You Have to Climb a Mountain Before Checking In: This Transparent Hotel Hangs on a Cliff 270 Meters High
At Argentina’s OVO Patagonia, four transparent capsules are fixed to a rock face, and to sleep in them you have to cross a forest and a via ferrata first.
This lodging has no lobby, elevator, or taxis at the door – checking in starts with a hike.
Located in southern Argentina, OVO Patagonia has four transparent capsules secured to a rock face about 270 meters high. From bed, guests can look out at Mount Fitz Roy, the De las Vueltas Valley, and the Patagonian wilderness. Reaching their room, though, means completing a true outdoor adventure first.
Before checking in, make your way through the forest and up the rock face
The journey begins in the mountain town of El Chaltén. Guests first take a four-wheel-drive vehicle to Estancia Bonanza, then hike through native forest before completing a via ferrata under the guidance of professional guides to reach the rooms on the rock face.
A via ferrata is a climbing route that uses steel cables, footholds, and safety equipment fixed to the rock face. At OVO Patagonia, it isn’t an optional outdoor activity; it’s how every guest checks in.
One capsule, divided vertically into three living spaces
Each transparent capsule accommodates up to two people and is divided vertically into three levels. The top level has a double bed facing the mountains; the middle level includes a simple seating area, sink, and dry toilet; and the bottom level features a safety-net bed suspended high in the air.
The transparent shell gives all three levels a view of the surrounding landscape. Guests can lie in bed and wait for sunrise, or sit on the net bed below and look straight into the river valley hundreds of meters beneath them. The rooms also have windows and curtains, preserving the panoramic views while providing basic ventilation and privacy.
Dinner and breakfast are delivered to your room along the rock face
Guests who choose the OVO NIGHT overnight package have dinner and breakfast delivered to their capsule by mountain guides, and can watch the stars through the transparent roof at night. The lodging is powered by solar energy and offers satellite Wi-Fi, so the rooms retain basic amenities even on the rock face.
In addition to the overnight package, OVO Patagonia offers OVO VISIT for those who don’t stay overnight, allowing guests to complete the climb with a guide and tour the capsules. Official rules require participants to be at least 16 years old and physically fit for hiking and climbing.
The luxury OVO Patagonia offers isn’t a larger room or more amenities, but the chance to place guests between the wind, rocks, and sky. When getting to the room becomes part of the journey, checking in is no longer just about picking up a key card.
