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Metropolitan Touring proudly offers the most comprehensive Galapagos tours available, tailored perfectly for families, couples, divers, photographers, and luxury travelers. With over 70+ years of experience, we excel in crafting unforgettable adventures in the Galapagos Islands, led by our expert naturalist guides certified by the Galapagos National Park.
Our Galapagos tours take you deep into the heart of the archipelago’s extraordinary wildlife, where you’ll encounter giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, and marine iguanas in their natural habitats. Our all-inclusive Galapagos packages take care of everything—meals, excursions, and transfers—ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience.
Elevate your journey further with exclusive stays at Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel, Casa Gangotena Boutique Hotel in Quito, Mashpi Lodge in the Cloudforest, or unforgettable add-ons to Machu Picchu. Don’t wait—our 2026 Galapagos tours are filling up fast.
Talk with our destination experts today and start planning your extraordinary adventure!
Join a 12-day Machu Picchu & Galapagos tour. Explore iconic destinations, cruise on a luxury yacht, stay in top hotels, and enjoy expert-guided tours.
Take a peek at the Galapagos Islands travel packages and find your perfect adventure! From guided excursions with certified naturalists to seamless planning by our expert team, every Galapagos trip is tailored to your budget, duration, and dream destinations.
Three Yachts. One Standard of Discovery. By Metropolitan Touring.
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Are you overwhelmed by the number of options for Galapagos tours you’ve seen? Do you need help planning your trip to the Galapagos? Do you want to choose the best Galapagos cruise to ensure you have the most amazing trip? Or are you still wondering what, exactly, makes the islands so unique?
Talk to one of our Destination Experts for the best Galapagos Tour Tips and Information!
The Galapagos Islands are a once-in-a-lifetime experience—all you need to do to “prepare” for them is brace yourself for the amazing! With highly unusual wildlife and otherworldly landscapes found nowhere else on Earth, the Galapagos dazzles with its vistas. Sunsets will cast a golden spotlight over the surrounding beaches and scenery, while our world-class chef prepares delectable gourmet meals.
On top of all this, you’ll also be treated to a luxurious experience, where every detail has been thought of before you even consider it. Naturalist Guides will provide the perfect touch of an insightful narrative to complement your expedition activities throughout the archipelago as you snap hundreds of beautiful pictures. There are often so many different things to see throughout our comprehensive Galapagos itineraries that it is essential to receive the proper advice from a Destination Expert!
Speaking about expertise, be sure to read this blog on the Best Galapagos Cruise Hacks (as well as our other one about which types of Galapagos cruises to avoid and the curiosities about Galapagos)! From a myriad of options, choosing the right one can be challenging— that’s why we’ve narrowed them down for you.
You’ve dreamt of it for a lifetime.
The Galapagos Islands are a place where history has been made. Over the course of centuries, it was home to pirates and whalers, but primarily to highly unusual fauna that served as the inspiration for Darwin’s theory, as presented in On the Origin of Species.
It’s also one of the few places on Earth where the wildlife shows no fear of humans, meaning you can observe it from just a few meters away. You’ll want to see and do everything! But with so many options available in this magical, exhilarating, and iconic destination, be aware that there are some trade-offs when it comes to choosing from all the Galapagos Tours out there.
You can visit the Galapagos Islands at any time of the year and still have an unforgettable experience. The weather is consistently fantastic, and the wildlife is always on display. When deciding when to go, consider which Galapagos tour best suits your preferences. Before booking your tour, it’s crucial to have a clear idea of how you want to experience the Galapagos.
Don’t hesitate to ask us about the best Galapagos Tour Tips, and be sure to check out our Galapagos Tour Deals!
We offer an unparalleled experience through activities that let you explore your destinations and live an adventure surrounded by magical nature. With Metropolitan Touring, you’re guaranteed the best Galapagos Islands Tours and the foundation for truly unforgettable experiences.
So, don’t think twice—check out our comprehensive Galapagos Islands Tours for the experience of a lifetime!
Live. Feel. Explore. Relax.
The Galapagos archipelago is located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 1,000 km (620 miles) west of mainland Ecuador. It straddles the equator and consists of 18 main islands, 3 smaller islands, and 107 rocks and islets, all volcanic in origin. The archipelago is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an Ecuadorian National Park.
The Galapagos Islands experience two main seasons influenced by ocean currents:
There are two ways to see the Galapagos Islands: a liveaboard expedition cruise, where the yacht moves between islands while you sleep, or a land-based island-hopping tour from a hotel inside the National Park. Metropolitan Touring offers both, led by Galápagos National Park-certified naturalist guides.
The official currency is the U.S. dollar — Ecuador adopted it in 2000. Major credit cards are accepted at hotels, on cruises, and at most restaurants in Puerto Ayora. Cash in small denominations is useful for the $200 Galápagos National Park Entrance Fee and the $20 INGALA Transit Control Card.
Galapagos tours start at roughly USD $4,00 for a 5-day island-hopping itinerary and USD $6,000 for a 7-day cruise. Prices cover all guided excursions, naturalist guides, meals, and inter-island transfers.
We can also assist with domestic flights. Please note that the Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee ($200 USD) and the INGALA Transit Control Card ($20 USD) are payable upon arrival.
The name comes from the Spanish word galápago, meaning “saddle” — a reference to the saddle-shaped shells of the giant tortoises Spanish sailors encountered when they discovered the islands in 1535. The full original name was Las Islas Galápagos, “The Islands of the Tortoises.”
Spanish is the official language of Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. English is widely spoken in the tourism industry — every Metropolitan Touring naturalist guide is fluent in English, and all onboard briefings and itineraries are conducted in English.
Quichua and other Indigenous languages are also spoken on the mainland.
The Galapagos Islands are on Galápagos Time (GALT, UTC−6) — one hour behind mainland Ecuador (UTC−5). The Galápagos do not observe daylight saving time. From the U.S. East Coast, Galápagos time is one hour behind Eastern Standard and three hours ahead of Pacific Standard.
All our expedition yachts are family-friendly yachts — the largest in our fleet, with the widest range of onboard activities and naturalist guides who adapt the day to mixed ages. Finch Bay, our hotel inside the National Park, suits families who prefer a fixed base. Children 6 and up are welcome.
Every Galápagos tour starts on the mainland of Ecuador and connects via a roughly 2-hour domestic flight to Baltra (GPS) or San Cristóbal (SCY). Galápagos tours from Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE) are the standard route. Galápagos cruises leave from Baltra or San Cristóbal — the same airports cruise passengers fly into.
Our naturalist guides always have a pair of binoculars that will be available for use. Feel free to bring your own if you are really into wildlife viewing, though!
A good pair of walking shoes, ideally with a good level of traction and grip on the bottom.
Batteries, weatherproof camera bags, and extra memory cards will come in handy. Waterproof housings will be necessary if you wish to take your camera underwater.
Flash photography is not permitted when taking photos of wildlife. Professional photography and videos recorded for commercial purposes must be authorized by the Galapagos National Park. Drones can only be used with a special permit.
Yes! You’ll really want a pair of goggles to properly enjoy everything that the Galapagos offers underwater. But don’t worry! Snorkeling gear is provided free of charge on our cruises!
No. Sports fishing is prohibited inside the Marine Reserve. Local fishermen are allowed to fish, however.
Of course! Check out this blog on our Top 7 Galapagos Books.
Yes. In fact, we sell these on our ships and you can find them on the inhabited islands!
Environmental and Community Responsibility are essential components of our operations
“Melissa has been fantastic! She answers all my questions, gets back to me quickly, and has mapped out a wonderful trip for us. I couldn’t be happier with the service I have received.”
– Mary Kabat
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