Frequently Asked Questions

Cosmos is located on the southwest coast of the island, set high on a ridge overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the Bay of Soufriere and the Piton Mountains. We are 3kms from the town of Soufrière and 1km from Anse Chastanet beach, in an area referred to as Mamin on Google maps. See directions on our Contact Page. There are a few other exclusive villas and hotels on this hillside which is accessed by a rough road best suited to 4×4 vehicles.

Our address: Cosmos St Lucia, Anse Chastanet, Soufriere, St Lucia

All enquiries for availability and rates must be made by completing the Booking Form on our Reservations page, click on ‘Enquire Now’. Once we have this information we can respond accordingly.

Yes! Cosmos is a magical venue for small, intimate celebrations for up to 25 people. For birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, bachelor and bachelorette parties, please see our Guide to Celebrations at Cosmos. For weddings, see our Guide to Sunset Weddings at Cosmos.

Yes! Our spectacular panoramic setting, stunning open-air architecture and warm welcome make Cosmos Saint Lucia a magical destination for small, intimate ceremonies and celebrations, for up to 25 guests. Get inspired by our Guide to Sunset Weddings at Cosmos

The minimum stay at Cosmos in the high season is 7 nights (December-April), and 4 nights during mid and low season (May-November).

Cosmos welcomes local guests at both the Villa and the Lodge. Head to our Reservations page to make an enquiry.

Yes, however they must be supervised at all times. Parents and carers must pay heed to the dangers that surround a property set high on a hillside with numerous balconies, pools and terraces.

Yes. Cosmos welcomes guests from many different backgrounds and has hosted a number of same sex weddings. Although times are changing, attitudes towards the LGBTQ community can be conservative throughout the Caribbean, and certain homosexual acts are still illegal. Public displays of affection may attract unwanted and negative attention.

While small print and vacations don’t seem to mix (!) it’s important you know our policies, so please take a look at our complete Terms & Conditions.

Accessed by a private drive, Cosmos is nestled behind tall stone walls with locking entrances. There are neighbouring villas however Cosmos is not overlooked by any other properties, nor can it be seen from the road. The whole property is monitored by a CCTV security system. The manager lives in a separate accommodation on the property with her children and is available 24/7 if need be.

We define eco luxury as creating a magical experience while minimising the footprint on the beautiful island of St Lucia. Our approach to delivering eco luxury is at the heart of everything we do. From the villa infrastructure and day to day management, to the short and long term impacts within the community, landscape and local economy. This is vital to ensure our vision for Cosmos, and your vacation experience, can be sustained. Find out more here.

See our Covid-19 safety protocol for full details.  When planning your trip, visit the St Lucia Tourism Authority’s website and follow guidelines for visiting the island during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Fully vaccinated travelers must submit proof of full vaccination in order to gain freer access to all parts of the island.

Yes. Most of our guests use the local labs a day or two prior to departure for Coronavirus testing, and this can be arranged with the help of our House Manager once you have arrived.  If you would like to make arrangements prior to arrival, please feel free to make direct contact with Tapion Lab +1 (758) 722-0128. The cost is $35 for a rapid test with same day results.  PCR tests take 48 hours and are available Monday-Friday at Soufriere Hospital +1 758 459 5130.  The cost is $100 per test.  For further information on disease control and prevention, visit the CDC website.

Cosmos is inspected and approved annually by the St Lucia Ministry of Health, and by the St Lucia Fire and Emergency Services. Our House Manager is trained in first aid, and both the Villa and Lodge have first aid kits available.

To ensure availability we recommend giving your prefered suppliers plenty of notice. Photographers/videographers should be booked 6 months in advance. Live music and custom cakes should be booked 3 months in advance. For anything we provide in-house (flowers, menu, drinks etc), this can be done in the 3 months running up to your celebration.

No, Cosmos is an exclusive, privately owned property. While we offer private dining, a concierge service and have a recommended private driver for guests, Cosmos does not have the infrastructure or staffing to operate like a hotel, nor was it ever intended as such. The magical experience at Cosmos can only be sustained if we are all mindful of the environmental footprint on this beautiful island. This means some things that guests associate with hotels, like 24/7 air con and limitless laundry, are not part of our offer.

The Villa sleeps up to 14 guests in six bedrooms, The Lodge sleeps up to two guests in studio style accommodation with one queen bed. They can be rented separately or together, accommodating up to 16 guests in total. The Lodge enjoys a secluded location in a corner of the property; It does not overlook, nor is it overlooked by, The Villa. Unsurprisingly, many guests book The Lodge as a honeymoon suite.  The facilities of The Villa are not available to guests in The Lodge, unless the property has been rented as a whole.

Yes but, while fun is very welcome, we kindly ask that you keep the atmosphere respectful – this isn’t the place for loud parties. Out of respect for The Lodge guests and our neighbors in the Anse Chastanet hillside community, music should not be audible outside the premises between 10pm and 10am.

St Lucia benefits from a tropical, humid climate moderated by northeast trade winds that allow for enjoyable conditions year-round.  Due to its location near the equator, St. Lucia does not have very well defined seasons. There is, however, a rainy season that generally falls between June and November. November is the hottest month in St Lucia with an average temperature of 83°F (29°C) and the coolest is January at 79°F (26°C).

Both US and EC dollars are accepted in St Lucia and credit cards are widely used.

We recommend guests book our private driver Craig to provide transportation around St Lucia. Craig is an experienced driver, expert in navigating the islands roads and sharing local knowledge along the way. He has both a large van and smaller vehicle, suitable for trips to and from the airport and for getting around the island. Craig’s contact details and and rates will be sent to you as part of our pre-arrivals information.

To help you plan excursions, below is a price guide (US dollars) for private driver Craig to provide your transport during your vacation at Cosmos St Lucia:

To/from UVF International Airport:
– $80 for 1 to 3 persons, $15 for each additional adult, $5 for each additional child (on arrival at UVF airport, Craig will meet you in the arrivals hall holding a sign with your name)
– For local rides, including nature trails, beaches, waterfalls and volcano (collect,wait, return): $80
– Restaurants, markets and botanical gardens in Soufrière: $60
– Anse Chastanet beach/restaurants: $40
– North of the Island; Marigot Bay, Castries, Rodney Bay, Pigeon Island, Gros Islet Street Party: $300 (Full day 9am-4pm or Full evening 5pm-12pm)

If you book Craig, you do not need to arrange car hire while staying at Cosmos St Lucia. However car rental is also available from the airport; we recommend you book a 4×4 vehicle which is best suited to the rough road leading to Cosmos.  A reliable local company is Cool Breeze in Soufriere, with a desk at UVF International airport.

St Lucians like to celebrate life!  Celebrated street parties or “jump-ups” take place weekly on Friday evenings in Gros Islet and Anse La Raye, featuring music and dancing in the streets, pop-up bars and superlative “fish fry” barbecues. Our driver can provide transport if you’re interested, which can be arranged with our House Manager.  NB:  Street parties have been suspended during the Covid 19 pandemic until further notice.

Yes! Check out the island events schedule for a dose of full volume St. Lucian hospitality. Here’s a quick heads up:  Food and Rum Festival – January; Jazz and Arts Festival – May; Summer Carnival – July; Arts and Heritage Festival – October; Atlantic Rally for Cruisers Sailing Festival – November/December; National Day – December.

There are numerous excellent opportunities for shopping for provisions locally.  Soufriere has a Monday – Saturday farmers market for fresh produce with Saturday morning being the biggest market.  There is also a fish market near to the farmers market open in the mornings.  There is a supermarket, butcher, and bakery in the town.  Beverages, beer and spirits can be purchased in the supermarket. Soufriere is approximately one mile from Cosmos.

Yes, however we encourage mindful use of electricity. The living areas have ceiling fans only, and as Cosmos is positioned high on the hillside, living spaces are open to the breeze and are not air-conditioned. Air conditioning is available in the Villa bedrooms – we encourage guests to only use it on very warm nights. The Lodge is cooled by fans only. This approach reflects how we define eco luxury as creating a magical experience while minimising the footprint on the beautiful island of St Lucia, and we hope guests that choose Cosmos share our view.

Check-in is from 3pm and check-out is by 11am.

Yes. There is on-site parking for one vehicle for the Lodge and a maximum of three spaces for the Villa.

Yes. Our House Manager can assist you in planning excursions and activities, arranging transport and recommending restaurants and other local experiences.  Advance booking is recommended for yacht charter, restaurant bookings in fine hotels and diving courses. All other local experiences can be arranged on short notice.

Yes, bedrooms are made-up by noon each day. Water conservation is a top priority at Cosmos so towels and bed linens are changed every three days unless otherwise requested.

Yes. We work with local therapists to provide a number of Spa Treatments to help you unwind and ease into your vacation. Spa treatments must be booked in advance using our Essential Checklist, distributed prior to your arrival. Treatments take place in our Pavilion Lounge or in the Lodge, and are usually done one at a time. For large groups requiring many treatments, couples massages are possible with two therapists working simultaneously.

Cosmos has a team of four friendly and helpful staff, led by our House Manager who lives on-site 24/7 in a separate accommodation at the entrance to Cosmos. The team includes two housekeepers and a gardener, as well as part time chefs and service providers.  We aim to look after you and your guests during your stay, and if that means that privacy is your priority, that too can be arranged. Meet the team in this blog post.

No. We provide beach towels and Turkish towels – which you can also wear as a wrap. So that’s one less thing to pack!

Staff can do one large load of laundry per week and the cost is $35. Conserving water on our little Caribbean island is a priority, hence we limit this service. 

Yes. Babysitting and childcare can be arranged in advance with our House Manager.

No. We provide beach towels and Turkish towels – which you can also wear as a wrap. So that’s one less thing to pack!

No. Hairdryers and a curling iron are available for guest use.

No. Local services aren’t reliable so we provide a clothing steamer for guests to use.

Mosquitos and midges are present, we’re in the tropics! Insects are native to this environment but their numbers fluctuate depending on the time of the year. It is important to use an insect repellent day and night, indoors and outdoors, on any exposed areas of skin. Use repellent frequently (especially after swimming and showering), and take some with you if you are going out in the evening; long clothing should also be worn. And always drop your mosquito net and make sure its closed before dark.

The infinity ozone pool is 48’/15m and is for the exclusive use of guests of the Villa.  The depth runs from 5’/1.5m at the shallow end to 10’/3m at the deep end. The Lodge has its own private plunge pool which is 5’/1.5m deep. The garden plunge pool and solar heated plunge pool are both 4’6”/1.35m deep. There are no lifeguards on duty at Cosmos.

All pools are purified with a salt water ozone system that relies on ultraviolet light rather than harsh chemicals.  Some chlorine is necessary to make the pools safe, and this is generated from the salt water system, and it is not noticeable to bathers.

Swimming, yoga, walking, cycling and jogging are all easily practiced in and around Cosmos. For hygiene reasons please bring your own yoga mat. There is also a local gym in Soufrière, and private trainers can be arranged.

No. But the snorkelling at nearby beaches and reefs is fantastic so bring your own or hire a set from Scuba St Lucia at Anse Chastanet beach.

Yes. Bring your binoculars for exceptional bird watching from the comfort of Cosmos. There are also bird reserves on the island should you wish to make a day of it and seek out the famous St Lucia Parrot “Jocquot”. Guides can be arranged, ask our House Manager. You may also want your binoculars for some serious stargazing. With no light pollution, the skyscape above The Pitons is worth a closer look.

Yes. Breakfast is served from 8am–10:30am. Lunch is served from 12 noon–2pm and dinner from 6pm–8pm.

A generous continental breakfast buffet is included in the price of your stay; lunch and dinner are available at an additional fee. All meals are served family style, and while we are proud to serve up delicious food (guests rave about them in Reviews), we don’t have the kitchen capacity that restaurants have. So when you order, please select the same starter, main and dessert for the whole group, as we are unable to offer multiple dishes in any one course. See our Private Dining Menu to whet your appetite. Please advise the manager of any allergies or food intolerances.

Yes, a vegetarian option is always available. See our Private Dining Menu to get an idea of what’s on offer. Please advise our House Manager of any allergies or food intolerances. We do our best to meet special dietary needs but there is some limitation as to what International goods are available on the island.

Yes. Forrest Springs chilled mineral water from the rainforest is available in 5 gallon bubbles at a cost of $15. We are committed to reducing plastic waste so please bring your own personal drinking bottle. Tap water at Cosmos is a mixture of rain water and municipal water that has been filtered through our Aquasana system which includes a UV filter.

Yes. The marble guest bar in the main cantilevered living area of Cosmos is fully equipped for tea and coffee making, with drinks fridge, freezer, ice maker, wet bar, juicer, blender, toaster and toaster oven.

No. Guests can order beverages and snacks in advance from the Essential Checklist, which is distributed prior to arrival. You can mix your own drinks, and/or order 1lt jugs of bespoke cocktails and mocktails from the Bar List (so delicious!).  You can also shop for beverages at Uptown Liquor, near the airport, on the way to Cosmos. We do not have a stocked bar, nor is there a bartender.

Yes. Cosmos is a modernist, open-air property with multiple terraces, balconies and pools so alcohol must be consumed responsibly.  By no means should any guest become so intoxicated as to risk accident or harm to themselves or to the property, or to cause nuisance or disruption. Have fun but be mindful.

Yes. Internet speeds at Cosmos have a range up to 100mbps, depending on the device being used. There is an internal network boosting the signal throughout the property so that all bedrooms and living areas enjoy a good connection. Internet service may be interrupted at times due to inclement weather.

The cell phone coverage is variable at Cosmos.  WIFI calling often delivers better results.

Cosmos operates on a 220v UK standard electrical system with BS1363 sockets.  Please bring your own adaptors and only dual voltage appliances (most laptops, cell phones and cameras) as we do not allow converters that may damage our system.

Yes. While the setting at Cosmos lends itself to the quiet enjoyment of its natural setting, music may be part of your vacation vibe. We provide wireless Bluetooth speakers for guest use and a variety of local musicians and DJs are available to perform for celebrations. Out of consideration for our neighbours, there should be no music audible outside the Villa or Lodge after 10pm.

Yes. You’ll need to pay for any meals, beverages and spa treatments during your stay, which our House Manager will present as an itemised bill. With large groups and longer bookings, she may do this periodically during your stay such that your overall account does not exceed $500 at any one time. Cosmos accepts both cash and credit cards (Visa and Mastercard only).

Yes, if you want to shop in the markets and food stands, pay drivers, guides, musicians and to be able to tip. The closest bank and ATM is in Soufrière, approximately one mile from Cosmos.

Any gratuity is very much appreciated and depends on your level of satisfaction with the service you receive. As group sizes differ, a starting point of $10 per adult guest per day may be considered as a guide, which would be shared amongst all staff.

The building is primarily made of wood so there is no smoking inside the Villa, Lodge, Garden Studios or Pavilion Lounge. Smoking is only allowed outdoors, on the terraces and in the garden.  Burning candles or insect coils in the bedrooms is not allowed.

There is a local doctor who will make house calls as required, and there is a hospital one mile down the hill in Soufriere. Our House Manager is trained in first aid, and both the Villa and Lodge have first aid kits available.

No, unless you’re attending an event at the property. Cosmos is for the exclusive use of its resident guests and is not open to visitors from other resorts or nearby villas nor to non-resident locals. However, non-resident visitors may take part in meals or celebrations at Cosmos, such as weddings, and this must be arranged in advance with our House Manager.

Our staff are extremely discreet and will do their best to work around your schedule. Staff ratios can be reduced for guests who require complete privacy.

Yes, Cosmos offers a vegetarian option at every meal.  For vegans and guests with special diets, including gluten, shellfish and nut allergies, please advise us in advance and we will endeavour to accommodate your needs.  Please note that special dietary foods are not readily available locally, but fresh produce and fish are plentiful.  Feel free to bring gluten-free snacks and dry goods with you.

Yes. Cosmos offers all guests Daily Set Menus that take the hassle out of menu planning for guests on vacation. For guests who have booked the entire property at Cosmos St Lucia (both the Villa and the Lodge), and who give 48 hours notice, the Daily Set Menus can be rescheduled to the guests’ preferred day.

Yes, with 48 hours notice, Celebration menus for a minimum of six guests are available any day of the week.

We have USB plug sockets in all rooms. Cosmos operates on a 220v UK standard electrical system with BS1363 sockets. Please bring your own charging cables, adaptors and only dual voltage appliances (most laptops, cell phones and cameras) as we do not allow converters that may damage our system.

Guests are welcome to bring their own toys for pool side fun.

Before arrival you will be sent an Essential Checklist to specify your preferred food, drink and spa treatments for the first few days.

For dairy-free diets, please indicate on the Essential Checklist your preference for almond, rice or oat milk and whether this should be sweetened or unsweetened.  There will be an extra charge added to your bill (cost plus 20% shop and delivery fee). Availability is limited by our location on a small island, which means  there are no other dairy-free substitutes available locally (such as cheeses or yogurts), however we can easily  replace ice cream with sorbet.  For gluten-free requirements, you may wish to bring dry goods with you – pasta, bread, biscuits -these items are not available locally.

On arrival, please discuss your requirements further with our house manager.  St Lucia abounds with fresh fish, and a vast variety of fresh local produce.  Do visit the Soufriere farmers and fish market for more inspiration.

The daily menus that feature on our Private Dining page are fixed by days of the week, and pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan options are always available.  The fixed menus may not be varied by days of the week unless you have rented the entire property, both the Villa and the Lodge.  You may order a Celebration Meal for a minimum of six guests, any day of the week. 

There are laptop sized safes in all bedrooms.

Cosmos is positioned high on a ridge hillside. The closest beach is Anse Chastanet, a 15 minute walk down the hill. The climb back up the hill is challenging, and many guests prefer to drive or get a lift. Hummingbird Beach Park (in Soufriere town) and Paradise Beach, at the foot of the Petit Piton, are both a short drive away. Lounge chair rental is available at all beaches. There are plenty of small secluded beaches to explore on the Island; charter a boat or take a water taxi from town for some magical beach adventures.

Yes. In the vicinity of Cosmos are great restaurants with a variety of Caribbean and international cuisines. See our blog featuring guests’ favourites and ask our House Manager for restaurant and bar recommendations, and to make reservations.

There is also live music at many of the hotel bars and restaurants in the area.  More casual bars in Soufriere cater to locals, and visitors are always welcome.

In our immediate vicinity are rainforests, hot springs, glistening seas, beaches and protected coral reefs, offering a wealth of fantastic local experiences. There’s everything from scuba diving, sailing, botanical gardens, historic plantation houses, horse riding, ATV adventures and mud bathing in the world’s only drive-in volcano.  

See our blog post for more information and recommended service providers. We encourage guests to consider what they’d like to experience before they leave home, in order to book ahead and ensure availability.

There are a few grocery stores and bakeries in Soufriere as well as a wonderful daily market for produce and fish. There are a couple of small gift shops in town, at the Hummingbird Beach Park, and at the hotels. A large tourist market can be found in the capital Castries, featuring crafts and a variety of souvenirs.