We're developing a list of out-of-the-way accommodations or outfits we've been particularly happy with during our travels. They're not necessarily the most mainstream or well-known even among adventure travelers, but we had great experiences and highly recommend them:

• Adventures Within Reach, knowledgeable and reliable agent for aventure-travel worldwide, without the high markup of some American agents
• Art's Riverview Lodge, comfortable tree-houses and great food next to Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
• Bilit Rainforest Lodge, extremely comfortable eco-lodge on the Kinabatangan River in Sabah, Borneo
• Copper Canyon Adventures, arranges independent, guided, or small-group trips to Mexico's Copper Canyon
• Daniella's Bungalows, a refreshing alternative to the larger tourist hotels in the Seychelles (Bel Ombre, Mahe Island)
• El Monte Lodge, a wonderful cloudforest eco-lodge in the Mindo area of Ecuador
• Intra Travel, reliable, responsive, fair-priced agent for booking adventure travel in Sabah, Borneo
• Kalypso Adventures, arranges nature and adventure travel in South India
• Khao Yai Garden Lodge, just outside Khao Yai National Park, Thailand
• Sakrisoy Rorbuer, restored fisherman's cabins in Reine, Lofoten Islands, Norway

Here are some more mainstream places that we still found unusually enjoyable:

• Chan Chich Lodge, Belize
• Green Parrot Beach Houses, Belize
• Hosteria Las Torres, Chilean Patagonia
• Hotel Albemarle, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador
• Kabini River Lodge, Karnataka, South India

• For campers, in North America we've had good experiences with Cruise America, in Australia & New Zealand with Maui Campervans, and in Argentina & Chile with Andean Roads.
• For sailboat charters, we've been happy with the two standards -- The Moorings and Sunsail -- and generally less happy with smaller companies or independent charters, although our very enjoyable charter of Cyrene out of Phuket, Thailand was a notable exception.

Patagonia: Most travelers either go with an organized "eco-travel" group or are on the hostel circuit. It's feasible to do something in between: similar accommodations and activities to the groups but independent travel and a fraction of the cost. We made all the reservations for our 2002 trip by email through two in-country travel agents, both of whom were responsive, helpful, reliable, and fairly priced:

• In Chile: Ventistur (Gonzalo Tejeda, ventistur@chileaustral.com)
• In Argentina: Representour (amigo@representour.com)

• Peru Treks & Adventure: We did the Salkantay / Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, a private 7-day trek.
• Pantiacolla: We did a custom 6-day trip combining a stay at the Panticolla Lodge with the Yine Program.
• Hostal Rumi Punku: Don't be fooled by the two stars. It's very comfortable, on a quiet but well-located street, and the Cusco airport pickup is a plus.

• Peruvian Andes Adventures: Arranged excellent Huayhuash Circuit trek for our family
• Morales Guesthouse: Friendly place for acclimatization days and dayhikes before trekking

Here's a log and a few photos from our travels and a travel quote I really like.