A trip through Costa Rica's rainforests and coastal retreats tests more than just stamina. It tests luggage. After trading New York's relentless pace for the "pura vida" lifestyle along the country's southern Pacific coast, a traveler arrived at the realization that less truly could be more. The experiment: spend an entire journey carrying only the Lululemon Everywhere Crossbody Bag.
From the moment wheels touched down at Juan Santamaria International Airport, the compact crossbody became inseparable. The adjustable strap sat snug across the chest, keeping hands free and attention focused. At Rancho Pacifico and Vista Celestial, the twin luxury hideaways that served as home base, the bag proved equally at ease at chef-led dinners and spa appointments as it did during exploration of Alajuela, where family history runs deep.
The bag's eight compartments meant no frantic searching for phone or wallet. Its compact profile disappeared beside chairs without becoming an eyesore, a sharp departure from the oversized carryalls that typically dominate urban travel.
Testing Ground: The Jungle
Costa Rica's ecosystem doesn't ease visitors in. The rainforest delivers heat, humidity, and constant moisture. During a private tour through a 50-acre reserve, mud clung to everything except the nylon exterior, which shed dirt with surprising efficiency. An unexpected rainstorm soaked the bag during a mangrove boat tour, yet it dried quickly afterward. Humidity never became the enemy.
Wildlife encounters are not incidental to a rainforest stay. Monkeys, birds, and iguanas appear whether you're on a private deck or soaking in an outdoor tub. The bag weathered it all without incident.
What made the biggest impact was not what the bag could hold, but what it couldn't. With limited capacity, only true essentials made the cut: phone, SPF, lip balm, sunglasses, wallet. The deliberate constraint created unexpected freedom. Mornings by the infinity pool, breakfast overlooking the ocean, afternoon coffee runs, evening yoga sessions all flowed without the weight of unnecessary items.
By journey's end, carrying less had shifted something fundamental. The bag wasn't just practical luggage. It became a tool for alignment with surroundings, stripping away the relentless pursuit of more that defines urban living. In a place built on simplicity and intentionality, the smallest bag proved to be exactly enough.
Author Jessica Williams: "Sometimes the best travel companion is the one that forces you to leave the excess behind and actually pay attention to where you are."
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