South America Snorkeling Cruises & Packages Tours & Trips

What travelers are saying

"Because of the pandemic, we had to reschedule our cruise from July of 2020 to December 2020. Airlines were not flying out of our city to Manaus in December, so we had to cancel our cruise and asked for a refund, and was denied. I would never work with this cruise line again."

What travelers are saying

"First, let me say our tour guide Tomomi S. is hands down THE best tour guide I’ve ever had - knowledgeable, fun and made great efforts to ensure that we were comfortable and happy (MTSobek tour guides are independent contractors. Tomomi also works for other Adventure/Tour companies) Secondly, Japan is beautiful, clean and the Japanese people are very welcoming. The hiking in the national parks was amazing. It could have been a truly five-star experience if MtSobek had not cut corners so egregiously. The website said (at the time) group tours are 5-22 people. The tour gets canceled if the minimum is not met. When I paid there were TWO other people booked-a mother and daughter duo. Shortly before our departure date I called to see if the tour would be cancelled. I wanted my money back but Mt Sobek was “pleased to say that the trip would not be canceled”. In other words, I could not get a refund. At the last minute a guy named Matt signed up so there were four of us. Five days into the trip Matt left and took a train back to Tokyo. I said to him “You realize Mt Sobek is not going to refund you”. He said, “I don’t care, Mt Sobek scammed us.” With tax, the tour costs $11,645 for 13 nights. For that price there is an expectation that the accommodations Mt Sobek chooses would be decent and clean. We all fully expected a ‘traditional Japanese experience’ which often means no private bath and 8 out of the 13 nights we slept on futon mats on the floor. However, Mt Sobek consistently booked us in the cheapest Ryokans (hotels) in each area in which we travelled. Most of these hotels were unclean and very out-dated. One Ryokan they booked us in was listed on a hotel website for $40 USD/night when there were much nicer accommodations nearby for $100 USD/night. (The Japanese yen is way down, the luxury Park Hotel in Tokyo was $200 USD/night. A comparable hotel would have been about $800/night in Austin.). We were the only people staying in several hotels that accomadated many more people. The most egregious example of MtSobek’s booking the cheapest rooms is when we were booked at a large traditional ski lodge at the base of a spectacular mountain. It was beautiful on the website but had two very different wings. One wing was modern, clean and beautiful with simple beds. The other wing was very old (similar to a cheap Motel 6 that had not been updated since the 1970’s). The carpet and bathrooms were disgusting and like many of the Ryocans where we stayed the futon mats seemed as though they had not been cleaned In 30 years. Only after our tour guide checked us in did we realize we had been booked in the cheap rooms. I asked Tomo why. Immediately someone from MtSobek reached out to me and said, “gosh, I’m sorry you did not realize you were going to have a traditional Japanese experience”. Really? “Traditional” experience depends upon one’s budget. In the US, “traditional” to some people may be the Marriott, a Motel 6 or the Four Seasons Hotels. We were paying for a Marriott experience and received the one-star Motel 6 experience. Upon arrival in Tokyo I expected to be met at the airport by a driver (as many tour companies do). However, several days before our arrival dates in Tokyo, MtSobek sent an email telling us how to locate taking a city bus from the bustling Tokyo airport. That is interesting if you do not speak Japanese. MtSobek cleverly uses great photography and elaborate descriptions of the national parks and the hiking while using terms like “traditional Japanese experience with tatami-mat sleeping” to disguise sub-standard accommodations. At one point we were looking on-line at the very hotel where we were staying and did not even recognize it from the website pictures. The hiking was amazing. The group size was disappointing with just the three of us. I would absolutely recommend a hiking tour through Japan, just not with MtSobek."

What travelers are saying

"We would highly recommend seeing the Galapagos Islands on the Santa Cruz II operated by Metropolitan Touring. The 90 passenger ship was very nice with lots of pleasant common space to relax when you were on board - a large library, bar, lovely outdoor covered deck area. The food and service were very good. All the staff seemed eager to please. There is a medical doctor on board the entire time. Transportation to/from each island was very well organized so there was very little idle waiting time. Our naturalist guide, Lola, was excellent. She was extremely knowledge and made sure we saw and learned as much as possible. There was a morning and afternoon activity every day so your time seeing wildlife was maximized. Sea kayaking and mountain biking were also offered, and there is a glass bottom boat for those who don't want to snorkel. Metropolitan also arranged our hotel accommodations and transportation to/from the airport. We were completely satisfied with everything."

What travelers are saying

"Back from one of the most amazing place in the world! Spent 8 days on the Passion Ship and I highly suggest it to those who want to visit the Galápagos Islands! amazing service! Thank you!"

What travelers are saying

"We would highly recommend seeing the Galapagos Islands on the Santa Cruz II operated by Metropolitan Touring. The 90 passenger ship was very nice with lots of pleasant common space to relax when you were on board - a large library, bar, lovely outdoor covered deck area. The food and service were very good. All the staff seemed eager to please. There is a medical doctor on board the entire time. Transportation to/from each island was very well organized so there was very little idle waiting time. Our naturalist guide, Lola, was excellent. She was extremely knowledge and made sure we saw and learned as much as possible. There was a morning and afternoon activity every day so your time seeing wildlife was maximized. Sea kayaking and mountain biking were also offered, and there is a glass bottom boat for those who don't want to snorkel. Metropolitan also arranged our hotel accommodations and transportation to/from the airport. We were completely satisfied with everything."

What travelers are saying

"I just returned from Aurora’s NW passage trip from Greenland to Nome Alaska. I wish to warn potential passengers that out of 26 sea days, we had 10 landings, out of which we were free to walk on our own once. The director,Ashley, told passengers on day one that if they disobeyed her, they would be confined to their cabin. When we got to Alaska, Aurora had not hired sufficient personnel with US licenses to allow for any landings. So we were 60 miles out at sea for almost a week and could not even see the shoreline. Much of the controlling behavior of Ashley was in the guise of safety from the polar bears, but her behavior was over the top. Also the head bear rifle guy, Nils, screamed at passengers on shore at the top of his lungs when they were a few feet off a poorly marked trail in a flat landscape with at least a mile visibility in all directions. He also screamed at passengers to rush over uneven ground because of a bear in the distance. This is just plain dangerous for 70 -80 year old passengers. I have traveled extensively, including an Antarctic cruise, and never had such an unpleasant experience. Even considered bailing out from Cambridge Bay partway through the cruise. Customers beware. You have been warned."

What travelers are saying

"Dive Adventures are so awsome they helped me organise an amazing island trip in the Solomon islands, was one of the best scuba trips iv ever done , the DA team where so helpful with flights and all bookings involved with the trip, now I only book scuba trips with them �"

What travelers are saying

"Jill is a delight! From the initial conversation our experience was nothing but pleasurable! Every question was responded to quickly and thoroughly. Our Tanzanian Safari was beyond wonderful. Flights, accommodations, cuisine and our guide was 5 star plus! We look forward to many more wonderful adventures!"