Metropolitan Touring vs Quasar Expeditions: which is better for the Galápagos?

No score and no verdict of ours: what Metropolitan Touring and Quasar Expeditions 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 Quasar Expeditions: which is better for the Galápagos?

Neither is better for everyone: Metropolitan Touring says it owns its three Galápagos ships of 40 to 90 guests and prices Origin of Species, 9 days, from US$12,250 per guest for 2027, while Quasar Expeditions sails yachts of 32 and 16 guests and shows no dated fare on the pages read.

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

Quasar Expeditions runs Galapagos yacht cruises and Patagonia overland safaris under its own name; says it is a local, Ecuadorian-owned family company. 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

Quasar Expeditions lists two Galapagos yachts, Evolution and Grace; 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

Quasar Expeditions carries 32 guests on Evolution and 16 on Grace. 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

Quasar Expeditions sells named voyages only in the Galapagos: 8 and 15-day yacht cruises such as In the Steps of Pirates & Darwin and Darwin's Legacy on Evolution and Darwin's Muse on Grace. 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

Quasar Expeditions says it keeps a 10:1 guest to guide ratio, which it calls the industry low, with naturalist guides holding Level III Galapagos National Park Guide certification. 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

Quasar Expeditions 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

Quasar Expeditions includes kayaks, paddleboards and snorkelling equipment on its Galapagos yachts; it offers no scuba diving on the cruise, though guests may dive with a land-based outfitter before or after or on port days and miss that day's activity. 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

Quasar Expeditions 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

Quasar Expeditions' Galapagos fares include the National Park fee and transit card, an open bar, Starlink Wi-Fi, kayaks, paddleboards and snorkelling gear, all meals, Galapagos transfers and an onboard doctor; domestic flights from Quito or Guayaquil to the Galapagos are not included. 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

Quasar Expeditions charges single travellers a 65% supplement on its Patagonia overland safaris and offers no willing-to-share pairing; it publishes no single rule for its Galapagos cruises. Source

How much is the deposit?

Quasar Expeditions asks a non-refundable deposit of $1,800 USD per person at booking for Galapagos cruises booked 91 days or more ahead, with the final non-refundable payment due 90 days before departure; holiday departures take a first deposit of $2,500 USD per person. Source

Metropolitan Touring does not publish this on the pages read.

What happens if you cancel?

Quasar Expeditions treats every payment received for a Galapagos cruise as non-refundable and applies all payments due as the cancellation penalty. 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

Quasar Expeditions requires a Medical Evacuation and Health policy covering aero-medical evacuation from the Galapagos of at least $50,000 USD, including pre-existing conditions; it strongly recommends trip cancellation cover. 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

Quasar Expeditions welcomes children 5 years of age and older unless the trip is a private charter, with an adult taking full responsibility for them; it sells family-friendly Galapagos cruises. 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
• Quasar Expeditions: not the fit if you are unsteady on your feet: it says the islands involve frequent dinghy (Zodiac) transfers to landing sites on wet, slippery lava rock, needing some physical effort and balance. 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.
• Quasar Expeditions: Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 117 reviews; Trustpilot: 5.0 out of 5 from 779 reviews, newest 12 June 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