Metropolitan Touring vs Ecoventura: which is better for the Galápagos?

No score and no verdict of ours: what Metropolitan Touring and Ecoventura each publish on their own websites, read 9 November 2026, topic by topic, each line linked to the page it came from.

Metropolitan Touring vs Ecoventura: which is better for the Galápagos?

Neither is better for everyone: Metropolitan Touring sails ships of 40 to 90 guests on 5, 7 and 9-day cruises with a family cruise and a solo cabin with no single supplement, while Ecoventura sails three 20-passenger yachts on seven-night cruises.

What is each line?

Metropolitan Touring sells Galapagos cruises on vessels it says it owns and operates, plus land and hotel trips in Ecuador and Peru. Source

Ecoventura runs seven-night Galapagos cruises under its own name on three expedition yachts; it says it began with an Ecuadorian family in the mid-1980s and is now part of a global travel group it does not name. Source

Which ships does each line sail?

Metropolitan Touring says it owns and operates Yacht La Pinta, Yacht Isabela II and Santa Cruz II, plus the Sea Lion day-tour yacht. La Pinta is also listed among UnCruise Adventures' ships. Source

Ecoventura lists three identical yachts: Origin (built in 2016), Theory (2019) and Evolve (2023); ownership isn't stated. Source

How many guests are on board?

Metropolitan Touring carries 48 guests on Yacht La Pinta (24 cabins), 40 on Yacht Isabela II (20 cabins) and 90 on Santa Cruz II (50 cabins); the Sea Lion day yacht takes up to 20. Source

Ecoventura carries 20 passengers on each yacht. Source

Where does each line sail?

Metropolitan Touring sells named voyages only in the Galapagos Islands: 5, 7 and 9-day cruises from Baltra such as Origin of Species on Yacht La Pinta and Islands of Fire on Yacht Isabela II; its Ecuador and Peru trips are land and hotel packages. Source

Ecoventura sails only in the Galapagos, on seven-night itineraries that can be joined back to back. Source

Who leads the landings?

Metropolitan Touring's cruises each carry one Expedition Leader and on average one Naturalist Guide for every 12 guests, all certified by the Galapagos National Park, with a Medical Officer on board. Source

Ecoventura puts two naturalist guides with every ten guests, which it calls the lowest guide/guest ratio in the Galapagos. Source

How much time ashore?

Metropolitan Touring keeps excursion groups below the National Park maximum of 16 guests per guide and offers a choice of activities at each site at the same time; it does not say how many guests go ashore at once. Source

Ecoventura does not publish this on the pages read.

What can you do off the ship?

Metropolitan Touring includes hiking, kayaking, snorkelling, paddleboarding, panga rides and glass-bottom boat rides, with gear supplied; says only dedicated live-aboard dive ships may offer diving in the Galapagos. Source

Ecoventura includes kayaks, snorkelling gear, wetsuits and paddleboards, with guided walks and zodiac rides each day. Source

What does a voyage cost?

Metropolitan Touring prices the 9-day Origin of Species cruise on Yacht La Pinta from USD 12,250 per guest for 2027; it names no cabin grade or fixed date. Source

Ecoventura does not publish a dated price on the pages read.

What does the fare include?

Metropolitan Touring's cruise fares include shared transfers, all meals, island expeditions with park-certified naturalist guides, a 24/7 medical officer, Starlink Wi-Fi, non-alcoholic drinks on board, snorkelling gear, wetsuits, kayaks and paddleboards; international airfare, the Galapagos National Park fee (USD 200), the INGALA migration card (USD 20), alcoholic drinks, gratuities and fuel surcharges are extra. Source

Ecoventura's fares include accommodation, meals, guided excursions and kayaking and snorkelling kit; airfare, the Galapagos park entrance fee ($200 per foreign adult), the $20 transit card, laundry and gratuities are extra. Source

What do solo travellers pay?

Metropolitan Touring offers a Standard Cabin on Yacht Isabela II that it calls the solo traveller's cabin with no single supplement, plus two Voyager Cabins for solo travellers on Santa Cruz II; it states no single rule for La Pinta. Source

Ecoventura asks singles for twice the per-person deposit ($2,000 in 2026); it states no single supplement figure. Source

How much is the deposit?

Ecoventura asks individual bookings of one to four guests for $1,000 per person ($2,000 for singles) within five days of confirmation in 2026, rising to $1,500 ($3,000) from 2027; final payment is due 90 days before sailing. Source

Metropolitan Touring does not publish this on the pages read.

What happens if you cancel?

Ecoventura refunds everything but 50% of the deposit up to 120 days before departure (180 days from 2027), keeps the whole deposit from 119 to 90 days (179 to 90 from 2027) and the entire cruise rate from 89 days. Source

Metropolitan Touring does not publish this on the pages read.

What insurance do you need?

Metropolitan Touring strongly recommends medical cover plus trip cancellation insurance but does not state it as required or name an evacuation minimum. Source

Ecoventura recommends comprehensive travel insurance, including a Cancel for Any Reason policy; it names no required minimum. Source

Can children come?

Metropolitan Touring takes children on its 7-day Galapagos Islands Family Expedition Cruise and offers family and interconnecting cabins; says children under 6 need special permission from their parents or guardians to board a Galapagos cruise and that age restrictions apply on some vessels. Source

Ecoventura takes children from age six on its 7-night cruises, though it says most families bring children 11 and older; guests 17 and under get 15% off on all departures except festive ones. Source

When is each not the fit?

The limits below are published by each line on their own websites.

• Metropolitan Touring: not the fit if you have serious mobility issues: it says Galapagos visitor sites have rugged terrain with no access ramps. Source
• Ecoventura: not the fit if you may cancel late: from 89 days before departure it keeps the entire cruise rate. Source

How do their reviews compare?

Their figures per platform, read 9 November 2026, each from a listing under the line's own name; a whole-company profile is marked. Figures are never added together.

• Metropolitan Touring: Google (whole company): 4.5 out of 5 from 550 reviews; Trustpilot (whole company): 4.9 out of 5 from 254 reviews, newest 8 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.

The lines at a glance

One card each, as on every Uncompromised Travel expedition page: what each sells, why to choose each, what to ask for and the limits each publishes.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 9 November 2026 · updated 9 November 2026