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Los Tuneles Tour

Best Snorkeling on Isabela: Lava Arches & Incredible Marine Life

Premuim Boat - $160
Economy Boat - $140
  • Nesting Blue-Footed Boobies
  • Snorkeling with Seahorses
  • Penguin Sightings

Isabelas’ Highlight: Los Tuneles Snorkeling Tour

Discover los Tuneles one of the highlights of the Galapagos Islands. This captivating destination offers something for everyone, from exploring unique lava formations with dancing blue-footed boobies on it, to crystal-clear pools with breathtaking marine life. Snorkel with sea turtles, Galápagos Penguins,  playful sea lions, and vibrant fish. Encounter white tip reef sharks and rays. Immerse yourself in the true beauty of Galapagos.

Our guests say Los Tuneles was the highlight of their trip – it’s the first tour to sell out. Don’t miss it!

Check Availability

Best time to Go:

All Year Around

Focus:

Lava Arches, Galapagos Penguins & Blue-footed Boobies & Seahorses

Availability:

7:30 or 11:30 Departure

Duration:

5-6 Hours

Small Groups:

Only 6 to 12 guests

Experience Level:

Easily Accessible for almost all ages. Requires Walking on uneven Terrain

What is included:

See here

Los Tuneles Day Tour Itinerary: What to Expect

The Journey Begins: From Isabela’s Coast to Roca Union

Your Los Tuneles adventure begins at our agency in the heart of Puerto Villamil, where we take care of everything before you head to the water. We will help you fit your snorkeling equipment, make sure everything is ready, and then take a taxi together to the port to board the boat. Once we leave the pier behind, the journey to Los Tuneles takes around 45 minutes. But don’t think of this as simply getting from A to B. The navigation itself can be one of the most exciting parts of the day. As we leave Isabela behind, keep your eyes on the open water. During the warmer months, mating manta rays can sometimes be spotted gliding near the surface, while the cooler season can bring larger visitors passing through the waters around the island. Whales, dolphins and, with exceptional luck, even orcas have been sighted along these waters. Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed, but the possibility of seeing something extraordinary is always part of the journey.

Our first stop is Roca Union, a dramatic volcanic rock rising from the ocean. It is a favored resting area for Nazca boobies, and you will often find them perched on the rocks alongside brown pelicans and sea lions. It is a short stop, but it gives you your first glimpse of the remarkable wildlife and volcanic landscapes that make Isabela so different from the other islands. From here, we continue toward Cabo Rosa and the entrance to Los Tuneles.

Roca Union on the way to los Tuneles. A ash cone from volcanic activity that now is home to Nazca and Blue-footed Boobies

Exploring Los Tuneles: Lava Bridges, Blue-Footed Boobies & Hidden Wildlife

Entering Los Tuneles is an experience in itself. The passage through the lava formations is narrow and technically demanding, so our experienced boat crew carefully navigates the entrance before the landscape suddenly opens up around you. Inside, the ocean becomes remarkably calm. The waves that you experienced during the open-water navigation are replaced by quiet, protected channels winding through one of Isabela’s most extraordinary volcanic landscapes.

As we navigate between the formations, lava bridges and tunnels begin appearing on both sides of the boat. Penguins perch on the dark volcanic rocks, herons can be spotted around their nests, and beneath the crystal-clear water you can often see green sea turtles and colorful fish moving through the channels.

Then we leave the boat behind and explore the formations on foot. The walk is relatively short, but the terrain is naturally uneven, and every few steps reveal something new. We make our way across ancient lava flows surrounded by opuntia cacti and unusual volcanic formations, following paths shaped by the same lava that once flowed from Sierra Negra Volcano before reaching the ocean. This is what makes Los Tuneles so unique. Nowhere else in the Galapagos will you find this particular combination of collapsed lava tunnels, natural bridges, shallow turquoise water and wildlife living among the formations.

And the wildlife is everywhere. Green sea turtles often move quietly through the channels beside the lava. Brown noddies peek from cracks and openings in the rocks. Along the way, we look for the famous blue-footed boobies that make Los Tuneles one of the best places in the Galapagos to observe these birds up close. Depending on the time of year, you may find boobies performing their elaborate courtship dances, sitting on eggs or carefully tending to their chicks. Seeing them going about their daily lives at such close range is one of the most memorable moments of the walk. Before leaving the formations, we stop in one of the most scenic areas to take photographs. Your guide will help capture those special moments, so you can take home more than just memories of the landscape. After the walk, we return to the boat and enjoy lunch surrounded by surrounded by this surreal volcanic scenery of Los Tuneles.

Lava Bridges towering above crystal-clear water at the visitor site Los Tuneles on Isabela Island

Snorkeling at Los Tuneles & El Finado: Turtles, penguins & Sea Horses

Before leaving Los Tuneles, when sea and weather conditions allow, we may make a short first snorkeling immersion. This optional stop usually lasts around 20–30 minutes and is less focused on wildlife and more on exploring the volcanic landscape beneath the surface. Swimming through the clear water, you can pass beneath underwater lava bridges and see how the formations continue below the surface. Lobsters, colorful fish, green sea turtles and eels can sometimes be spotted among the rocks. With a little luck, Galapagos penguins may appear underwater as well, while fur seals or sea lions can sometimes be found resting around the rocky outcrops.

We then continue by boat for around 10 minutes to El Finado, the main snorkeling area. Once anchored, we enter the water directly from the boat and immediately find ourselves in a completely different world. The protected channels and mangroves create an underwater maze filled with marine life. Green sea turtles are among the stars of the show, often swimming calmly through the shallow water or resting among the formations. Along the edges of the mangroves, baby blacktip reef sharks can often be seen cruising through the water. Look closely and your guide may help you spot another famous resident: the Pacific seahorse, one of the largest seahorse species in the world. But there is much more to discover. The maze-like channels hide octopuses among the rocks, while eagle rays and golden cow-nose rays glide effortlessly through the clear water. Parrotfish and brilliantly colored reef fish add flashes of color to the volcanic landscape.

As you explore farther, more lava tunnels begin to appear beneath the surface. Marble rays can seem to materialize from nowhere, sometimes lying motionless on the sandy bottom like living carpets. Large green turtles move through the channels, and in the darker lava caves you may find white-tip reef sharks resting peacefully. With a little luck, Galapagos penguins may also appear among the lava formations, darting through the water or resting on the rocks.

The main snorkeling session lasts close to an hour, giving you time to explore at a relaxed pace and look beyond the obvious. Your guide will point out animals that are easy to miss and help you understand the remarkable ecosystem you are swimming through.

After the snorkeling, we return to the boat for a freshwater rinse and snack before beginning the navigation back to Puerto Villamil.

Why Los Tuneles Is One of the Best Tours on Isabela Island

Los Tuneles brings together several of the experiences that make Isabela Island so special. Within a single day, you travel across open ocean, explore a remarkable volcanic landscape on foot and snorkel through calm, wildlife-rich channels. The experience stands out for its combination of:

  • Galápagos penguins in their natural habitat: Watch penguins resting on volcanic formations or, with luck, moving through the clear water around Los Tuneles.
  • Exceptional marine wildlife: Snorkel among green sea turtles, sharks, rays, seahorses, octopuses and colorful reef fish.
  • Blue-footed boobies up close: Observe these iconic birds resting, nesting and, depending on the season, performing their distinctive courtship dance.
  • One of the Galápagos’ most consistent snorkeling experiences: The protected waters around Los Tuneles and El Finado offer excellent conditions for observing marine life beneath the surface.
  • A remarkable volcanic landscape: Walk across ancient lava formations, natural bridges and collapsed tunnels created by volcanic flows from Sierra Negra.

Who Is the Los Tuneles Tour Best For?

  • Wildlife enthusiasts — Los Tuneles offers exceptional opportunities to observe blue-footed boobies, penguins, sea turtles, sharks, rays, seahorses and many other species at close range.
  • Families with children of all ages — The relatively short walking section, calm snorkeling areas and variety of activities make this a rewarding experience for both children and adults, while the day offers enough variety to keep everyone engaged.
  • Photography lovers — The combination of lava tunnels, turquoise water, nesting birds, sea turtles and dramatic volcanic formations creates exceptional opportunities for both wildlife and landscape photography.
  • Snorkeling enthusiasts — The clear, protected waters around Los Tuneles and El Finado make this one of the most consistent snorkeling experiences in the Galápagos, with an impressive variety of marine life concentrated in a relatively small area.
  • First-time visitors to the Galápagos — This tour brings together many of the experiences that make the islands special: volcanic landscapes, endemic wildlife, close encounters with marine animals and some of the archipelago’s most memorable snorkeling.
Humpback Whale

*Please not that the itinerary might switch between snorkeling or walking first, depending on the conditions of the day. The shorter snorkeling stop is only possible when sea and weather conditions are suitable and therefore is not included on every departure. 

Arev P.
It was the best trip of our entire journey
Los Tuneles was a magical experience. I almost cried because I was so excited. We learned so much from Carlos about the animals, the geology, habitat, and even the human history of Isabela.
Sara D.
Guide took Pictures and shared them
Our guide took lots of photos on the hike as well as the snorkel and shared the GoPro footage with the whole group on the boat ride back.
Maike B.
Very well organized
Stops were well regulated, with no waits or big crowds. We had a good lunch and a comfortable time on the boat. The arrangements were also well communicated.
Scott M.
Fantastic first Snorkeling Experience
Before this trip I had no snorkeling experience and my guide truly guided me through it. I was way more confident for the rest of our journey in the Galapagos.
Adam Z.
Our tour was nothing short of breathtaking
The dramatic lava formations and crystal-clear waters created the perfect setting for adventure. It's an experience we’ll treasure forever.
Justin B.
Small Group Size
Group sizes were very small and we never felt rushed, as photographers/videographers that was greatly appreciated!
Siva P.
Great Food and Comfort
The crew prepared delicious food, ensuring everyone was well-fed and comfortable. The team was extremely knowledgeable about the local wildlife. Pictures and videos were included!
Doro O.
Passionate Guides
Carlos & Darwin are such amazing guides who have an extremely great knowledge of Galapagos and its flora and fauna and are very happy to share it passionately with their guests.
Iris E.
Great Equipment & Guides
Excellent service and very high level equipment, tours and guides.
Lou N.
Great English & Super Friendly
Super friendly staff, great English-speaking tours, and they really go all out to make your visit as frictionless as possible.
Rob P.
Trip of a Lifetime
This was a trip of a lifetime for my son and I! Los tuneles...my personal favorite tour was simply breathtaking. Couldn't ask for better guides.
Kit T.
Buy the Upgrade!
Los Tuneles is a must. Book the upgrade and be on a nice big boat. The captain was able to find us an Orca!
Archie H.
Highlight of Our 3 Month South America Trip
We went with Agora to do the los túneles tour which was a highlight of my 3 month trip in South America. Our guide, Darwin was absolutely fantastic, informative, and friendly. Couldn’t recommend it enough.
Manjunath M.
Blue-Footed Boobies Dancing & Whales!
Thanks to Carlos, we got up close with a pair of blue-footed boobies and witnessed their fascinating mating ritual—something straight out of a NatGeo documentary. To top it off, on our way back, a humpback whale surfaced near our boat.

Which Los Tuneles Boat Is Right for You?

For Los Tuneles, you can choose between our First-Class Boat and our Standard Boat.

Both options visit the same Los Tuneles sites, offer the same opportunities for wildlife encounters, a fluent, bilingual guide and follow the same overall tour experience. The main difference is how you experience the journey there and back.

Standard

Dorada-1

Simple & Straightforward: Everything you need for a great day exploring the Galápagos — focused on the destination.

The Feeling

More lively and straightforward. A smaller boat gives you a closer feeling to the water and a more active journey.

The Journey

Usually a little shorter and more focused on getting you out to Los Tuneles and back.

The Guide

Excellent bilingual naturalist guides with strong knowledge of the islands, wildlife and local environment, making the experience both informative and engaging.

The Group

Smaller boat with less room, creating a more compact group experience - max. 12 guests.

Lunch

Delicious lunch prepared in advance and brought on board, since there is no kitchen.

Comfort

Less space and a more compact bathroom, but excellent open views from the boat for enjoying the scenery and spotting wildlife.

Los Tuneles

Same sites & same wildlife opportunities

Best for you if...

You want to experience the Galápagos in a simple, budget-friendly way and focus on the wildlife and landscapes.

First-class Boat
Lunch on the Golden Ray

First-Class

Comfort & Great Value: A well-balanced experience that combines comfort, space, and a relaxed pace without splurging.

The Feeling

More spacious, relaxed and comfortable from beginning to end.

The Journey

The larger boat makes for smoother navigation, giving you more freedom to relax and enjoy the scenery.

The Guide

Excellent bilingual naturalist guides who are especially praised by our guests for their knowledge, enthusiasm and personal way of bringing the Galápagos to life.

The Group

More space on board makes the experience feel less crowded and gives you more room to find your own spot - max. 12 guests.

Lunch

Warm lunch freshly prepared in the onboard kitchen — another little part of the experience to enjoy while you're out on the water.

Comfort

More space to move around, smoother navigation, indoor and outdoor areas, a top observation deck and a more spacious bathroom.

Los Tuneles

Same sites & same wildlife opportunities

Best for you if...

You want to feel comfortable and relaxed throughout the day — and enjoy the journey, not just the destination.

Inclusions

  • Experienced Naturalist Guide
  • Land- & Maritime Transportation
  • Delicious Lunch (vegetarian & vegan options)
  • Snorkeling Equipment
  • Wetsuits (long or short)
  • Snacks & Drinks
  • Towels
  • Unique Pictures & Memories to take home
  • WiFi (First-class Boat)
  • Gratitudes for Crew & Guide
  • Additional Services
  • Alcoholic Beverages

What can I discover at Los Tuneles?

What should I pack for the Los Tuneles Tour?

Sun Protection & Glasses

Bring a wide-brimmed hat (recommendable with a string), sunglasses & reef-safe sun screen

Swim Wear/Rashguard

We highly recommend a Rashguard against the high radiation.

Camera/Go Pro

Capture your adventures and take home the best souvenir possible

Rain Jacket (Optional)

A rain jacket during the rainy season and for early morning Garúa is recommended. A hoodie helps you keep warm during the cold months.

Good Walking Shoes

Choose stable walking shoes. The path is uneven.

Refillable Water Bottle

Bring a refillable Water Bottle to stay hydrate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes—especially if you want to combine exceptional snorkeling with some of Isabela’s most unique volcanic landscapes and wildlife encounters.

Los Túneles is unlike most snorkeling tours in the Galápagos. The journey takes you through a remarkable landscape of lava arches, tunnels, and shallow channels formed by ancient volcanic eruptions, creating a sheltered environment where marine life is often remarkably close to the surface.

The snorkeling is a major highlight. In the clear waters around Los Túneles, you can encounter sea turtles, white-tip reef sharks, rays, penguins, sea lions, tropical fish, and, with a little luck, the famous Galápagos seahorse. The experience doesn’t end at Los Túneles: the tour continues to a second snorkeling location, giving you another opportunity to explore Isabela’s underwater world.

What makes the experience particularly special is the combination of wildlife and landscape. During the walk across the lava formations, you can observe blue-footed boobies and other coastal wildlife among the arches and channels, before returning to the water for another close-up encounter with Galápagos marine life.

If you’re mainly looking for a challenging hike or a tour focused exclusively on one particular animal, another excursion may suit you better. But if you want one of Isabela Island’s most distinctive experiences—with volcanic scenery, excellent snorkeling, and abundant wildlife all in the same day—Los Túneles is well worth including in your Galápagos itinerary.

Los Túneles is one of the best places on Isabela Island to get close to Galápagos marine life, with excellent opportunities for both underwater and land-based wildlife encounters.

Depending on the season, sea conditions, and the animals’ natural behavior, you may encounter:

  • Galápagos seahorses – Los Túneles is particularly well known for seahorse sightings, and our guides know where to look for these remarkably well-camouflaged animals.

  • Sea turtles – Green sea turtles are frequently encountered while snorkeling in the calm, shallow waters around the lava formations.

  • White-tip reef sharks – These harmless sharks often rest beneath the lava arches and in the deeper channels.

  • Galápagos penguins – Isabela is one of the best islands to encounter these small and endangered penguins, both in and around the water.

  • Sea lions – Curious and playful sea lions may join you in the water during snorkeling.

  • Rays – Eagle rays, golden rays, and other species can sometimes be seen gliding across the sandy bottom.

  • Blue-footed boobies – During the walk across the lava formations, you can often observe these iconic birds nesting and fishing around the tunnels.

  • Tropical fish and other marine life – The sheltered waters support a surprising variety of reef fish and smaller marine species.

Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and every visit to Los Túneles is different. Part of what makes the experience so special is that you’re exploring a genuinely wild environment rather than visiting a fixed wildlife attraction. Our guides continually look for wildlife throughout the excursion, both above and below the water, giving you the best possible chance of encountering the species that call this unique part of Isabela home.

Los Tuneles is as popular as it is because of its consistent wildlife sightings throughout the whole year, no matter what time of day. The animals choose this area specifically to hide away from bigger predators lurking in the outside open water. Therefore, there is no real difference between the two departures when it comes to animals. Animals only start disappearing if they are getting bothered by tourists too much (please stick to the rules and orders of the guide) and when food is short/earthquakes have been happening close by. Those conditions do not change within a single day. If you want to see more of the rock formations above water at Los Tuneles, we recommend the departure closer to low tight. The difference, however, is minimal. Check in with us in case if you are unsure.

Yes, if your kids are decent swimmers, we recommend this trip for its diverse sights and very calm waters in the snorkeling area. We recommend that they are at least 6 years old, however, we have already had smaller kids participating in the tour. It always depends on your child’s abilities and confidence levels. We always provide kids masks, fins and life vests to keep your little ones safe and happy.

The navigation is 45 minutes short, and most of the year it is calm. To get the very best experience out of it, we recommend the first-class boat, as it offers smoother navigation.

The 7:30 departure is back around 13:30, and the 11:00 departure will be back around 17:00.

Ferry: You should be able to reach the afternoon ferry back to Santa Cruz if you book the 7:30 departure.

Flight: Flights many times depart at 14:00 to San Cristobal, with the check-in at 13:00. Therefore, we do not encourage booking your Los Tuneles trip just before.

Trip to Tintoreras: You might consider staying straight at the pier if you plan on a trip to Tintoreras.

Please note that, depending on what we see and the conditions of the ocean, the tour can take a bit longer. We do not take responsibility for missed trips or transport except if they have been properly communicated and booked with us in advance.

This again is a highly personal perception. The navigation is most of the year calm and takes no longer than 45 minutes. Most people tolerate the navigation well. Should you have experienced seasickness before, we recommend taking non-drowsy motion sickness medicine and choosing the first-class boat for a smoother ride.

Our Los Tuneles tours operate with three boats—the Dorada, the Golden Ray and the Tropical—each assigned a specific schedule by the National Park, which we strictly follow. Here’s how it works:

  • Dorada (standard boat) operates from Tuesday to Monday, with Tuesdays and Wednesdays as rest days.
  • Golden Ray (first-class boat) operates Monday through Friday, with Saturday and Sunday as rest days (dedicated to other destinations).
  • Each week, the boats alternate departure times: Either 7:30 AM or 11:30 AM.

In rare cases, if these boats are fully booked, we may reassign passengers to another boat that meets the same standards. To help our clients confirm availability, we provide a link to our Google Calendar showing the exact itinerary and schedule for Los Tuneles. Please check the calendar (instructions below) and confirm the schedule before booking if unsure, as missed trips due to scheduling errors cannot be refunded or rescheduled.

If in doubt, contact us. We are here to help.

No, the availability shown in our booking tool does not reflect real-time capacity for our boats. As a small business, it isn’t technically impossible for us to display instant updates. This means that although you may be able to book a trip online, it’s possible that we are already fully booked. If this happens, we will contact you as soon as possible to offer an alternative or process a full refund right away. To reduce this risk, we limit online bookings for our most in-demand tours by setting a specific “Available Until …” (see on the right).

You will need a wetsuit for los Tuneles depending on the season and your perception of temperature.

From January to April you will on average not need a wetsuit.

During the transition months (December and May), we recommend a short wetsuit if you get cold quickly.

From June to November we highly recommend a long wetsuit. Should you be resistant to the cold, we still recommend a short wetsuit.

No, one overnight stay is required and here is why:

  • The boats to los Tuneles leave at 7:30 and are back at 13:30, or leave at 11:00 and are back at 17:00.
  • The morning ferries from Santa Cruz arrive at 9:30, while the afternoon departure requires a check-in latest at 14:15.

If you want to stay just one night on Isabela and visit los Tuneles you have the following options (check our availability first):

  • Arrival with the afternoon ferry from Santa Cruz, one overnight stay, departure to los Tuneles at 7:30 and you can take the afternoon ferry at 15:00 back to Santa Cruz
  • Arrival with the morning ferry from Santa Cruz, departure to los Tuneles at 11:00, one overnight stay and departure with the morning ferry at 6:00.

The alternative tour that you can do within the same day is Las Tintoreras, but we discourage it in general, as it is an incredibly long navigation in comparison to the tour length. Additionally, it drains Isabela’s resources without benefiting our local economy, as the profits stay on Santa Cruz.

No, at Los Tuneles it is only allowed to snorkel, no scuba diving. The water is about 4 meters deep at the deepest point of the area, so scuba diving would not add any benefit to your experience.

Both boats welcome a maximum of 12 guests and include snorkeling gear, towels, snacks, drinks, and GoPro photos to capture your adventure. You’ll also enjoy the guidance of experienced, passionate naturalist guides on both options.

The main difference lies in the level of comfort. Our first-class boat offers a significantly more spacious and stable experience — perfect for those who value smooth sailing and a touch of luxury. With a large sundeck ideal for wildlife observation and freshly prepared meals served on board, it’s designed to make every moment memorable. In comparison, the standard boat provides a more basic setup, including a box lunch and more limited onboard space.

Reserve your tour to Tuneles Now

Important: Departure Times

The Galapagos National Park assigns fixed schedules to all boats operating in the islands. This means:

– Each boat follows a weekly schedule alternating between 7:30 and 11:00.

– Departure times are tied to the boat category you select. You get automatically booked onto the departure time of the corresponding boat category. The schedule you can find here: Golden Ray/Dorada. 

If you’re unsure about the schedule or have questions, contact us before booking. We’re here to help!

Availability shown on our website is indicative and does not reflect real-time capacity. Contact us, if you need to have spots confirmed for specific dates.

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