- Mashpi Lodge in the Andean Cloud Forest of Ecuador is in one of the world's last remaining biodiversity hubs
- New TV series goes behind the scenes to reveal how this luxury hotel's staff embrace its unique location
- Perched 900metres above sea level, team must tackle tough environmental challenges to deliver top service
If you've ever dreamed of waking up in the clouds high above a jungle canopy, then one of the world's most jaw-dropping eco retreats offers the stay for you.
Mashpi Lodge, a $10million luxury hotel, is perched in the Andean Cloud Forest of Ecuador - a nature reserve considered one of the last remaining biodiversity hubs on the planet.
However, a new BBC show goes behind the scenes to reveal what it takes to deliver five-star service out in the wild, from dealing with 90 per cent humidity to serving gourmet guinea pigs to guests for supper.
If you've ever dreamed of waking up in the clouds high above a jungle canopy, then one of the world's most jaw-dropping eco retreats offers the stay for you
Presenters Giles Coren and Monica Galetti travel through the rugged terrain, 900metres above sea level, to access the modernist hotel, in episode two of Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby
Built four years ago, the otherworldly hideaway boasts clean lines, incredible views and just 22 bedrooms
Mashpi Lodge, a $10million luxury hotel, is perched in the Andean Cloud Forest of Ecuador, a nature reserve considered one of the last remaining biodiversity hubs on the planet
Presenters Giles Coren and Monica Galetti travel through the rugged terrain, 900metres above sea level, to access the modernist hotel, in episode two of Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby, screening on BBC Two on Monday.
Built four years ago, the otherworldly hideaway boasts clean lines, incredible views and just 22 bedrooms - which cost up to $1,500 a night to stay in - but staff outnumber guests two-to-one to overcome the challenges of this unique setting.
A member of National Geographic's Unique Lodges of the World portfolio, the hotel is surrounded by a forest that's home to 500 species of bird (including 36 that are native), monkeys, peccaries and pumas.
Mashpi Lodge embraces its environment by providing a gondola cable car running through the treetops, an eight-storey high observation tower and a hummingbird viewing point.
On site there is also a small boutique, a wellness area with a spa using local, natural ingredients and a Jacuzzi.
A member of National Geographic's Unique Lodges of the World portfolio, the hotel is surrounded by a forest that's home to 500 species of bird (including 36 that are endemic), monkeys, peccaries and pumas
Regional ingredients such as papaya, coffee, chocolate and plantain, as well as some fresh produce from the surrounding rainforest, are featured on the menu served in the two storey dining room
Mashpi Lodge embraces its environment by providing a gondola cable car running through the treetops
Immersed: There is an an eight-storey high observation tower and a hummingbird viewing point on site
Staff outnumber guests two-to-one to overcome the challenges of this unique setting, which include mud, moisture and mould
On site there is also a small boutique, a wellness area with a spa using local, natural ingredients and a Jacuzzi. Pictured, guest bathrooms overlook the idyllic surrounds
Nature fans can enjoy talks by a resident biologist and local guides who offer night walks and rainforest tours to the waterfalls nearby.
The episode touches on the conservation work being carried out by the resident biologist who is attempting to save thousands of species and has photographed one species unseen in the area for three decades.
But beyond this wildlife-rich guest experience, staff (of which 70 per cent are locals) are fighting a constant battle against the hotel's biggest natural enemy - mould.
Coren and Galetti discover how the team keep this problem at bay despite it being exacerbated by the region's 90 per cent humidity.
Rolling up their sleeves alongside staff, the duo also find that their brave co-workers must abseil through the canopy for a safety drill.
The ultimate luxurious treehouse, a stay at the hotel costs guests up to $1,500 a night
In the eye-opening episode, food critic Coren and MasterChef judge Galetti delve into how the $1,500-a-night hotel has transformed the lives of the local community
Situated just two-and-a-half-hours west of historic Quito, this 1,300-hectare reserve protects a small slice of the Chocó biodiversity 'hotspot'
Nature fans can enjoy talks by a resident biologist and local guides who offer night walks and rainforest tours to the waterfalls nearby. Pictured left is the amazing observation tower that's available to guests
The cameras head inside the hotel's kitchen to see how chefs are inspired by Ecuadorian cuisine.
Regional ingredients such as papaya, coffee, chocolate and plantain, as well as some fresh produce from the surrounding rainforest are featured on the menu, served in the two-storey dining room.
However, those rustling up these gourmet dishes must get to grips with preparing a local delicacy of guinea pig for guests.
- Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby will screen on BBC Two on Monday April 3 at 9pm
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