I woke up early in the morning, excited to visit Los Tuneles on Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos. I had heard that it was a strange place, and I couldn’t wait to see it for myself.

I was taken there by a local guide who drove his car from Puerto Ayora hotel to the entrance of the park. The drive took about 30 minutes, and along the way we saw some amazing Pacific scenery. There were lush green forests, dead volcanoes, and sparkling blue oceans. It rains or misty in this area of the Santa Cruz Island.

When we arrived at the park. Entrance fee was included with  my payment to the local guide who spoke fine English and started our hike. The hike was about 20 minutes long, and it was not too challenging. The trail is not paved, but rocky, and there were some parts where we had to climb over rocks.

The views from the trail were unbelievable and strange. We could see the ocean below us, and we could also see another island in the Galapagos archipelago.

Finally, we reached Los Tuneles. It was even more striking than I had imagined. There were large, round tunnels that stretched for hundreds of feet. The tunnels were made of black lava, and they were illuminated by strings of light bulbs for the safety of the visitors. We walked standing straight. There is green moss growing around the light bulbs.

We spent about an hour exploring the tunnels. We walked through them, we climbed on the rocks, and we took pictures. It was an amazing experience, and I’m so glad that I had the chance to visit Los Tuneles.

Here are some tips for visiting Los Tuneles:

Wear comfortable shoes that are good for hiking.

Bring a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from the equatorial sun.

Bring a camera to capture the remarkable scenery and the giant tortoises.

Be prepared for a bit of a challenge.  There are some parts where you have to climb over rocks.

But don’t let that stop you! Los Tuneles is a truly unique and beautiful place, and it’s definitely worth the effort. I paid my guide $100 for his service. He walked with me all the way down and took the photos for me.

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Tags: #islasantacruz #LosTuneles, #lavatunnels #tortoises #galapagos #PurtoAyora