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When a company wins an award of this magnitude, it’s no coincidence. It’s the result of decades of work, passionate people, and a clear vision of what transformative travel should look like. Metropolitan Touring has just been named DMC of the Year – Rest of World at Ensemble Horizons 2026, one of the most important travel trade events in North America. They have spent over 70 years mastering South America’s most extraordinary destinations. And if you don’t know them well yet, now is the time to change that.
Because behind the award lies something even more interesting: a company with over 70 years of history proving that South America isn’t just a destination — it’s an experience that changes the way people see the world.
A Recognition That Doesn’t Happen Overnight
Ensemble Horizons is the annual conference of the Ensemble consortium, where nearly 1,000 travel agents and partners from the United States and Canada gather to shape the direction of the industry. The awards presented at the end are not popularity contests or marketing campaigns — they recognize those who demonstrate exceptional performance, innovation, and real impact on the business of travel advisors.
Winning the DMC Rest of World category — on the same night AmaWaterways was named Overall Partner of the Year, and Viking took home the Ocean Cruise recognition — speaks volumes about the level of competition, and about where Metropolitan Touring stands in that global arena.
70 Years Opening Doors in South America
Metropolitan Touring didn’t get here overnight. With more than seven decades of history, they are pioneers in sustainable expedition tourism in South America — long before “sustainable” became a marketing buzzword.
Today, they operate in Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, and Peru, with a fully integrated structure: owned hotels, expedition vessels, specialized local guides, ground logistics, and a team that knows every corner of the destinations they operate. They are not intermediaries reselling packages. They are the direct protagonists of every experience, with full control over quality at every point of the journey.
That vertical integration is precisely what allows them to consistently deliver high standards — something travel agents notice, and their clients remember.
What Metropolitan Touring Can Offer You
Galapagos: The Trip of a Lifetime, Done Right
The Galapagos are no ordinary destination, and not just any operator should be taking travelers there. Metropolitan Touring runs its own expedition vessels, designed to bring passengers face to face with some of the planet’s most unique wildlife — marine iguanas, sea lions, Galápagos penguins, giant tortoises — always guided by responsible tourism principles that protect the very ecosystem that makes the experience possible.
Every itinerary is designed so that travelers don’t just see the islands, but truly understand them. The certified naturalist guides who accompany each expedition turn every wildlife sighting into an unforgettable lesson in evolutionary biology. For many travelers, a Galapagos expedition with Metropolitan Touring becomes the benchmark against which every future trip is measured.
Ecuador: Beyond the Volcano
Ecuador fits within a few hours’ drive, yet it contains entirely different worlds. Metropolitan Touring takes travelers from the indigenous markets of the Andes — with their colors and centuries-old rituals still intact — to the cloud forests of the Chocó Andino, one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet that few tourists ever truly discover.
The Chocó Andino is, in many ways, Ecuador’s best-kept secret: cloud forests where hundreds of endemic bird species coexist. These local communities have made conservation their way of life, and landscapes that stand in stark contrast to the postcard image usually associated with the country. Metropolitan Touring provides access to this territory with the care and respect it deserves, turning every visit into a genuine experience, far from mass tourism.
Culture, nature, gastronomy, and adventure — all with the comfort and safety of an operator that has spent decades perfecting every route.
Peru: The Depth That Discerning Travelers Seek
Machu Picchu is just the beginning. Metropolitan Touring designs experiences in Peru that go far beyond the standard circuit: sacred markets in the Colca Valley, Quechua communities where time seems to stand still, altiplano landscapes that take your breath away at sunrise, and a culinary scene that consistently ranks among the world’s finest.
For travelers who want to return home with more than photos — with perspective, with stories, with a genuine connection to the place they visited — Peru, operated by Metropolitan Touring, delivers exactly that.
The Strategic Partner Every Travel Advisor Needs
For agents and travel advisors, Metropolitan Touring is far more than a supplier. They are an ally who understands that your reputation is on the line every time you recommend a destination. Their team of specialists works directly with advisors to craft custom itineraries, anticipate complications, resolve issues in real time from the field, and ensure that every client has an experience that brings them back—and sends referrals.
They work with a wide range of traveler profiles: families seeking adventure with comfort, couples wanting luxury and privacy, expedition groups that demand logistical precision, or independent travelers who want depth without sacrificing ease. The answer is always the same: deep local knowledge, personalized attention from the first contact, and zero improvisation when it matters most.
At a time when travel advisors face growing demand for authentic and differentiated experiences, having Metropolitan Touring as your South America partner isn’t just a competitive advantage — it’s a guarantee.
Sustainability as a Standard, Not a Speech
In destinations as sensitive as the Galápagos or the Chocó Andino, the impact of tourism can be devastating without responsible management. Metropolitan Touring knows this better than anyone, which is why sustainability isn’t a section on their website — it’s the criterion behind every operational decision.
From how they design their routes to how they engage with local communities at each destination, every detail is considered so that travel enriches a place rather than exhausts it. For conscious travelers — and there are more of them every day — that’s the difference between an operator and the operator.
The Award Confirms It. The Experience Proves It.
Being named DMC of the Year: Rest of World at Ensemble Horizons 2026 is an extraordinary recognition in an industry that gives nothing away for free. But what truly defines Metropolitan Touring isn’t the award — it’s the traveler who returns home with a story they can’t stop telling, and the advisor who knows they can trust them time and time again.
If you’re ready to explore South America with the region’s best partner, Metropolitan Touring is the place to start.
