Terms and Conditions
General Terms
These general terms apply to every booking made with MetroJourneys / Metropolitan Touring or directly with our hotels.
Who these terms apply to
The conditions described in this document are valid for direct customer bookings. Previously negotiated conditions for travel agencies, tour operators, or groups remain governed by the specific agreement signed with those partners, unless otherwise stated.
Third-party suppliers
Any service we arrange that is not owned and operated by Metropolitan Touring (for example, airlines, third-party hotels, or local providers in destinations we do not directly operate) is subject to the policies and conditions of the supplier in question. Your destination expert can share the specific terms that apply to any third-party service in your itinerary.
Travel insurance
We strongly recommend that every guest purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes a “cancellation for any reason” clause. Travel insurance is the most reliable way to protect yourself against unforeseen circumstances that fall outside our cancellation policies.
Right to modify these terms
Metropolitan Touring reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions at its sole discretion and without prior notice. The version in effect at the time of your booking applies to your reservation.
Rates, taxes, and currency
All published rates are in US dollars and are subject to change without notice prior to booking confirmation. Applicable taxes are not included in published rates unless explicitly stated.
Fuel surcharges
Metropolitan Touring reserves the right to apply a fuel supplement, without prior notice, if the closing price of West Texas Intermediate Fuel on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index) rises above USD 70 per barrel. If applied, this surcharge applies to both new and existing bookings, regardless of whether they have already been paid in full. The supplement will not exceed USD $30.00 per passenger per day.
Deals and promotions
All benefits, deals, and promotions advertised on our website apply only to reservations made directly with one of our sales executives.
Itinerary and vessel changes
All fares, offers, programs, and itineraries are subject to change without notice, and Metropolitan Touring reserves the right to correct any errors or omissions. Galápagos and mainland itineraries are subject to change due to weather conditions, logistical reasons, guest safety, and Galápagos National Park regulations. Because we operate within the Galápagos National Park (whose rules and regulations are set by park authorities) and within the operational constraints of a maritime environment, we reserve the right to cancel, alter, advance, postpone, or substitute any scheduled sailing or itinerary, replace the scheduled vessel with another, or substitute or cancel scheduled island visits when, in our sole judgment, doing so is justified. No liability attaches to such changes. Yacht itineraries may also change due to vessel availability or mechanical issues. In such cases, we will provide the service aboard another yacht authorized by the Galápagos National Park.
Force majeure
Neither Metropolitan Touring nor any of our properties will be liable for failure to perform any obligation when prevented by causes outside our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural events, government or park-authority decisions, strikes, public health emergencies, mechanical failures, or any other event qualifying as force majeure.
Booking, payment and cancellation policies
This section applies to bookings made through Metro Journeys / Metropolitan Touring for any combination of our owned products: Yacht La Pinta, Yacht Isabela II. Any third-party services included in your itinerary are governed by the supplier’s own policies — your destination expert can provide those details.
Payment
• A 15% deposit per person is required to confirm your booking.
• The remaining balance is due 60 days before the start of your trip.
• For departures during peak season (Christmas and New Year cruises), a non-refundable deposit of 25% is required, and the balance is due 120 days before services begin.
• All deposits are non-refundable. If you need to cancel or postpone, see the cancellation terms below.
Package terms
Our packages offer a special rate for all activities included. These rates are based on a specific itinerary and accommodation set; the included activities cannot be changed, and the package cannot be separated into individual services. If guests choose not to participate in any activity included in the package, no discount or rate difference will be applied.
Standard cancellations
(Yacht La Pinta, Yacht Isabela II):
• Cancellation from the booking date until 61 days before services begin: the 15% deposit is retained as a cancellation fee. This deposit cannot be transferred to another booking.
• Cancellation between 60 days and 0 days before services begin: 100% of the booking is charged as a cancellation fee.
Peak-season cancellations
(Christmas and New Year departures):
• Cancellation from the booking date until 121 days before services begin: the 25% deposit is retained as a cancellation fee.
• Cancellation between 120 days and 0 days before services begin: 100% of the booking is charged as a cancellation fee.
Land services
(transfers, day tours, hotel nights outside the products listed above):
• Cancellation between 15 days and 4 days before services begin: 50% of the total service is charged.
• Cancellation between 3 days and 0 days before services begin: 100% of the total service is charged, plus any cancellation fees applied directly by the supplier (airline, hotel, or other).
Third-party products in the Galápagos
All third-party services are governed by the policies and conditions of the operating supplier. Your destination expert will share those terms with you.
Travel to the Galápagos
The following terms apply to any guest traveling to the Galápagos Islands as part of a Metropolitan Touring product.
Travel documents
Please make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your trip date. This is required to enter Ecuador and the Galápagos.
Required taxes and fees
When traveling to the Galápagos, you will need to pay the following directly to the local authorities, in cash only:
• Ingala Transit Control Card — USD 20 per person, purchased at Quito or Guayaquil airport before your flight to the Galápagos.
• Galápagos National Park entrance fee — USD 200 per person, paid at Seymour Airport on Baltra Island upon arrival. Please bring the exact amount, as card payments are not accepted.
Air travel to the Galápagos
Metropolitan Touring guarantees air space for all our Galápagos products: Yacht La Pinta and Yacht Isabela II. We strongly recommend booking your flights through Metropolitan Touring. Our flight service includes economy-class travel between Quito or Guayaquil and the Galápagos, along with the applicable transfers Page 9 in Galápagos between the airport and the pier or hotel. If you choose to book your flights independently, they must be on the same flights we operate. Otherwise, we cannot guarantee transfers or coordination with your itinerary. All flight rates are subject to change without prior notice until booking confirmation, and fuel surcharges may apply.
Baggage allowance
Flights to the Galápagos have strict baggage limits. When flights are issued by Metropolitan Touring, baggage is handled in accordance with the airlines’ regulations and tariffs. Baggage exceeding the standard allowance is subject to the airline’s excess-baggage charges.
The standard allowance is:
• 1 checked bag of up to 23 kg (51 lb)
• 1 carry-on of up to 8 kg (17 lb)
• 1 personal item (handbag, camera bag, laptop, or similar)
Packing
All baggage must be securely packed and clearly labeled. Liquid, fragile, perishable, or otherwise unsuitably packed items are transported at the guest’s own risk. Prohibited items — including but not limited to explosives, firearms, combustible substances, or illegal substances — must not be brought aboard any aircraft or vessel under any circumstances.
Liability
Metropolitan Touring is not responsible for loss of or damage to baggage or personal items during air travel. We recommend that you carry travel documents (passport, visa, tickets), medications, and valuables with you at all times. These items remain the guest’s full responsibility, and Metropolitan Touring is not responsible for their loss or damage. On board the vessel, Baggage will not be stored unless the owner is also on board. Baggage and personal belongings are removed from the vessel at the time of guest disembarkation. We are not responsible for baggage left in shoreside facilities. Lost and found Metropolitan Touring reserves the right to charge for the return of personal items left on board or subsequently found.
Restricted items in the Galápagos
The Galápagos National Park operates a quarantine system to prevent the introduction of foreign species into the archipelago. All cargo and luggage arriving in the Galápagos or being transferred between islands are subject to inspection by local authorities. To protect human health and the native species of the islands, the following items may not be brought into the Galápagos:
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Animal products and their derivatives
• Dairy products
• Live animals
• Pathological samples
• Dry coffee beans
• Genetically modified organisms
• Forest species or their disseminating parts
• Grass or its disseminating parts
• Fresh flowers
• Medicinal plants or their disseminating parts
• Banana tree leaves
• Micro-organisms (including fungi and bacteria)
• Soil and sand
• Animal vaccines
Contact
If you have any questions about these terms, your booking, or any of our policies, please contact your destination expert.
Metropolitan Touring
www.metropolitan-touring.com · operations@metropolitan-touring.com
24/7 Assistance during your trip: +593 99 972 2942