Lifestyle Trend: How to Plan a Getaway That Supports Longevity You Should Know

Many older adults want to live longer, healthier lives and travel is one of the ways they’re doing just that. An AARP survey shows that 95 percent believe travel is good for their mental health and 85 percent believe travel is good for their physical health. Yet, some trips are better for our well-being than others. 

Longevity travel involves taking trips “intentionally designed to support long-term health, function and quality of life, not just relaxation or sightseeing,” says Dr. Andrew Mock, a physician focused on preventative medicine and longevity at Hoag, a hospital in California. These trips typically are centered around one or more principles of longevity medicine: regular movement, restorative sleep, stress reduction, social connection and cognitive engagement, he explains.

“Longevity medicine is all about expanding one’s health span to match his or her lifespan, enjoying a vibrant, active, happy life free from the stress and risk of chronic disease,” says Dr. Florence Comite, a longevity physician and author of the upcoming Invincible: Defy Your Genetic Destiny to Live Longer, Better. “When travel aligns with the biology of aging, it becomes a proactive investment in long-term vitality, not just a temporary break from routine,” she says.

Comite notes that regular movement preserves muscle and bone, while reducing stress lowers inflammation and restorative sleep is “essential for metabolic, immune and brain health.”

As someone in my 50s, I intentionally plan trips that support longevity. As I get older, I prefer a slower pace of travel that enables me to sleep more, take daily walks and seek out fresh, local foods. On a trip to Japan, I balanced time in the big cities with a few days surrounded by nature in the mountains. My next travel goal is to attend a focused retreat to learn more about longevity techniques. 

Nantipa resort in Costa Rica offers a Blue Wellness program that explores the region’s cultural practices linked to longevity and health.

Courtesy Nantipa, a Tico Beach Experience

How to plan a longevity trip

Planning travel with longevity in mind doesn’t have to be complicated. Even before you travel, simple steps such as spending time surrounded by nature, taking daily walks and enjoying a slower pace of life can help older travelers feel their best and adopt healthy habits at home. Those who want a crash course in longevity can attend an immersive wellness retreat or visit an area with a lifestyle that has been proven to promote longer, healthier lives.

Comite stresses that longevity travel doesn’t have to be extreme or expensive, adding that it’s not so much about where you’re going but what you do when you’re there. “The most powerful effects come from consistently supporting the fundamentals of health in an environment that makes those choices easier,” she says.