Skylodge Adventure Suites: Peru’s Cliff-Hanging Hotel for Thrill Seekers

Fancy staying in a transparent pod attached to a sheer rock face? Since it opened in 2013, this sky-high hotel – the first-ever hanging lodge in the world – has been popular with travelers looking for something a little different while en route to Machu Picchu.

Guests are invited to spend the night in one of their three hanging bedrooms and wake up to 300-degree views across a dramatic Peruvian landscape. The pods are fitted with everything you need for a comfortable stay, but as they are suspended 1,300 feet (396 meters) in the air, this is a mountainside retreat with a death-defying twist.

To reach your pod, you must first get harnessed up and complete a vertical climb using a set of iron rungs, via ferrata-style, or alternatively, undertake a demanding hike. Both ascents are tough, but once they have reached the top, guests are rewarded with mind-blowing views and a glass of wine.

Each private pod comes complete with a double bed, bathroom (including an ecological toilet and a washbasin with running water) and a lounge area for dining and relaxing.

It’s a special place to watch the sunset, as the views over Peru’s Sacred Valley are unbeatable. A delicious dinner is served by your guide in a luxury transparent capsule, and once night falls, guests head back to their pods to stargaze from the comfort of their own beds. In the morning, you can see the sunrise while swaddled in a cloud-like duvet and spot native Andean birds such as the condor soaring by. After breakfast, a zip wire brings guests safely back down to solid ground.

The folks at Skylodge Adventure Suites will organise return travel to and from Cusco. Prices for the whole thing – via Ferrata climb, zip wire and overnight stay – start at 1,640 Nuevo Sol (Peruvian currency), which translates to roughly $440 or £335. That also includes private transfers to and from your Cusco hotel, as well as snacks for the ascent, a drink on arrival, a gourmet dinner with bottle of wine, plus breakfast in the morning. This also covers the cost of the guides and all the equipment you’ll require.

Sensible clothing is a must – solid footwear, comfortable outdoorsy pants, thermal layers etc – as are personal hygiene items. Pack everything in a light bag – they do have a storage facility for larger luggage to be held at ground level – and remember to bring plenty of water, or at the very least a refillable water bottle.

For some, a night spent suspended on a sheer cliff face is their idea of a nightmare. For others, it’s pure bliss. It’s certainly not an adventure for everyone, but for those who thrive on adrenaline and love to stay well off the beaten track, Skylodge Adventure Suites could be the wow factor experience you’ve been searching for.

A reasonable degree of fitness is required, and you must have steely nerves when it comes to heights.

This experience is designed to take you out of your comfort zone without sacrificing on luxury. The pods are claimed to be indestructible, which is reassuring when you consider that they’re riveted to a cliff face. Each octagonal capsule is made from aerospace-grade materials, making them secure and weather-resistant.

This has to be the ultimate bucket-list must-do for thrill seekers. Many might be put off by the effort of getting there, but those who dare will be richly rewarded.

Fancy staying somewhere a bit less cliff-edgy? You could book one of the most romantic hotels in Peru now.