I love to find crazy places to sleep and quirky or unique hotels to stay in when I travel. So when I came across the Skylodge and Starlodge adventure suites. I knew it had to be part of my Peru travel itinerary.
The only question was, which one? There are two adventure suites, one on each side of the mountain offering slightly different experiences.
Skylodge
The Skylodge opened in 2013 and was the world’s first lodge-hanging hotel. It is located on a 12,000 feet mountain with a 300-degree of the stunning sacred valley. However, to reach the Skylodge restaurant and suites, guests must climb up via ferrata and zipline down to check out.
Starlodge
The newer design is the Starlodge. The highest pod located 9718 feet above sea level with the best views of the Sacred Valley. Unlike the Skylodge, it consists of open-air hot tubs, showers, flushing toilets, and a campfire at the base camp after dinner. It also has easier access with a step design to climb the mountain.
I was torn between the two. I wanted the adventure of the via ferrata and zipline. But I also wanted the hot tubs and showers. For this reason I decided to upgrade my package and have the best of both worlds.
With the upgraded Starlodge package, you can climb the Skylodge via ferrata, enjoy a four-course lunch, zipline and then enjoy your one-night stay at the Starlodge with the hot tubs.
Skylodge Activities
I got picked up from my Sacred Valley hotel at 10:30 am and drove 25 minutes to the Skylodge base camp to get geared up for an epic adventure. After a safety briefing with the climbing equipment, guests and I started the 13,000 feet climb up the mountain via ferrata. I must tell you this is not for the faint-hearted or those scared of heights.
About three-quarters of the way up, you will also come across a suspension bridge which, even for an adrenaline junkie like me, had my legs wobbling at the start. I will also advise, if you fear heights, do not look down, just look ahead and enjoy the scenery. If you look down just remember I told you so.
Four Course Lunch With a View
After climbing for around 1hr 30minutes, you will have built up an appetite, and the Skylodge team have you covered.
They served us a delicious four-course lunch in a transparent hanging pod with views of the breath-taking Scared Valley.
For my appetizer, I chose the Urubamba-style quinoa soup. Organic lettuce salad with chili chicken pieces, passion fruit sauce, and avocado for my starter. The starter tasted so good I polished off all of mine and then what my cousin left over too.
For my main, I enjoyed roasted chicken breast in a tomato and garlic sauce with creamy gnocchi, which was flavoursome and delicious.
Then for the best part of any meal, the dessert. I have a real sweet tooth, so the chocolate ganache tart with rosemary red wine plums went down a real treat, and of course, a couple glasses of red. Having the wine seemed like a good idea at the start but left me a little light-headed on my zipline down, but hey it just added to the fun and adventure.
Zipline Adventure
Bellies full and a quick scenic ecological toilet break, we got ready to head back down the mountain via zipline.
To head down the mountain, we had to take 5 ziplines down. 4 alone and one with a guide. This was a fantastic thrill-seeking adventure for all you adrenaline junkies. The scenery and the light breeze on my face felt incredible as I ziplined through lush green surroundings down the mountain.
If you choose to sleep at the Skylodge, you will stay up in the pod area and zipline or rappel down in the morning for checkout. However, as I chose to sleep in the newer design with the hot tubs, I ziplined down after lunch and drove around the corner to climb the Starlodge.
The Starlodge
To reach the Starlodge, you will drive to the Starlodge base camp 9433 feet over sea level; from there, you will start a much easier walk up to your pods through a step system up the mountain. You are told to pack and take up an overnight backpack, as of course you can not hike your suitcases up there.
The Hot Tub Experience
The hot tubs is about a 10 minute walk from the Starlodge base camp. They are open-air wooden hot tubs surrounded by beautiful views of the sacred valley.
We got given robes, towels, and a designated shower room and toilet during our stay. We rinsed off, got into our swimwear, and enjoyed a mountainside hot tub experience facing the Sacred Valley. The water was hot and was perfect for relaxing and easing my muscles after all the climbing and ziplining.
I stayed in the hot tubs until sunset, then walked back down to the base camp to enjoy a four-course gourmet meal followed by a campfire and stargazing.
The Climb Up
Me being me, I chose the highest pod, called the Orion, located 9718 feet above sea level, which meant I had the furthest to climb up, in the dark may I add, and on my own. After dinner, we were told we could make our way up to the pods in our own time.
After relaxing around the campfire for a while, I decided I was ready for sleep, so I put my head torch on and led the way for me and my cousin up the mountain. It was a little scary but also very thrill-seeking. I left my cousin at his pod and continued up the mountain to reach my own.
Although it was steps, the steps were literally on the side of the mountain, then you had to cross a shaky bridge and continue up. Initially, it was a little daunting, but it quickly became a fun adventure.
After around 30-40 minutes from the base camp restaurant, I reached my sleeping pod. A staff member came not to long after to check all was ok and showed me the room amenities before I got into my pyjamas and settled in for the night.
The Room
The pods are 24 by 8 feet and suspended on the side of the mountain. Each room comes complete with four beds. One double bed and two single beds to fit four guests if desired. I had my own pod, as you pay per person, not per pod, which is great for you solo travellers as you do not have to pay extra to be in a pod on your own.
The rooms have lighting with switches in different locations. However, there are no charging points for phones and devices, so bring portable chargers up in your overnight bag.
The bed was comfortable and came with down pillows and quilts. However, when it got to the middle of the night, I got freezing due to being so high up. I never closed my curtains either, as I wanted to fall asleep under the stars and wake up to sunrise.
The curtains may have locked in a little more heat as, speaking to other guests the following morning, they were not as cold. leaving my curtains open and sacrificing my warmth for the stars and sunrise was totally worth it, though.
The Toilet
You are probably thinking about how you go toilet; don’t worry, you have a private toilet in the pod and a sink to brush your teeth. If you fancy having a cuppa before bed, you will find flasks with cold and hot water to make tea also.
The pods have curtains for privacy, but choosing the highest pod had its perks, as it meant no one would be walking past my pod, so I was free to use the toilet with a full view. It was most definitely the most scenic luxury toilet experience.
Waking up to the sounds of nature and the sunrise coming through my window was an incredible experience. I got ready and decided to sit atop my pod to enjoy a morning cup of tea with a view.
I also booked a drone and photoshoot package, which began around 7:30am. After taking some pictures and videos, I headed down the mountain to the hot tub area.
Surprisingly coming down in the morning was scarier than going up in the dark. Maybe because I couldn’t see where I was walking the night before.
After enjoying a long soak in the hot tubs and a hot shower, all the other guests and I headed down to the basecamp for a delicious breakfast consisting of bread, eggs, yogurts, fruits and jams, and of course, some Peruvian coffee before being dropped off into Cusco city.
Location
Getting There
The adventure suites are located about 1hr 30 minutes drive from Cusco city. The great thing about this unique stay is pickup and drop-off are included in the hotel package. Just ensure you are in the sacred valley or Cusco city area.
Overall Experience
I had the most incredible experience and stay at the Skylodge and Starlodge adventure suites. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that was worth the money.
Need help deciding which adventure Suite to sleep in?
Read below for the overview to plan your unique stay.
Skylodge
The Skylodge is for those adrenaline junkies who love a little bit of a challenge and want to zipline to their checkout and enjoy their meals in a transparent pod overlooking the Sacred Valley.
Starlodge
The Starlodge is for those that want to relax under the sunset or stars in hot tubs and enjoy an easier climb up with a few drops of adrenaline while climbing up the mountain.
Skylodge & Starlodge Combo Package
The combo package is for those like me who want the best of both worlds. You will get an adrenaline rush from climbing up 13,000 feet via Ferrata. Walk across the suspension bridge. Eat lunch in a transparent pod overlooking the sacred valley. Zipline your way down the mountain. Drive over and sleep at the Starlodge where you will enjoy the sunset overlooking the valley in a hot tub. Have the luxury of a showers and enjoy a gourmet dinner in basecamp tent. In the late evening you will climb to your pod and fall asleep under the stars.
The price is slightly more of course. However it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you will not regret or want to miss out on.
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All I can say, is that you are so brave. It looks lovely but scary at the same time.