El Cosmico: Nomadic Glamping In Marfa, TX

Amongst the chaos of everyday society, imagine spending a couple days outside the city with the freedom to do “nothing for a little while”. Behold Dolce Far Niente, the belief that represents El Cosmico to allow guests to step away and disconnect from reality for a bit and enjoy the small things – like an afternoon in a hammock or stargazing at night. It’s a place where guests and staff mutually respect each other’s time, space, and tranquility to offer a sense of freedom you can’t find anywhere else.

One thing that shocks so many people I meet is that I LOVE camping. Considering I love discovering luxury boutique hotels around the world, it typically comes as a surprise that I love sleeping in a tent just as much. There’s something about falling asleep to the sounds of nature and feeling the brisk morning air when you rise that sets the tone for a perfect day.

Combine the two and you will find: glamping.

A Marfa road trip has been on my Texas bucket list for years, so when my friend Sarah decided to move to NYC, we decided this was the perfect time to take the trip. If you’re unfamiliar with Marfa, this is a tiny town in far west Texas known for its unexpected art presence. While it has a population of only 2100 and is far removed from city-living, this town draws visitors in from all over to discover its hip vibe through art galleries, famous Marfa lights, and its unique charm that can only be experienced through a visit.

El Cosmico Marfa Little Pinky Small Trailer

THE ACCOMODATIONS:

For our trip to Marfa, Sarah and I decided to experience glamping at the El Cosmico. Dubbed as a “hip West Texas nomadic hotel”, the El Cosmico offers guests unique accommodations for their visit to Marfa. You can choose to stay in teepees, yurts, safari tents, trailers, or bring your own tent for self-camping.

Since availability at El Cosmico is generally pretty slim, we had to switch rooms half way through the trip – which actually worked to our benefit, as it allowed us to experience two types of accommodations! For the first part of our trip, we stayed in a safari tent. Each tent had wood floors, lighting and outlets (this was a surprise), iphone speakers, and heated blankets. The safari tents were really fun, because we were able to get to know the other guests in neighboring tents, and even made a friend who traveled to Terlingua with us! (click here for our Terlingua City Guide). The one thing to note about the tents is Marfa gets REALLY cold at night since it’s in the desert, so pack cozy PJs to stay warm under the heated blanket while you sleep!

For the second part of our trip we stayed in a small trailer – Little Pinky. While on the outside, our mini trailer looked a bit tiny, we had so much fun staying inside! Plus the trailer had its own mini kitchen, fridge, dining area, and best of all – A/C. The bed is a double, so if you aren’t ok with cuddling with your travel buddy, this may not be the spot for you!

(Note: If glamping isn’t your style, check out El Cosmico’s Brite Building in town!)

WHAT TO KNOW

The temperatures in Marfa can change drastically from day to night – The Texas desert heat left us sweating all day, but the nights dropped down to the 20s – and sleeping in a tent was unexpectedly cold! The safari tents come with heavy heated blankets, but make sure you’re prepared for a change in temp.
El Cosmico Provision Co – There’s also a store on site with all sorts of fun (and necessary goodies) in case you forget anything – or want to snag a cool souvenir for your home!
You may get tipsier faster – Did you know Marfa is located at a high altitude? You’ll figure that out quickly when you get buzzed a bit quicker during cocktail hour!
Visit During The Trans-Pecos Festival – Every September, El Cosmico holds a huge music festival with lots of great acts, workshops, and more. Note: prices will skyrocket this weekend, but it looks like a great time!
Free coffee – If you rely on a cup of joe to kickstart the day, you’ll love the free coffee in the morning. Plus it’s a great way to mingle with other campers before the day begins.
Check out the sunset soundtracks – This was the highlight of our stay at El Cosmico. All of the guests gather outside the common area for live music and sangria and michelada specials. It’s a very social time, and it’s fun to hear other campers stories!

WEST TEXAS PACKING LIST:

PACKING TIPS

Pack closed toe shoes – If you wear sandals, it’s inevitable you’re feet will be covered in dirt. Forget about high heels. All you really need are a pair of boots for the trip.
Bring shower shoes – Unless you’re staying in a full-sized trailer, you’ll be sharing a communal bath house with the campground. It’s a bit rustic, and not the most private, but it’s part of the experience.
Bring your own bath products – El Cosmico offers shampoo for guests to use, but they were tiny, solid bars and a bit drying on my hair. (They do provide towels, so you can leave those at home!)
Pack a sweatshirt for nighttime – Temperatures can drop drastically in the evening. Don’t be fooled by high heats in the day, you’ll definitely regret leaving your jacket at home!
Bring a cooler of ice – the safari tents don’t offer mini fridges, so we packed a cooler with drinks to keep in our tent!
Bring a flashlight – Quiet hours at El Cosmico start at 11PM, so if you have to run to the car or the bathroom late at night, good luck trying to find your way! Pack a flashlight to make sure you don’t get lost at night.
Don’t overpack – If you could’ve seen the size of my suitcase when I arrived.. It was embarrassing. This isn’t a place to dress up, so keep your packing simple with casual pieces like jeans and tees, simple dresses, and activewear.
Bring lip balm and lotion – Since Marfa is located at a high altitude, your skin can get very dry.

FUN FACT: Beyonce stayed here. Yep.

Want to experience El Cosmico for yourself? Click here to learn more and book your stay! It was such a fun experience and I can’t wait to go back – and I hope you will love it too!