Cruise & Ferry Review - Spring/Summer 2021

6 4 Metropolitan Touring has also been actively involved in helping Galapagos National Park and local government authorities to establish protocols for cruising in the region over the past several months. “We work very closely with the National Park authorities, as well as local government authorities, to ensure our operations comply with and surpass all the regulations,” says Burbano de Lara. “We’ve been able to support the Galapagos population in many aspects over the past few months, including with managing the logistics of delivering medical supplies and improving medical facilities in the islands’ towns. We have our own supply and administrative offices in Puerto Ayora, the main hub for tourism in the archipelago, and can therefore react extremely quickly to events on the ground, while ensuring a smooth supply chain through to the ships.” Almost 50 years on from its first cruise, it’s clear that Metropolitan Touring remains true to its original vision. “We have always believed creating fulfilling and life-affirming experiences in the Galapagos’ natural sanctuary is the key to our success,” says Burbano de Lara. “We have learned, improved, refined the guest experience, growing our expertise constantly.” For passengers, the appeal of an expedition cruise designed by Metropolitan Touring remains constant despite recent global events. “Our itineraries are based on the concept of seeing as many of the ‘Big 15’ species as possible while a guest travels with us, rather than typical cruise criteria. We only visit the sites approved by the Galapagos National Park. It’s worth noting there are 183 visitor sites and only four inhabited ports in the archipelago, so you’re amid nature nearly all the time when expedition cruising around the islands.” According to Burbano de Lara, the natural and historical significance of the Galapagos will sustain the island’s appeal in a post-Covid world. “It’s one of the most attractive destinations in the world – it’s wild, far from any crowds, safe and biosecure, and it offers incomparable encounters with nature,” she explains. “The Galapagos has, historically, been highly regulated and controlled and this care for the islands and its inhabitants has only been reinforced by the authorities as a result of the coronavirus.” CFR Giving guests opportunities to get up close to wildlife is a key priority on every Metropolitan Touring itinerary INTERV IEW “ Our long experience in the Galapagos has enabled us to design the ideal way to explore the archipelago”