Skylodge Adventure Suites: A Unique Cliffside Pod Hotel

For a truly unique experience, sleep in the flight zone of condors some 1,312-feet above the Sacred Valley just outside of Cusco.
Cliffside pods at Skylodge Adventure Suites, a one-of-a-kind hotel in Peru's Sacred Valley.
Cliffside pods at Skylodge Adventure Suites. Image: "SkyLodge Adventure Suites" by F Delventhal is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Travelers can now spend the night 1,312 feet above the Sacred Valley at Skylodge Adventure Suites thanks to the mountain adventure company Natura Vive. As the world’s first and only hanging lodge, adventurers sleep under the stars in a transparent room high above the ground and then zip-line down the next morning.

Skylodge Adventure Suites, sleeping in the flight zone of condors

As passionate outdoors people, Ario Ferri and Natalia Rodríguez , the owners of Natura Vive, opened Skylodge Adventure Suites at the end of June 2013.  The high-hanging suites now compliment the company’s existing via ferrata climbing activities and 6 zip-lines.

“Ario, my husband, is a welder and climber by profession and designed the Skylodge modules,” says Natalia. “He was inspired by some information about space stations, so the light aluminum structures and inside module division definitely give it a bit of a futuristic feel.”

Skylodge Adventure Suites offer both seasoned climbers and adventurers with no climbing experience the chance to have a safe and pleasant sleep suspended high above the ground.  Inside the hanging modules you can remove your harness and move about freely while admiring the breathtaking views through its transparent walls.

Skylodge Adventure Suites aren’t 5-star luxury, but clients still enjoy a very comfortable overnight stay. Each module, made of aerospace aluminum and high resistance polycarbonate, measures 24 feet in length and 8 feet in height and width.  This space fits four beds, a dining area, and private bathroom that is separated from the other areas by an insulated wall. Each cozy mattress is fitted with cotton sheets, down pillows and warm cover to ensure a pleasant sleep.  Curtains provide privacy from the curious gaze of passing condors – your sky neighbors!

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A room with a view.
Photo by Natura Vive

These modules are designed with a healthy touch of environmentalism. Instead of electricity, solar panels store energy in batteries that are used to power four interior lamps and a solar reading lamp for each bed. The private bathroom of each module also has a dry ecological toilet and sink.

“The Skylodge Adventure Suites are a dream come true for many adventure people,” Natalia says. “But doing the zip-line and ferrata climb to reach the Skylodge will be very difficult if you are afraid of heights.”

Latin America For Less’ sales team coordinator Brynna Burgard did zip-lining with Natura Vive. “It was one of the scariest and coolest things I have ever done. The view was amazing,” she says.

The Skylodge is located over the Sacred Valley of Cusco about 10 minutes away from the town of Ollantaytambo. Most travelers visit this part of Peru during the dry season from June through November, but Natalia from Natura Vive explains that there is an experience to be had year-round.

“Each month we are increasing our reservations,” says Natalia. Skylodge currently has three Adventure Suites: Luna, Silves and Miranda with a total capacity for eight guests, so it’s best to schedule your stay at Skylodge as far in advance as possible.

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It’s a long way to the top.
Photo by Natura Vive

Plan your own Skylodge adventure in Peru

Latin America For Less provides a range of tours throughout the Sacred Valley region of Peru. Contact us to create your own customized trip with a touch of high-altitude adventure at the Skylodge Adventure Suites.