Dear Paulina, I wanted to let you know what an amazing time Gabbie and Stew had for their whole trip. They cannot stop talking about how great everything was - the Quito hotel, the tour, the tour guides, the Eco Lodge and the staff there, both of which they found were incredible. And thank you for setting up the outdoor romantic dinner - which had a big full moon - they said it was perfect! What a terrific honeymoon they experienced! So now, I guess my husband and I will have to come there too! With much appreciation, Lili
Theresa and Tim
Maria Paulina, I have been delinquent in not writing sooner to tell you how much we appreciated the wonderful planning that you did for us. The trip was excellent and the engagement with the people, the culture, the history, the food and the art were outstanding. Our guide, Gustavo, was very good. As he got to know us better, he gave us several options for activities that might interest us and we were very appreciative of that. You choice of locations to sleep and eat were also outstanding and we were showered with kind attention throughout the trip. Plus, the volcano erupting was so exciting. How did you arrange that J? Andreas is an exceptional driver. He was always focused on the road, never eating or answering the telephone when driving. His concentration was such that he talked very little which was appreciated by us. Even more important was his steering and his gentle touch on the gas pedal and brake. My husband gets motion sick and never once did he experience any discomfort with Andreas. We felt very safe with him and were overjoyed that he was assigned as our driver when we went to Otavalo. It was such a good and comfortable feeling. Tim and I plan to go to Argentina and Easter Islands within the next several years. We are so pleased with our experience with Metropolitan Touring that we will heartily recommend it to anyone who travels to countries in which you provide services. Thank you again so much. Our sincerest best wishes for a happy and healthy new year, Theresa and Tim
Helen
Happy New Year Paulina, We have just returned from our holiday. Many thanks for all your help with our reservations. The week in the Galapagos aboard the MV Santa Cruz was fantastic. The staff was outstanding. We were surprised that the rooms were cleaned 3 times a day. Pilar helped make our daughter's birthday special with an ice cream party and the pastry chef made a delicious cake. The guides were very knowledgeable and Ramiro the expedition leader terrific, very organized and great with the kids! We enjoyed the tours of Quito and Lima. Thank you, Helen
Ann Webb
Dear Paulina I am now back in the UK and just wanted to thank you for all your help in organising our visit to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. The trip was fantastic and all your arrangements worked perfectly. The Galapagos Islands are very special. All the staff and guides on the MV Santa Cruz looked after us very well and we will remember our visit for a very long time. Thank you once again. Kind regards Ann
Norm Giere
Carolina and Paulina, just wanted to follow up with a big thank you for a wonderful trip. It was perfect. The drivers and the guides provided by Metropolitan were all amazing. From the start with meeting George at the Quito airpot. Our flight was 4 hours late arriving from Miami, but George was waiting for us at 2 in the morning. Our Quito tour with Cecilia, even though we were suffering jet lag, was truly memorable because of her charm. I also wanted to let you know that I overlooked Henry, our Otavalo guide. He was so professional and knowledgeable. He added so much to our Quito stay. I was truly impressed by the quality of your staff in each city we visited. I look forward to another adventure with Metropolitan and your personal guidance. All our guides were always on time and cheerful, and loaded with unlimited knowledge of each city we visited. I will never forget the Galapagos tour on the Isabella II. Socrates, Gabriel, and Dennis were the perfect guides. They love the islands and their knowledge was limitless. What a great ship and incredible staff. Machu Picchu was more exciting than I expected. Our guide Guillermo and driver Beito, in Peru, were so attentive and personable. They went totally out of their way to make sure our trip was perfect in every way. And I can’t forget Rosa in Lima. What a sweet lady. Carolina, thanks again for pulling our trip together. Our experience with Metropolitan Touring was awesome. I can’t say enough good things about your organization. Your are the BEST. Gracias, Norm Giere
Julie
Dear Paulina It's almost 7 weeks now since we returned and I wanted to write to you again to thank you for helping to organise such a wonderful trip. We had the most fabulous time and truly the most perfect holiday. We have done lots of travelling and we came back from our trip to Ecuador feeling that we had had the most perfect holiday ever!! We loved every minute of it. The Galapagos islands were unbelievable and we managed to see all that we wanted to see and more. We loved being able to snorkel every day. Also we really enjoyed the Finch Bay hotel. The accommodation was beautiful and comfortable but what made it even more special was the staff, from the restaurant staff, to the reception staff to the naturalist guides. We were so impressed. The food served both in the restaurant and out on the yacht was delicious and again very impressive. We also were impressed at how well organised the day trips were. We really had the best time there. Also Paulina, we loved Sacha Lodge and our time there. Again they run such a fantastic tour there. We were so impressed with the service and the organisation of the lodge. We have stayed in various lodges during our travels including in Africa and in Australia, and we both felt Sacha lodge was the best run lodge we have ever stayed in!!! However the other parts of our trip was great too. We loved Quito, Cuenca and Guiyaquil. We were really impressed with the guides that we had, from the guides who did our transfers from the airport to our hotel, and the guide Edison who took us out for the day to Otavalo. At the last minute at Finch Bay hotel, we arranged for a 1/2 city tour of Guiyaquil on the 20th July from the airport and back (to save us just from sitting at the airport all afternoon and evening.) We had a fantastic local guide from Metropolitan Touring of course, a woman from Guiyaquil. Unfortunately I don't remember her name but honestly Paulina she was fantastic. If you can find out who she was please pass on our thanks and compliments. Thank you for organising everything for us Paulina. Everything went so smoothly, the hotels, the flights, the transfers etc. Everyone we met was so friendly and we have come away from Ecuador with such great memories of the sights, the food (which was all absolutely delicious......I had to have the locro de papa soup at every opportunity....I counted I had it about 10 times during our holiday) and the people of Ecuador. Thank you so much. We have been telling everyone about the great organisation of Metropolitan Touring and of the wonderful country of Ecuador. Kind Regards
Flora Mazzoni
Hello my dears, Sorry I couldn't make it to meet you. I tried one day but there was too much traffic and had to go back. I just want to thank you all. The tour was one of the greatest of my life. I have been travelling alone and with tour operators' help for many many years but HAVE NEVER, EVER found a such a wonderful service. Hotels, haciendas, punctuality, professionalism, top quality service and details, everything was simply OUTSTANDING. thank you Carolina, thank you Paulina and thanks to the Staff all. Great Company, great job, great people. Thanks again! I already have some Customers ready to use your service and, if everything will go fine, I will ask for your assistance next year! GRAZIE!!!!! Flora Mazzoni
Marvin Lipkowitz
Dear Paulina: Unfortunately, Irene delayed our return home, or I would have communicated with you before this to tell you how wonderful the tour was. In addition to the natural wonders, your organization, Metropolitan Touring made the trip not only exciting, but completely satisfying. Your people were everywhere, and were consistently cheerful and helpful. On one occasion, one of them said, "You will be taken care of like a baby", and that's exactly how it felt. My compliments to you and to your organization. I will recommend you to all of my colleagues. Thanks again.
R & J from Seattle
Paulina, We returned from our trip and we had a wonderful experience. We loved Yacht La Pinta, its excellent service and amazing schedule. We loved visiting all the islands and seeing its natural inhabitants. Thank you for organizing our trip and accommodating our needs. R & J from Seattle
Steve Bishop
Five of us had the pleasure of having Sylvia as our Metropolitan Touring guide when we visited Ecuador from May 2 to May 5. She was extremely knowledgeable – despite innumerable questions it wasn’t until the fourth day when I asked her about a coat of arms on an obscure church in Cuenca that she didn’t have an answer. Her English was superb and she had an enjoyable sense of humour. She was the best guide I have ever travelled with. Congratulations for employing such an accomplished guide. She made our trip all the more enjoyable.
Lucy Torres
Dear Paulina, Thanks for your email. We very much enjoyed our stay at the Finch bay hotel in Puerto Ayora. I’m happy to say it lived up to our expectations. The accommodation was very clean and comfortable. The food was good and the staff were very helpful and friendly. The location and facilities are wonderful and we had a very relaxing four days there. I will be happy to recommend this hotel to any of my friends that go to the Galapagos. Regards, Lucy Torres
Peg and Peter Saenger
Dear Metropolitan, Thanks for asking about our Galapagos adventure aboard the Santa Cruz. The short answer is: it was better than we ever dreamed... ...in more gushing detail: Our Metropolitan Touring experience was smooth sailing from the first 800 number chat with Carolina Alban, who listened to our hopes and turned them into a trip that exceeded our dreams, to the naturalists and shipboard staff... wow, what wonderful memories! There could not be a better expedition leader than Moreno, period. His corps of naturalists are superb, Maria Carmen and Grace stood out. Everyday was action (example: swimming with penguins!) packed, well planned, and as rigorous or laid back as one wanted. Night time was amazing as well, we will never forget the stars, and watching from the rail, under the ship's lights, the swimming sea lions chasing the flying flying fish at rocket speed. M. V. Santa Cruz was the perfect vessel for us; lovely cabins at a cost we could afford, a wonderful variety of delicious food, and a crew of the nicest folks. Did I mention happy hour every evening on the sun deck...? Our trilingual Captain led a delightful band of attentive folks, most notable were guest relations mavins Christen and Albert. We have wanted to see Ecuador's exquisite islands since we were married forty years ago... Metropolitan Touring delivered a beyond expectation experience, thank you for the memories, we can not imagine it being better. Warmest regards, Peg and Peter Saenger ...well, there is one suggestion ....those chocolates on the pillow every night, the cute ones in the shapes of turtles etc... our fellow passengers and we agreed that while they could be smaller... they would be vastly improved if they were of the world famous Ecuadorian Dark Chocolate... really that's our only quibble...
Jeffrey A. Kaplan
Carolina: I want to thank your agency and Paulina for the safe, interesting and exciting trip that we had for a week at the end of April, 2011. As you may know, I traveled by myself with 3 of my children ages 13, 11 and 10 (I have a total of 6 children, but only 3 were able to make it on the trip). We appreciated that at every step we were accompanied with a guide and sometimes even two guides, all of whom were friendly and knowledgable. While Paulina's suggestion for the 3 night Santa Cruz ship for the Galapagos tour was appropriate, her suggestion for a 3 night stay at The Casa Del Suizo, in the Jungle, was absolutely perfect. It was not only a great surprise to see such a clean and well-kept hotel in the Jungle, but the activities were a thrill! Please thank Paulina for helping to make our trip a GREAT SUCCESS!
Darlene Howell
We stayed in your Hotel March 20-23, just days after the Tsunami. I want to commend you & your staff for what had to be an incredible work effort to have virrtually everything was back up to 5 star standards. Fabulous establishment. Fabulous program. Fabulous staff. Thanks for a great time.
Tom Rawding
Hello Carolina We just returned to Nova Scotia this past Friday and I wanted to thank you and Metropolitan Touring for making our time in Ecuador the wonderful experience it truly was. Thanks to you personally for taking the time with organizing our tours and having the parience in dealing with all my various questions. You handled things well. I would be remiss if I didn't mention 2 individuals from your company that were with us for most of the tours we enjoyed. There was our driver Armando - Despite the language barrier, Armando was just great. His driving never made us feel uncomfortable. He took great pride in the appearance and cleanliness of the vehicle. His sense of humour and willingness to help out was appreciated. Then, of course, there was our guide Marco. We have been fortunate over the past 6 years or so to experience many guides from around the world, most of them very good and proficient in handling their jobs. Marco provided us with the best experience we have ever had with a guide. He was so personable, had a good command of the English language, was extremely knowledgeable of his country, displayed an indepth knowledge of both the flora and fauna and most importantly his love for his work was obvious. Metropolitan Touring are fortunate to have Marco in their employ. Thanks once again and I wish you all the best. Tom Rawding
Nancy H.
Dear Paulina, Just wanted you to know that our trip was fabulous. All 10 of us agreed that it was the "best trip ever"! Edison, our guide in Quito was terrific. The accommodations on the Santa Cruz were fine and the staff was wonderful. MarieCarmen, our guide/naturalist was absolutely outstanding. Everything went perfectly, including my husband's birthday celebration with cake, music and singing!! Thank you again for making this trip so very special, Nancy
May Henderson
Dear Carolina, Thank you for your help with our booking. We did have a wonderful time and did return full of wonder and enthusiasm for travel. We’ve been busy trying to catch up with our normal lives so haven’t had a moment to check out the Facebook pace or to add to it. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks we’ll find time. Our trip with Metropolitan went very smoothly and among other travellers Metropolitan also has a very good reputation. We would certainly are recommending Isabela II as an excellent choice for touring the Galapagos. We appreciated having our comfortable cabin and especially would like to thank you for your relaxed patience holding it for us while we sorted out our booking. Best regards, May
People Like you - Galapagos Islands Ecuador
Stephen and Mary Hodges
My wife and I recently returned from a trip to Ecuador and Galapagos where we used a lot of Metropolitan Touring guides and drivers for hotel pickup and tours. For each of these interactions we received EXCELLENT service. Thank you! Out of the many people we met our Guide for the Spirit of the Andies Tour - Wilson Galaraza from Cuenca was truly outstanding and my and I wish to pass on our heartfelt thanks for a great experience
Sarah Tufford
Metropolitan Touring was “FABULOUS” – we have a “high regard” for Metropolitan Touring. Rodney Bravo was “great and wonderful guide”…….We loved our 7 night Galapagos on the Santa Cruz, the Otavalo Tour, Hacienda Cusin and everything Metropolitan Touring, Sofia and Rodney did was perfect ! Also enjoyed Hotel Café Cultura and the people there were very accommodating and helpful! Thank you again !
Al Huhs
Wonderful trips. In fact, both trips were trips of a life-time. The guides, Walter, Adriana & Wilson, were very knowledgeable, personable and enthusiastic. Metroplitan Touring has done an excellent job in training and preparing its guides. Their presence made our trip much more worthwhile and memorable.
When we book our next trip to South America, we will definitely give you a call. We are sold on Metropolitan Touring.
Lynn Webber
I just got home and I wanted to rush off this email to thank you and everyone at Metropolitan for the Wonderful holiday in Ecuador. I had the most enjoyable time. My most favorite part was the Spirit of the Andes and I wish I could have stay a few more days in Cuenca. It is the most beautiful city I have ever visited~!! The tour guides were all very knowledgeable and helpful and friendly. I especially loved Edison-he has the best sense of humor. He teased me about food-I am not a big eater and he kept saying "Good news Lynn we eat again~" I loved the Galapagas and the Amazon too but I don't want to see another bird for awhile. :) I am not a bird watcher. LOL
I would definitely recommend Metropolitan to everyone who wants to visit South America.
Kevin
Dear Paulina, We are back in the U.S. now, but I wanted to tell you that we had a wonderful time in the Galapagos. The hotel Finch Bay was very nice and the guide we had all week, his name was Soto, was exceptional. We could not be more pleased. All your arrangements were excellent. I am going to travel to Lima on business next year and I think that I will take my wife and maybe you could suggest a 7 or 10 day tour from Lima. We would be interested in seeing Quito as part of that tour. Thank you again for all your excellent work. Best regards, Kevin
Lynly Hatton and Trevor Bailie
Dear Mr. Sevilla, My husband and I recently had the great pleasure to visit your country October 18 to 30th . Our tour was arranged by Lewie Gonsalves at Worldwide Quest in Toronto, Canada and organized through your company, Metropolitan Touring. We have to congratulate you on your excellent staff and services. Our guide on the mainland was Dolores Romero and she was outstanding. We cannot say enough good things about her and the total effort she put into making our trip so very special. The pride she has in her country and her job was impressive and her generosity of spirit such a pleasure. The rest of the team were also excellent and made everything so memorable for us. Included in our trip was a Galapagos cruise on La Pinta starting October 22. Once again we can’t say enough great things about that part of the trip – a brilliant boat and a superb captain and crew. They couldn’t do enough for us and everything was of the highest quality - we had a fabulous time. Please accept our congratulations on your excellent Company and wonderful staff - you must be so pleased to have such great ambassadors for Ecuador.
Dale Ball
Dear Paulina, We're just back from our long-awaited trip to the Galapagos, and I wanted to write and express our gratitude to you for all you did to make our trip enjoyable and memorable. The Finch Bay Eco Hotel is simply perfect! It's a beautiful hotel in a beautiful setting with fabulous food and, without a doubt, the nicest, most helpful staff imagineable. We were so glad to have had the extra days there. Both our guides, Valentin and Soto, were great, and we marveled at how smoothly and efficiently the tours were run, with all our needs seen to every step along the way. And from what I heard from other tourists, The Sea Lion is far superior to The Sea Finch, so we're glad you put us on the better boat. Thank you so much for all your good work and being so gracious and efficient.
James & Janice Daunheimer
We just finished a trip in Ecuador with your company and wanted to especially commend our guide for the Quito-Cuenca portion of our trip; Carlos Machuca. He was the best guide we've ever had. He had such enthusiasm for his country and the people and sites we were visiting. He went above and beyond what was necessary every single day and had great relationships with the people we visited all along the way. We hope you are paying him very well, as he is excellent at his job. We appreciated all of your employees. They were always on time and pleasant and spoke good english. Our trip with your company more than lived up to our expectations. Thank you. James and Janice Daunheimer Aug 11-Aug 22 2010.
Donna J Beausoleil
Paulina, I just returned yesterday from my fabulous trip to the Galapagos Islands. It was truly a trip to remember forever. Hopefully I'll be able to bring my three grown children the next time!! On my boat I forgot to ask Alex for his contact information because I would like to send him a personal thank you when I return to the states. I think he was the third in line from the top of responsibility on our ship. Would his position be the purser? I don't know. If you have an email address for him and a physical address where I can thank him I would very much appreciate it. I want to send him some pictures via email too. Thanks so much for everything. It was GREAT!! All the best, Donna
Erin
I just wanted to say thank you to you for assisting me with my trip to the Galapagos - it was amazing. Everyone at the Finch Bay was very nice and accommodating. We had a great time - can't wait to go back in a few years!!! Thanks again, Erin
Murali, Chicago, U.S.A.
Dear Carolina: I had a wonderful visit to Quito and Galapagos Islands, and the Metropolitan Touring Company staff were great everywhere. They were so punctual in picking me up from the airport or hotel, even at 4 am in the morning, and the tour guides, crews, and everyone were so good and wonderful. Our tour guide on Galapagos (I think his name was Camilio) was very patient and knowledgeable, and he always took the time to explain everything and answer everyone's questions. I enjoyed the sites and all the things I saw. The ship Santa Cruz was good and they always had something vegetarian for me to eat. I will highly recommend Metropolitan Touring Company to others. Thanks again for all the arrangements. You all do a great job!
Laurie McCollum
Hi Carolina, We just returned home tonight from our vacation and I wanted to let you know what a wonderful time we had! Mario and Valentine are the greatest guides and the whole trip exceeded our expectations! Thank you for all of your help in organizing this great adventure for us!!
R...
Hola Carolina! I wanted to let u know how much we enjoyed our trip. The dive company Scuba Iguana that you set us up with was fantastic. The Staff ( meaning boat and office ) were spectacular and very knowledgable and patient. I would highly reccomend them. Finch Bay, terrific. Very helpful and friendly people. Great location too. Thanx again for all your help. I look forward to dealing with you again in the future.
Eric Michael
Exceded my Expectation by a Mile!!!
David
Our trip was wonderful! The company on the ground in Quito was Metropolitan Touring and we found them efficient, organized and knowledgeable. Our transfers between the hotel and airport were on time and full of all the information we would need. The 3 tours we did while in Quito were all done by the same guide, Edison Palomeque, which was such a nice touch. We were really able to get to know him and feel comfortable asking lots of questions. He was well informed and also fun! The drivers on each tour were safe, courteous and punctual. We recommend Latin Destinations often to people. It's such an easy sight to navigate and make your trip your own. I'm sure we'll be back again! Thank you! Muchas Gracias!
William Baldyga
I am writng to send my congratulations to Metropolitan Touring for having the finest staff I have ever encountered in my years of travel. I want to particularly commend Carlos Machuca who is the most knowledgeable guide and best tour leader I have experienced in all my years of travel. Carlos was so informative and helpful , our trip was well beyond what I had even hoped for. I would come back again just to learn from him. Congratulations to you for having an employee of his caliber. I will certainly recommend Metropolitan to my colleagues because of Carlos
Lisa
hello carolina, I want to thank you and your company for a great trip!!! The hotel transfer to the ship was seamless, and the crew/guides did an excellent job in giving us an education on the galapagos islands/quito. Thank you again and i will definitely contact you again for future south american trips.
Joachim Schlösser
Dear Carolina; Back in Europe I wanted to give you a brief feedback. The Galapagos cruise was the highlight of our SA trip. Everything was great, the organization, the ship, the guides and of course the nature. Thank you for organizing this phantastic trip. Best from Germany.
Lorri and Bob Myers
I just wanted to contact you and tell you what a wonderful trip we had visiting Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Thank you so much for arranging our trip. Everything went so smoothly for us. We missed our flight in Miami and arrived much later than we had planned in Quito. Much to our relief, your representative was there to meet us. The guides and the itinerary were both fabulous. We just want to let you know that we appreciate your part in helping us create a wonderful trip of a lifetime. We will recommend you to any of our friends who may be thinking of visiting the Galapagos. Sincerely, Lorri and Bob Myers
Fetherstonhaugh Family
Hello, We have just spent two weeks in Ecuador and the Galapagos, organised through Original Travel in London. I just wanted to say how impressed I was with the entire holiday - it went very smoothly, everything was extremely efficient, guides were on time, all spoke excellent English and were very knowledgeable. I would like to particularly single out Gustavo Jiminez in Cuenca who was fantastic - we really thought he was great. Also the driver who navigated difficult road conditions very well (I am afraid I forget his name). All our drivers were good - we also had a good guide in Quito (Edison). The boat La Pinta was fantastic - brilliantly well run - great food, great attentive staff. Faultless. The naturalists were also excellent. In fact I have no complaints at all! Congratulations on a job well done. Many thanks for everything, it was a holiday we will remember for ever. The Fetherstonhaugh Family
Alan and Mary Stuart
We have just returned from this tour and felt we must write and tell you how much we enjoyed it. The trip was first class all the way and you are to be congratulated on its seamless management - the food, the luggage transportation, everything was excellent. Our special thanks to our guides Katia Villacreses (Quito), Adriana Naranjo (Chiva Express, Riobamba), and Pilar (Guayaquil). They looked after every detail; we enjoyed their company and their knowledge brought alive the history of the places we visited. We also felt very safe with their drivers. The cruise on the Santa Cruz was also first class in every respect, the food was interesting and varied, and the expeditions very well planned to suit everyone. Romero is a charismatic expedition leader, with charm and superlative management and entertainment skills. Jedo also deserves special mention. The B12 steward kept our cabin immaculate. We had the trip of a lifetime and will always remember it. Thank you. Alan and Mary Stuart
Larry and Benita
Larry and I wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our trip to Ecuador and our excursions with Metropolitan Touring. Our tour guides, Monica and Gus, were excellent. They were very knowledgeable and fun to be with. The drivers were kind, courteous, and drove safely. The food was so delicious and beautiful...yes beautiful. The lodging accommodations were perfect and comfortable. We have told many people about the great experience we had using Metropolitan Touring. You did an excellent job of setting everything up for us. We have amazing photographs to show everyone beautiful Ecuador and the kind, friendly people. Please pass our comments on to your supervisor and to Monica and Gus' supervisors as well. Thank you for a job well done!!!
Richard & Judith Ellis
Dear Metropolitan touring, Having just returned home from our two weeks holiday in Ecuador (Quito) and Galapagos aboard Isabela 2 we felt compelled to write to convey our heart felt thanks for what was truly fantastic and unforgettable holiday. Your organisations professional manner, clear experience and the way you effortlessly assisted us throughout is a credit to you . A particular thank you must be conveyed to the staff of Isabela 2 who made our 8 day stay aboard the Yacht absolutely perfect. The friendliness and courteous nature of all the staff was faultless and the experience, knowledge and enthusiasm of the guides and staff was second to none. Staff of particular note must include Carlos our main Guide, Johhny our waiter who was exemplary and Macario who was always very attentive, helpful and had a great sense of humour. As impressive was the cleanliness of the Yacht and the huge array of wonderful food available every day which simply added to our already fantastic impression of the Isabela 2. We have been so impressed that the next time we book our holiday in South America we will contact Metropolitan direct to make the arrangements. Thankyou again for giving us such wonderful experience that really was a holiday of a lifetime. Yours sincerely Richard & Judith Ellis
Sandy and Jeff Zane
It is our last day on the ship and nearly the end of the holiday. I want to thank you so much for arranging such a wonderful trip. The cruise has been fantastic and the boat excellent. Quito is beautiful and we are pleased to be returning for 1 day tomorrow. Everything in Peru was excellent too. I must therefore add that the naturalist Carmen Guzman and Expedition Leader Carlos were charming and very, very knowledgeable and the hotel manager was so welcoming.The food was too good and nothing was too much trouble. The ship was spotlessly clean. Quito is a beautiful city with so many sights. The colonial part where we are staying is so full of character and this hotel is a perfect base. Again the staff are so nice and helpful. We have bought a fabulous signed lithogragh by your most famous artist, whose name I can't spell, as a wonderful momento of this holiday. Thank you again.
Alice and Don
Hello to our friends in Quito. We spent three weeks in Ecuador last Jan. We had wonderful guides, especially Carlos, and drivers, Juan Carlos and Vladimer. We want to focus on Quito and the Highlands. Chiva Express/Devils Nose, Birdwatching, gentle hiking,kayaking, maybe Banos. Especially volcanoes. We plan to be in Ecuador Jan. 12 to Jan. 23 (LanAirlines package includes Hilton Colon stay for four nights.) What is a suggested itiniery and how many more nights do we need to book at the Hilton? Looking forward to hearing from you. Alice and Don Brockman.
Mary L. Gallo
Dear Cristina, Well, I have been back to "reality" for a full week now after my amazing holidays in Ecuador. I apologize for not writing sooner, but I caught a terrible cold on Monday and have been out most of this week because of it. Cristina, my husand and I are so grateful to you for the unforgettable experience we had in the Galapagos with Metropolitan Touring. What a beautiful ship and an incredible crew! We loved everything about the experience- the group of people with whom we did the excursions (made friends from Austria, Israel and Italy!), our guide/naturalist, Javier, the islands themselves- it was all amazing! Jeff and I also loved meeting you and Michael in Quito. It was very kind of you to come out on such an awful evening! I find the Galapagos almost impossible to describe - but it hasn't stopped me from telling everyone I know that they have to visit! And rest assured that I tell everyone that if/when they do, that they need to book through Metropolitan Touring. Thank you so much for your kindness. Do let me know if your travels bring you to the US and Chicago- I would love to return the favor! Kind regards, Mary L. Gallo Chicago, IL
Jessica and Jerry Eakes
Carolina, all the staff at Metropolitan Touring and the Finch Bay Hotel, Gloria and the staff at the Hotel Santa Barbara, and our wonderful tour guide to Otovalo, Guillermo, We want to thank you all of a wonderful trip to Quito and the Galapagos Islands, we truly had the time of lifetime. Here are just a few of the 3,500 pictures we took during our vacation. Hope you all enjoy. Thanks again!
Marion & Ross Clark
We were thrilled to see the sign with our name after 30 hours of travel when we arrived in Quito in September. This was to be the for-runner of a very well organised and enjoyable week in Ecuador. Most of the time was one on one and the personal attention to our needs was wonderful. The day tour to Otavalo was most enjoyable and the stay at La Rabida Hostal was very pleasant and intimate with a staff who were able to give the personal attention that is so rare in the big multinational hotels that are promoted heavily. The trip on the Chiva Express was also something very different and enjoyable. We also had a good transfer from Cuenca to Guayaquil by road due to the Cuenca airport being closed for maintainance. Marcos & Miguel did a wonderful job and were very well informed and a pleasure to be with. In conclusion We must say that all of the staff we came in contact with were most helpful and we have no hesitation in recommending your company to anyone seeking personal guidance and attention to detail, which was so noticeable in the way you looked after your guests. Many thanks to you all from Marion & Ross Clark, Christchurch, New Zealand
Donald/Eda Cornish
Hi, Veronica: Our trip was FABULOUS!!! We couldn't have had a better time. You, and Metropolitan Touring, did a wonderful job meeting our needs. We were met at every stop, transported everywhere, and had great guides. The food and the hotels were great, too. (We even avoided illnesses, including altitude sickness.) Visiting the Inca ruins, the surrounding cities and countryside in Peru was quite a learning experience for us. And the week in the Galapagos on the La Pinta was simply terrific. This trip exceeded our expectations. We thank you for enabling us to have had just the best trip to Peru and Ecuador.
Jackie Borgel
Veronica: I just wanted to thank you again for your help in arranging the chiva tour and our hotel in Quito. We had a great time and definitely enjoyed the chiva express and the rest of the three day tour. Our guide for Silvia, was great Jackie Borgel
Daniella Livnat
I want to tell you that our trip to the Galapagos was beyond fabulous. We had very high expectations, as Metropolitan and Isabella II came recommended, and our expectations were exceeded. It was simply perfect. From being picked up in the hotel, finding our luggage in the cabin, the size of the boat, the design of the rooms, the superb naturalists, the food, the crew, the logistical execution, choices, flexibility, everything. And of course, dealing with you was fantastic. There is no question that Metropolitan tries to maintain the highest standard. And then of course, the islands themselves and the rich waters provided a unique experience that is hard to describe. We had the most unusual, unbelievable sighting of 3 whales that came quite close to the pangas and even flipped in the air 3 times. I am recommending this trip and Metropolitan to my friends. All the best to you. .
Josephine
Hi Veronica, We're home after a very enjoyable trip to Ecuador. All of your arrangements worked perfectly and we were in good hands all the way through with the guides and drivers provided. All of our accommodations were good and the food in Ecuador is wonderful. Thanks again for all your help. We didn't have the time to try to visit your office to say hello to you in person....maybe, next time.....I hope you will copy this e-mail to your boss so that he/she will know you made a satisfied customer who will advocate for visiting Ecuador and using Metropolitan Touring/Veronica as the travel group of choice.
Rick Wallin
Dear Carolina, I just wanted to take a moment and tell you how much we enjoyed the trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Our trip to the Galapagos was wonderful. Metropolitan Touring was great. We were met at the Quayaquil airport and everything was taken care of. The Hotel was wonderful. The food was fabulous. The guides were very kind and knowledgeable. We would definitley use Metropolitan touring again. Thanks again, you did a great job Sincerely, Rick Wallin
Hal Toppel
We have now arrived back home and I wanted to let you know how pleased we were with all of the services provided by Metropolitan Touring. Every aspect of our trip to Ecuador was exceptionally well planned and executed. Your people showed up on time, got us where we had to go, and took care of every detail. We especially want to extend our compliments to the tour guides since, as you know, the tour is only as good as the person who leads it. In Quito it was Edison on our day trip who did an excellent job. As far as the Galapagos is concerned, we cannot say enough about Carmen. Her knowledge of the wildlife and the geology and her ability to point out things of interest made each day a new adventure and time of discovery. The same can be said for Gustavo in Ecuador. His love of his country was evident at each of the sites we visited. You could not have placed your trainees, Wilson and Javier, in better hands (they also did a good job and we provided our own evaluation of their performances to Gustavo). A tour is remembered by the quality of the tour guide and you have some excellent people that will make our trip to Ecuador very memorable. Please pass along our comments to whoever may need to know feedback from your clients (actually, we already gave our comments about Edison to a Metropolitan Touring representative who interviewed us after the day trip - and all of our comments about Edison were favorable). It was a pleasure dealing with you and your company from start to finish and we will certainly use Metropolitan again if we return to Ecuador and recommend your company to any of our friends who may be planning a trip to Ecuador. Best regards,
Carla Kennedy
As we finished a fabulous visit to the Galapagos Islands, we discovered that American Airlines had cancelled our return flight back to the U.S. Your representative Vanessa Patino and her colleague Maura were fabulous and competent. They held our hands throughout the entire re-booking process and minimized the amount of heartburn for all guests. During it all they were pleasant and reassuring, while keeping their cool. I'm pleased to know of your company, and will recommend your services to others who may come your way in the future.
John E. Yandrasitz
Hello, Carolina. just wanted to let you know that we had a wonderful time in the Galapagos Islands. everything went well. the people at the hotel were very friendly and accomodating. the weather was great. well worth the time and cost. thank you again for your help in arranging the details. It is probably a once in a lifetime experience but if time and finances ever permit, we would like to return some day. when I get some time, I will write a favorable review in tripadvisor. Saludos cordiales, Juan.
Olga & Larry
We're finally back home, from a very good trip. All the arrangements you made for us were perfect, and the services provided by Metropolitan Touring were excellent. We sincerely thank you for all of your help in making our visit to Ecuador enjoyable, worry-free, and fun. Olga & Larry
Jennifer J. Francis
I am writing to thank you for all your help in arranging at such short notice our wonderful expedition on the Santa Cruz Galapagos Islands Cruise last week. Both Brigitte Lauwaert and myself had a really memorable time and have recorded it with many photographs. I would like to add that all the crew and guides were very helpful and most informative making the whole trip a great experience. I would especially like to mention Ramiro, who was our own guide, and manages the whole procedure with true skill and indeed good humour. It is certainly a rewarding but incredibly responsible job he has making sure everyone enjoys themselves but remains safe too. Thank you once again and if I or any other colleagues are in the Ecuador region I will be sure to recommend your company and your own personal services. Regards Jennifer
Lynn
I am back to Ohio after our fabulous trip. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! It was flawless on your part and we loved the accomodations. I would have never been able to do that on my own. I am sorry that I was so nervous about the arrangements before we left but it was so important that it go well that I couldn't help but worry a bit. Thank you for your patience and always getting back to me promptly with answers. We wish that we could have stayed another 4 or 5 days but we all had to get back to work. Great job!!! Gratefully, Lynn, Jacob and Shannon Best
Gillian Long
We would like to thank you very much for organizing our recent holiday in Quito, the Galapagos and Peru. Everything worked out perfectly and we had a wonderful time - quite beyond our expectations. We loved your country! Yacht La Pinta is indeed a beautiful boat and we can highly recommend her. The naturalists were all good, particularly the expedition leader, Vanessa, who organized all activities with skill and good humour. (We have already received the postcard which we posted in Post Office Bay!) The food was excellent and everyone was friendly and helpful. All the transportation details worked out well - we particularly commend your agent in Guayaquil who, realising that the delay of our scheduled plane at Baltra meant that we might miss our connection to Lima, took it upon herself to rebook us on a half -empty Aerogal flight which was about to depart,and the problem was solved! All guides were well informed and helpful and we learned a lot. The hotels were all very satisfactory - particularly in Quito and Cuzco. The Reliquario is delightful. The Hotel Carmel in Lima was VERY noisy the first night but they found us a much quieter room for our last night there. Once again - thank you very much for all your efforts on our behalf. We will recommend Metropolitan to all our friends. All the best Gillian
Antonio and Ramona MESSINA
We are now back in Italy. We want to thank you for the wonderfull job that you did organizing our vacation. The Galapagos hotel and tours were perfect and we enjoy very much. We want also to thanks our naturalist Valentin and Mario and the crew of the Sea Finch boat, that did an excelent job. We also want to thank our guide in Ecuador, Gustavo Jimenez , in the Chiva Express Tour for his knowlegde and disponibility. He was a truly beautiful presence for the duration of the four days of the tour. Thanks to him we had the opportunity to understand and to see with our own eyes the culture and history of your wonderful country, and it was all a beautifull surprise. We will contact you for our next trip. Ciao
Phillipa O’Brien
Tim and I had a very enjoyable holiday in the Galapagos last December at the Finch Bay Hotel. We really appreciated the way Metropolitan Touring arranged private transport for us when our flight from Guayaquil to Galapagos was changed. Also there was a member of staff from Metropolitan Touring at the Guayaquil airport to assist us through the quarantine requirements and he was very helpful. We found the facilities and staff at the Finch Bay Hotel very much to our liking and will continue to recommend Metropolitan Touring to people in New Zealand who are thinking about traveling to the Galapagos. Thank you very much for your help with our travel.
Joyce and Al Sacknoff
We would like to thank you once again for arranging a fabulous trip for our family. We arrived back late Monday evening with everyone agreeing that this was "a vacation of a lifetime". All our travel arrangements went off perfectly. the Finch Bay hotel was lovely and the staff was excellent and most cooperative. We were most fortunate in having Valentine as our naturalist. He is friendly, knowledgeable and very patient with the numbers of questions we all had. The boatmen were excellent as well. Please be assured we will not hesitate to recommend you and your company to all. Best wishes for a Happy New Year. Sincerely, Joyce and Al Sacknoff as well as the 14 others in our family
Michelle and Ian
Our santa cruz galapagos tour dates were 21-25th nov. The scene- puerto ayora, a truck pulled up, a guy lifts a bench out of the back, the folks roosted and a chorus of laughter commenced led by naturist Grace, a most wonderful example of the species- thanks for a wonderful time.
Frank and Frans Neuerburg
It was a unique and wonderfull experience. Unique because never on all our travelling around the world, we had the possibility to see so many annimals and in such a short distance. Wonderfull because the service from your company was excellent. Thanks again and, in advance, best wishes for 2006.
Bette and Ashley Neal
Overall we found the company to be very professional with excellent service. We agree with the CEO's message and agree that Ecuador is indeed a magical and enchanting country! Thanks to you all for making it so much easier to travel.
Martin J Jones and Marion Whelbourn
The Isabella II is a fantastic ship and the environment created but Captain Ernesto and his crew was truly wonderful.
Mike and Yvonne Warwick
We are really enjoying the tour - excellent choices of accommodation and our guide, Carlos, has been brilliant. He has more knowledge than any other guide we have ever known on any of our many travels around the world.
Walter F. Gilges
The time in the Galapagos was marvelous. We spent the seven days aboard ship cruising from one island to another, most of the travel done at night, but this was an expedition ship so the focus was on the remarkable features of these islands.
John Elliott
We also have a great time in Quito - we hired a car and went and visited a few places including Cotopaxi, Papallacta and Otavalo.
Susan Stephen
Well we all had the best time on the cruise, everybody could not have been nicer. You should feel very confident sending any passengers on this ship it was fabulous. Chels just had the best time as did Jim and I.
Tony and Maureen Slipper
All our guides and drivers, from your Quito North Office we believe, and from the Guayaquil Office were very professional and conscientious, thus making our stay in your country so enjoyable.
Pamela Nicholson
We congratulate you on the excellence of Isabela II, the high standard of staffing and excellent accommodation facilities. We feel that your flagship reflects your attention to detail and does credit to Metropolitan Touring.
Metropolitan Touring are without doubt the most successful, reliable and professional company to deal with and we would like to voice our appreciation for the hard work and co-operation that resulted in such a success.
Michael & Sheila Hodge
Dear Sir, We have just returned from our holiday to the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador and would just like to say how much we enjoyed it. In particular the service of your company. We were met and transferred on many occasions, without a hitch. All the staff were very prompt and polite and in some cases knew where we were going before we did! So a very big thank you to all concerned.
Walter Suhr and Susana Trimmer
Upon arriving to the Galápagos, the experience was fantastic. Not only because of the unique and extraordinary setting, but because of the wonderful level of service. You can sense that the personnel enjoys working there. They feel happy, eager and ready to offer help. The naturalist guides are very knowledgeable, the food is great, and the schedule runs tight. (Too early for a musician, can't you ask the dolphins to swim a little later?) I have been recommending it to all my friends and will continue to do so. Metropolitan Touring is the best! My thanks to Captain Cuvi, Peter, Pilar and all the gang!
I am very happy with the service I received from Metropolitan Touring and its sister company Adventure Asociates in the US. From the moment we started organizing our trip, the service was helpful and efficient. They responded to my questions and concerns always within hours either by phone or email. We requested several changes to the standard vacation and they acommodated our needs promptly. David and Jillian were patient and thorough in their explanations.
Roberta
We returned from Ecuador yesterday and I want to thank you for a wonderful trip. We enjoyed the Galapagos, the Santa Cruz, the Chiva Express, and particularly the people from your organization, who could not have been more helpful and pleasant. A special thanks to you for being so responsive, knowledgeable and sweet.
Devon Fallon
I recently returned from a voyage of the Galapagos Islands aboard the Isabela 11. It was absolutely incredible. The boat was beautifully run and kept and the entire crew/staff and group of naturalists were not only filled with an abundance of knowledge, but sincerely kind and generous of their time. I would like to thank Metropolitan Touring for providing a wonderful visit to the Galapagos Islands. Devon Fallon
Alan y Barbara Reid
It is highly recommended in Lonely Planets which is the travel book we always use. Having now done the trip to the Galapagos on the Santa Cruz we can only speak very highly of your operation and can fault you on nothing. It was such a pleasure to have everything happen as planned. We have already told many people that Metropolitan Touring is a very professional outfit, a pleasure to do business with, and they won't be disappointed. THANK YOU.
Jo & Reba
Well we are just getting ready to leave Finch Bay for Quito.... We have had the experience of a lifetime... Everything was just perfect, the hotel & staff are wonderful,especially the guides. we met Gabriella & Guy, very nice, they too could not say enough good things about you. Thanks again!
Liz Slinger
The Slinger Family have returned from Ecuador - yesterday, I wanted to E mail and say thank you for all your help! The Finch Bay Hotel was wonderful, the two guides we had, Soto and Mario were brilliant and the Galapagos were truely stunning. The people of Ecuador were charming and universally friendly and smiley. Our time in the Amazon, although a huge contrast, was also incredible. We have voted our first trip to South America, Ecuador as our favourite. Thanks again for all your help in making wonderful memories!
Gordon Stephenson
I returned recently from a holiday to Ecuador and the Galapagos as part of a Thomas Cook group of 16 people. I just wanted to say how impressed we all were with your staff. Ramiro, who met us at the airport and again returned us here, was friendly, polite and helpful. Juan, the local tour guide from Cuenca who met us in Quito and stayed with us until Galapagos, was charming - everyone in the group commented on how knowledgeable, friendly and helpful he was; he is clearly passionate about his country, and his excellent level of English meant that he clearly understood a range of British accents (not always so easy!) and responded fluently and fully to questions. He also possessed a great sense of humour! Ramiro, the naturalist on board the MV Santa Cruz was equally passionate about the wildlife in the islands. Finally, our driver Carlos drove for us for two weeks and again we all commented on his friendly, polite nature, and his excellent driving, sometimes along difficult roads or during long days- we appreciated his patience and his constant warm smile. This email is on behalf of the whole group, who asked me to pass on their comments to you; I hope that you will also share them with the people concerned, and their managers. Your colleagues made our holiday a perfect one, and we have all left with a very positive memory of Ecuador - a beautiful country with a warm and friendly people. Thank you.
Jane Russell
Just wanted to thank all involved for making my visit to Ecuador (Aug 20th - 29th 2006) the holiday of a lifetime. I have travelled to many places before but never have I found the travel representatives so kind,helpful and informative. A big thank you!
Colin & Linda Gibbs, England
With reference to our recent tour of Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands, we would like to thank you very much for the efficient and friendly way you organised our holiday. We did not have to worry about anything - you had everything arranged for us. Our guides were friendly, courteous and knowledgeable. We would especially like you to pass our thanks on to Rodney and to Gustavo. Many thanks for a wonderful holiday - we liked Ecuador very much and hope to return one day.
L. Gartside
Thank you for your e-mail bulletins about the Galapagos. However although we had one of our best and most memorable holidays in the Galapagos, in view of our advancing age and still many places to see, sadly we shall never be able to return to see the wonders of the wildlife there and therefore I should be grateful if you would discontinue sending the bulletins.
Diana Meyer
What a fantastic operation you run! Having just enjoyed a visit to Ecuador, including a week on the Santa Cruz, I simply have to write and say thankyou for a most marvellous experience. Your organisation is Tops! All the staff we came into contact with were superb and a special mention and thankyou to Cecilia, who looked after us in Quito; Romerio, Rocio and Anita on board the Santa Cruz, but to everyone who did so much to make our trip wonderful. Your conservation policies are so encouraging and commendable and I wish you every continued success! Again my sincere thanks for a truly magnificent trip and to your tremendous staff, who contributed enormously to make our visit so special.
Renata
I´m about to leave Ecuador in the next couple of days and just wanted to thank you and everyone in Metropolitan Touring for such a wonderful trip. I truly enjoyed it. It was absolutely fantastic and all of the representatives of Metropolitan Touring were truly professional and helpful. The accommodation and food was fantastic which all added up to an excellent time. Many thanks! I am sure I will be back! Regards.
Vicki Shteir-Dunn
Thank you so very much for helping us have an amazing vacation and honeymoon in Ecuador. My husband and I love your beautiful country. The tours through the Andes and the Galapagos were spectacular. We enjoyed the Chiva Express very much and loved Cuenca. Our tour guide, Carlos Machuca, was superb!!! He is intelligent and entertaining and taught us much about the history and geography of the Andes, about the indigenous people, and the culture. Thank you so very much again for helping us plan our trip to Ecuador.
Thank you so very much for helping us have an amazing vacation and honeymoon in Ecuador. My husband and I love your beautiful country. The tours through the Andes and the Galapagos were spectacular. We enjoyed the Chiva Express very much and loved Cuenca. Our tour guide, Carlos Machuca, was superb!!! He is intelligent and entertaining and taught us much about the history and geography of the Andes, about the indigenous people, and the culture.
Tom & Moira McCready
The organization by 'Ultimate' and Metropolitan was excellent. It worked smoothly with no mishaps. We found Ecuador to be a very friendly place and the in-country support provided by Metropolitan was second to none. Isabella II was a very special ship in a very special place and we thoroughly enjoyed the privilege of sailing with Captain Jorje Fernadez and his crew. The on board naturalists (Alex, Pablo and Jean Roch) are to be congratulated on their lectures and island tours. In particular, Jean Roch's enthusiasm for his subject brought us to a new experience of the exciting flora and fauna. So we would like to say: Gracias - Thank you.
We would like to express our appreciation for the organisation of our holiday to Ecuador and the Galapagos (Isabella II - December 12th - 19th, 2006). Magnificient, breathtaking, wonderful etc are just few of superlatives that are needed to describe the holiday we had in Ecuador - from the High Andes to the wonders of Galapagos.
N.G. Feldman
We want to thank you for the unique and marvelous experience we had on the Chiva Express trip we took with you. All of it, the train trip, our Cuenca stay, all the arrangements were really fun and well planned but the high point of the trip was certainly to be with Marcus and Ximena Cruz. To be in their house for breakfast , to stay at their beautiful, luxurious base camp, to walk with them to amazing sights like sunset from Chimborozo and the polyleptis trees full of humming birds. But perhaps the most exciting of all was to share with Marco and Ximena .They are both remarkable personalities, full of enthusiasm, knowledge and experience and we learned vividly through their words, beauiful photos and the huge collection of artifacts adorning their houses, of the history and culture of Equador.
Kevin Beale
I can’t thank you enough for helping set up the tour of the Galapagos on the Otavalo Market. My wife and I loved it all. You guys made everything very easy and first class and I would gladly recommend your company to anyone that is looking to go to Ecuador. Thanks again and have a great year.
Mr. & Mrs. Feldman
We want to thank you for the unique and marvelous experience we had on the Chiva Express trip we took with you. All of it, the train trip, our Cuenca stay, all the arrangements were really fun and well planned. We commend you for offering such a remarkable package. We will certainly be recommending Metropolitan to our travelling friends.
Sue & Tony Smith
What a fantastic holiday. Thank you so much for enthusing me to go to Ecuador. It is such a beautiful country. Women washing their clothes in the river at Otavalo and the facinating market. The old town in Quito and dining in a top floor restaurant overlooking Quito by night. The Chiva Express through the Avenue of Volcanos, then on again via Chiva from Riobamba to Alausi and the Devils Nose switchback. Three nights in Cuenca - such a pretty place. Across via Cajas National Park from Cuenca by car to Guayaquil. We walked the Malecon 2000 twice!! The Galapagos was amazing. Thank you for recommending the Santa Cruz - what a well run ship and so comfortable. The cruise (or rather expedition) was so interesting and such fun. It exceeded expectations but must admit after 8 days of getting up at 6am for disembarkation at 6.45am in temperatures of 90+ degrees for several facinating hours hike, we are feeling somewhat shattered!!! I did deep sea snorkelling and actually swam with turtles, penguins, rays and sea lions all in one snorkelling trip. Mind boggling!!
Tony and Pippa Halliday
We both enjoyed the introduction to the Andes Cuenca and Guayaquil. The Devil's' Nose was less intimindating than Pippa had expected. Our guide (Juan Carlos) performed admirably. He had to to work in Portuguese as well as English and the Brazilians on the trip assured us he did well, His rewourcefulness was required when Cuenca airport was closed off to road traffic because of the return of the body of the Defence Minister. So JC had to organize porters to come from tthe airport with trolleys to transport our baggage over broken paving in pouring rain! Arrangements in Guayquill worked well and perhaps thanks to you we were installed in the Hiltons executive suite. We will certainly be recommending you to our friends and perhaaps, who knows, we will return for another look at your delightful country.
Jim and Ann Mulder
Thank you for all your help in getting our vacation arranged. Every thing you did for us was great, it contributed to a fabulous vacation. There were no problems what so ever, the flights, the hotel, the transfers, the yacht trips and especially the meals, everything was great. Metropolitan Touring and The Finch Bay Hotel should be proud of its staff (everybody from front desk staff, naturalist guides, room staff, wait staff, chef and his kitchen staff, Sea Finch yacht crew, and all the unseen workers). Our vacation couldn't have been any better, we will always remember it. Please let me know if The Finch Bay Hotel got payment for the additional charges when we checked out on Sunday, I forgot to give them my new credit card information. Thanks, Jim and Ann
Bahne and Heidi
After having returned to Germany and having settled the first most important things to be done after almost 4 weeks of vacation, my wife Heidi and me would like to thank you again for the perfect organization and assistance of our roundtrip through Ecuador mainland and Galapagos. After all we would like to point out the excellent performance of METROPOLITAN and all colleagues involved. This concerns not only the selection and reservation of the Hotels at Guayaquil and Quito (especially the Cafe Cultura and Vieja Cuba, instead of one of the big chain-Hotels), but also the car-rental and settlement with Localiza. Finally the organization of the Galapagos trip o/b MV Santa Cruz, beginning and ending with the pick up and drop off at the Quito Hotels, the performing of the airtransport, and last but not least the friendly way, how the staff on board and the guides made their job to an adventure for us, couldn't be done better. For me it was a good experience to deal all the necessary bookings direct with Metropolitan at Quito and with you personally. I recommended your organization to some friends planning a simlar trip, so, if you receive requests referring to my name, you know why! All the best to you and kind regards,
Martha Donnamaria
Just wanted you to know that the trip was great. The M/V Santa Cruz was perfect. The crew and guides were the best and the meals were an adventure on it's own. Wonderfull surprises, perfect! Thank You.
Pearl Wheeler
Thank you so much for organising all the details of our recent holiday in the Galapagos Islands. It was a very special visit and my family will always remember the time we spent together and all the things we saw. We loved the cocktail bar and spent a happy time there every evening watching the sun go down. We loved sharing our breakfast with Darwin's finches and being woken by the laughing gulls in the morning. Everyone was so friendly but also professional, the food was delicious, the guides were knowledgable and enthusiastic about wildlife and very patient and made sure that we had a good experience. The boat was comfortable, well-equipped and the food on board was excellent too. Finch Bay was even better than expected in every way. Everyone at the hotel helped to make every day special, whether we were on an excursion or just relaxing around the hotel. I do hope that the Islands stay as beautiful as they are and that we are able to visit again one day.
Michiko & Mie
Our Santa Cruz galapagos tour dates were 18-21th May 2007. I would like to thank Santa Cruz crew and guides. The cruise was so comfortable, interesting and such fun. We enjoyed the Galapagos! We would especially like you to pass our thanks on to our guide, Diego. We liked Galapagos very very much and hope to return one day.
Patricia Irene Maher
I would like to thank all at Metropolitan touring for my great experience in the Andes on the Chiva Express and in Cuenca and its surrounds in June. The trip itself was very well planned and extemely enjoyable. I have to say that our guide Carlos made the trip extra special; he was friendly,helpful, informative, knowledgeble and great fun. I may well be back to do one of his horse riding trips! Keep up the good work!
Mike Kendall
Just a short note to say thank you for sorting out the booking error so quickly and accommodating us very well. We really enjoyed the trip, the excursions, the food and the hotels. Also we thought both guides were very good and I would not hesitate recommending your company for any Ecuador based trip.
Bill and Gail Beardsley
Well, we are home, set with the time change and the travel. Napo was OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!. The naturalists, the native guides, the food, the rooms, the hospitality and on and on. We had the experience of a life time. The time in Septimo Periso was well worth the drive. Everything just fell into place and we really enjoyed everything!!! Hotel Patio Andaluz was PERFECT. We were treated as long lost friends!!! When we returned from Septimo Periso the Doorman gave Gail a "return" hug. Food is good, rooms are good and best of all the service from the entire staff was great. Now then. All of the work that you and your staff did to make our trip easy was the greatest!!! Meeting us at the airport, delivering us to the hotel, picking us up and delivering us back to the airport at crazy hours, that is what makes travelers really appreciate a GREAT travel agency. We just did not know what to do with our little bit of free time in Quito. Luckily we had some free time as Bob and Lynn had lost all of their money and we had many problems getting them more money. Sometimes the ATM machines have a mind of their own. And with that we will wish you a good night and again "thank you".
Richard D
We just returned from a stay at your eco hotel and want to complement you on your facility. I appreciate what you are doing to be harmonious with the environment. I especially liked not having any TVs ! around. Thanks
John
My wife and I have now returned from our trip to Ecuador. We spent time in the Mindo Cloud Forest, Otovalo, Cotopaxi and Quilatoa, and finally Galapagos. We had a fabulous time. We were extremely pleased with all of our activities and interactions at Finch Bay. They practically held our hand the entire way from Quito and back, and they met all of our requests. And they exceeded our expectations. The staff, the naturalists, and all the folks who guided us along the way did a great job. Thank you also for setting this trip up for us and for planning it so well. I would definitely refer you to a friend or anyone who planned to go to Galapagos. Best Wishes
Denise
I´m writing in order to thank you a lot with the organization of my trip to Ecuador. I really had a wonderful experience in Guayaquil, Galápagos and Quito! I loved everything, specially Galápagos - it´s a paradise! The Finch Bay Eco Hotel is excellent and the whole staff is so nice and friendly. I talked a lot to them. And I had the opportunity to meet people from Belgium, the United States, New Zealand and Holland there, during my stay. By the way, I started to exchange e-mails with those people at the moment. I also want to say congratulations to Metropolitan Touring. Everything was really organized during my stay, including the hotels, the city tours and the guides, who were really great.
Fundación Galápagos has been chosen by Coca Cola to participate in the campaign “Every bottle has a story” for its commitment to making a positive difference to the Islands
Metropolitan Touring is one of South America’s most known and respected travel companies, providing unrivalled service to our guests for nearly 60 years. Along with our operations in Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Chile and Colombia, we also own and operate the finest ships for Galapagos Island cruises - the M/V Santa Cruz, Yacht Isabella II and Yacht La Pinta - as well as the Finch Bay Eco Hotel. Come explore with us!
We take immense pride in our Galapagos cruise explorations, during which our guests experience the ever-changing ecological paradise of the islands. Our Galapagos cruises provide opportunities to walk, swim, snorkel, photograph and observe the archipelago’s amazing wildlife in the company of expert naturalist guides. Our Galapagos cruises are characterized by the highest standards of comfort, cuisine and service on board, combining these elements to provide solo-travelers, families and small groups with an unforgettable exploration of ‘the enchanted isles.’
So, pack your bags and come explore with us for a Galapagos cruise of a lifetime!
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