Post Script: A night at Skylodge Adventure Suites

And this is how you save the best for last. 

This is, Without a doubt, one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. Not to mention totally outside my comfort zone

I discovered the existence of Skylodge Adventure Suites during the pandemic, more than three years ago.

This was—even more than hiking the Inca Trail—my number one reason for wanting to go to Peru: for the opportunity to spend the night suspended, yes, suspended, off the side of a mountain. 

But sleeping in a capsule 900 ft (300m) off the ground is  just part of the equation. The middle part. First you have to get up there. Then you have to get down.

Getting up involves climbing the mountain by way of a Via Ferrata. A Via Ferrata is an Italian term used to describe a climbing route that combines rock climbing, hiking, and scrambling, using fixed equipment like steel cables, ladders, and rungs built into the rock face. 

Now let me be clear. While I love trekking up mountains, mountain climbing has NEVER been a goal of mine. I am not afraid of heights. But I am not the most coordinated person in the world. So entrusting my life to my ability to keep myself attached to the rock face as I attempt to make my way up rung by rung….well, let’s just say that is not just outside my comfort zone, it is in another dimension altogether.  

Clearly I wasn’t the only person who was feeling this since within five minutes of starting the climb I heard Debbie’s voice bellowing at me from below. “What the F*ck do you have me doing?” Oops. Sorry. 

Because there are only three pods at Skylodge Adventure Suites and Debbie and I had booked separate pods there were just four of us, as well as the guides making the 90 minute journey up. I took my time. I’m not going to lie, the first half was a bit terrifying. But the guide was encouraging and patient. He told me stories of people with fears of heights who had not disclosed their fear until there. Since that wasn’t my issue I just took my time, focusing on clipping and unclipping my caribiners in the correct order as I transferred them from one steel rung to another. 

Before we knew it we had arrived at the dining pod. Just in time for sunset. Our lovely dinner, which had been picked up at a restaurant on our way to Skylodge Adventure Suites was reheated in a kitchen built for purpose. We each got a half bottle of wine to toast our achievement with and before we knew it it was time. Time to put the harness back on and climb our way over to our individual pods. In the dark, after having had a glass or two of wine. 

The pod itself was incredible. Made for up to four people, it fits a double bed along with two singles. The bedding is right out of a five star hotel. A thermos with hot water waiting for us so we could make coffee or tea in the morning. There were also wine glasses to enjoy what we had left over from dinner.

And before you ask, yes, the pod also has a bathroom. There is of course no running water, so there is a water tank which is attached to the sink for us to wash our hands and brush our teeth. And the compost toilet is ingeniously designed to direct all the waste to a tank on the ground. Mind blown. But best of all is the view. There you are suspended 300 meters above the ground attached to a mountain surrounded by nothing but clear fiberglass. The night sky is something to behold. Waking up in time to watch the sun rise is yet another. 

It was after the most magical night and morning that the sad time to say goodbye came. But not before we made it over to the dining capsule once more. This time for breakfast.

Then, it was time to freshen up before our own individual photo shoots back at our pods. I have to say, they were cheesy, with a lot of waving at the drone flying outside, but still a lot of fun. Now, one more adventure remained. Getting down the mountain.

As it turns out, getting down was a heck of a lot easier than getting up. Involving a series of zip lines, we simply launched ourselves down, one section at a time. It was my first time zip lining and I loved it. 

An hour and a half later Debbie and I were back in Cusco, with just enough time to enjoy one final amazing lunch before heading to the airport. 

Time to get back to reality. 

DISCLAIMER: Posting this as I arrive back home, safe and sound.  My parents may yet fly to Chicago and kill me for doing this, but that’s another story. 🙂