Metropolitan Touring

Metropolitan Touring logo with purple circle image.

Metropolitan Touring is one of South America’s most known and respected travel companies. Along with successful tour operations in Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Chile and Colombia, Metropolitan owns and operates a small fleet of Galapagos Island ships.

Metropolitan Touring History

Established in 1953, Metropolitan Touring began operating in Ecuador and has remained at the forefront of Ecuador tourism, investing in infrastructure, partnering with governments, leading trade associations and even creating its own school of guides before university courses had been established in the country. 

In 1969 with its yacht Lina A, Metropolitan forged the travel experience in the Galápagos Islands, helping to establish the basis for nature-sensitive tourism in partnership with the national park. In the Amazon in the mid-1970s, Metropolitan launched the Flotel Orellana, while in the 1980s the company pioneered private train journeys along the amazing Ecuadorian railways, the same railway that has been rehabilitated and relaunched today. Metropolitan Touring’s spirit and vision continued unabated throughout the 1990s and 2000s, with new Galapagos yachts, the Isabela II and La Pinta and the award-winning Finch Bay Eco Hotel.

Grupo Futuro took over the company in 2001 under the leadership of Roque Sevilla, and Metropolitan Touring began looking beyond Ecuador’s borders. Beginning in 2007 under the helm of Paulina Burbano de Lara, Metropolitan acquired a tour operator in Peru, started one from scratch in Chile, partnered with another in Argentina, and in 2010, created a fresh company in Colombia. Metropolitan Touring is one of the few Ecuadorian multinationals in any sector of the economy and certainly one of only a handful in the travel industry.

In 2011, the company inaugurated a boutique hotel in the historic heart of Quito, Casa Gangotena, and in 2012, opened a secluded Andean rainforest retreat, Mashpi Lodge, built and operated according to best practices in sustainability. 

Metropolitan Touring Cruises & Land Operations

Metropolitan Touring services are characterized by beautifully tailor-made itineraries and a commitment to sustainable travel as well as the highest standards of service and attention to detail. Seamless operations and consistent experiences are hallmarks of Metropolitan-organized travel.

AdventureSmith Explorations relies on various Metropolitan services, lodges and ships, including its Galapagos boats and the company’s private city tours and hotel services for AdventureSmith’s customized Quito & Guayaquil Galapagos Travel Package and Machu Picchu trips.

Why Choose Metropolitan Touring

Metropolitan Touring brings a depth and breadth of experience and 24/7 on-site operational support. The company is very well connected and its employees are some of the happiest in the industry. A small ship cruise or tour with Metropolitan Touring is sure to be seamless and top notch.

Metropolitan Touring & AdventureSmith Explorations

When AdventureSmith Explorations founder and president Todd Smith was first introduced to Metropolitan Touring, he thought they were too big for our boutique style of travel.

“They are reliable across the board, from their guides to their transfers, promptness and access.”

“They seemed too mainstream, so we didn’t work with their land tours for years, but we did work with their boats,” Todd says. “The more we worked with them, the more we got to know them and saw how well they operated. They are reliable across the board, from their guides to their transfers, promptness and access.” Additionally, because they are one of the longest-established companies in Ecuador, they can offer access and experiences in places that other companies simply cannot. We are excited to be working with Metropolitan Touring and continuously rely on their expertise and consistency.

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