Skylodge: Peru's Sacred Valley boasts cliffside hotel

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Every year, thousands of tourists travel to Peru's Sacred Valley and sleep under the stars. But some are more ambitious and aim to sleep among them. CGTN's Dan Collyns climbed to new heights for this story.

Some of Peru's most stunning archeological sites are here in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Nearby the mountain-top citadel of Machu Picchu. There's only one way to catch a glimpse of this panorama.

DAN COLLYNS CUZCO, PERU "If you like luxury stays with unbeatable views, you have a head for heights and you're willing to overcome a few physical challenges to get there, then this is the mini-break for you. From here the only way is up."

Ahead is a two-hour climb up a vertical slab of rock. These iron rungs - 400 of them - and a steel cable to clip onto it makes the climb accessible to people like me. But that doesn't make it any less vertical for vertigo-sufferer Jorge, the plucky cameraman. Then comes the hanging bridge - Two parallel wires are the thing only between you and the abyss.

"After climbing a sheer rock face for an hour or bit more, albeit slowly, we can finally see the capsules up ahead."

The route eases up as you horizontally cross the valley walls. You get a chance to look down if you dare. Finally the first of Skylodge's three octagonal capsules and the kitchen. A hungry climber sits down to lunch with a view. It's another climb to get to the bedroom.

DAN COLLYNS CUZCO, PERU "You really feel on top of the world. I'm going to have a look and see where the couples spend their night."

Made of aerospace aluminum and toughened polycarbonate, the capsules are bolted onto the rock face with 12 anchors.

DAN COLLYNS CUZCO, PERU "We're passing through but after that exhilarating climb, you can imagine what it must be like to spend a night here as a couple or a family in this capsule in the sky. You can the view of the Sacred Valley below, and you can gaze at a million stars above."

There's a place to go to the bathroom and a washbasin with running water. There's no shower but - given the locale - you can't have everything. Now, what's the quickest way down. There's not just one zipline but six which zig-zag down the mountain. So there's plenty of time to enjoy the ride and the view. Until you reach the ground.

MARIE BILLA FRENCH TOURIST "I think it was the best way to end our trip because it was a very original attraction, and we experienced adrenaline and the view is amazing."

VICTOR FEKETE HUNGARIAN TOURIST "It's a once in a lifetime experience to be at that altitude and to have lunch and that view, it's amazing, really."

Since it began in 2013, Skylodge has become one of Cuzco's unique attractions - and it's not hard to see why. Dan Collyns, CGTN, in Sacred Valley, Peru.