato, cucumber, sweet bell pepper, papaya, mango, pineapple, orange. add as much or as little as you like and be sure to experiment...there are many ways to make Ceviche and they are all delicious. 

This method of "cooking" fish with acid is said to have come from the Moors living in the Mediterranean region and has been documented as being a popular healthy recipe in ocean front villages in Mexico, Central and South America for at least two thousand years.

Be sure to only make as much as you will eat at one sitting. Serve with lettuce and a few chips. and enjoy to your health! Join us in Montezuma for a healthy cooking intensive or just to lay by the pool. 

Pura vida, Justine Smythe www.bellavistamontezuma.com

Howler Monkeys are the loudest land animals...

Howler monkeys live in small tribes of six to 15 members, they are of a gentle nature rarely fighting among themselves. The three tribes of howler monkeys that live in the jungle trees surrounding our home in Costa Rica spend their waking hours munching on leaves and hanging around grooming each other and enjoying the peaceful life of an herbivore. At Casa Bellavista it is easy to know when the howlers are around because they make a beautiful noise that sounds like a lion roaring, and they are most vocal as sunrise and sunset, preferring to nap in the heat of the day.

Pura Vida, 

Justine Smythe

www.bellavistamontezuma.com