Peru is offering tourists an unusual type of holiday: the Skylodge Adventure Suites hotel has installed transparent capsules 365 metres above the Sacred Valley of the Incas. To reach these unusual rooms, tourists have to climb a sheer cliff face for about two hours, and in the morning they can descend on six ziplines, the BBC reports.
The hotel is located near the village of Pachar, about 90 minutes' drive from Cusco. The capsules are fixed directly to the cliff and can only be reached via an equipped route with metal ladders, steps, rungs and cable crossings. On certain sections, tourists have to move above the precipice using safety equipment.
BBC journalist Gina Truman, who decided to spend a night at the hotel, said the climb proved difficult even for an experienced traveller. At an altitude of more than 3200 metres above sea level, the thin air took its toll, while the sheer cliffs and the deep valley below heightened the sense of height.
After two hours of climbing, guests reach the dining capsule. Here they are served a dinner of several Peruvian dishes, after which they climb with a guide to the separate sleeping capsules.
Inside there are beds and panoramic windows through which guests can watch the starry sky. The bathroom has an eco-friendly dry toilet, separated from the rest of the capsule by a thick curtain. There is no shower.
The temperature drops quickly at night, so guests are provided with warm blankets.
In the morning, tourists are served breakfast, and then the descent begins on six ziplines ranging from 150 to 700 metres in length. The entire journey back takes less than an hour.
A night at Skylodge Adventure Suites, including transfer from Cusco, guide services, the cliff climb and the zipline descent, costs 1640 Peruvian soles — about $480 per person.
For tourists who prefer a more relaxed holiday, the company offers alternative capsules lower down the slope. These can be reached on foot. Inside they have a shower, a regular toilet and an outdoor hot tub.
Skylodge is located in the Sacred Valley area, which was once an important agricultural centre of the Inca Empire. Today, tourists are drawn here by ancient ruins, traditional settlements and the mountain landscapes of the Andes.
