Honest Los Tuneles Isabela Galapagos Tour Review – Is It Worth It?
TL;DR
Swim with turtles, sharks, sea lions, and even penguins – our Los Tuneles tour on Isabela Island was a bucket list dream come true, and we’re sharing the full experience!
Thinking about booking the Los Tuneles snorkelling tour on Isabela Island, but not sure if it’s worth it?
That’s why we’re sharing our first-hand review of the Los Tuneles tour – what the itinerary looks like, the wildlife we spotted, and whether it lived up to the hype.
If you’re planning a Galápagos trip and dreaming of snorkelling with turtles, sharks, and penguins, this guide is for you. Spoiler: it was one of our all-time favourite underwater adventures.
Los Tuneles Isabela Galapagos Tour Review
We recently went on this Snorkeling in Cabo Rosa Tunnels Isabela Island tour:
Snorkelling Tour to Los Tuneles/Cabo Rosa Itinerary
This is the itinerary of the exact Los Tuneles tour we went on:
1. Birdwatching at Roca Union
We met up with our guide and the rest of our group at the tour office in the morning, where we fitted our snorkelling gear – including a wetsuit, trust us, it makes a difference.
From here, we jumped in a car for the quick drive to the pier, where we boarded our boat and started our adventure.
After a 45-minute boat ride, our first stop was a quick birdwatching stop at Roca Union. Roca Union is a small rock in the middle of the ocean.
We spotted blue-footed boobies and Nasca boobies. The boat circled the rock several times so everybody could get good views (and photos).
2. Scenic Boat Ride Through the Tunnels
After we left the bigger waves of the open ocean behind, we were treated to a scenic boat ride through the Tunnels. We got to sit in the front of the boat and really take in the rock formations.
3. Walking Around Los Tuneles
As soon as we arrived, we started our short walk around Los Tuneles. It might have been a short walk, but we already spotted our first turtles and penguins.
Our guide also told us a lot about the local ecosystem and took some nice photos of everybody who wanted to.
4. Snorkelling Los Tuneles
And now to the highlight (both of this blog post and of this day trip): the snorkelling. After snorkelling on 5 continents, this might have just been our favourite spot of them all. We saw such a variety of wildlife, including
- An incredible number of turtles
- Sharks
- Sea lions
- Seahorses
- Parrotfish and other interesting fish
- And the star of the show: penguins
Adding this with clear water and the incredibly cool rock formations, this was a 10/10 snorkelling experience.
5. Snacks and Way Back
After the snorkelling, we were served our breakfast – we could choose from different kinds of sandwiches – and headed back to Puerto Villamil.
Los Tuneles Isabela Tour – Our Honest Opinion
You might have already guessed it, but we seriously loved this tour – especially the snorkelling. Our guide was simply outstanding. His love for the Galapagos Islands and their wildlife was super obvious. He gave so many explanations and answered all of our questions.
Our guide spotted so much wildlife for us, made sure that everybody in the group got to see it, and took amazing photos and videos (there’s a whole video of the best turtle encounter ever on our Instagram).
The undisputed highlight of the tour was snorkelling with penguins. We were extremely lucky and spotted them several times swimming, and later we watched them chilling on a rock for quite a bit.
What Other Travellers Say About the Los Tuneles Tour
⭐ Rating: 4.6 / 5 (52 reviews)
Absolutely take this tour and experience, it is so worth it and an amazing adventure! The snorkeling is beyond beautiful and safe. The guide and crew were kind and knowledgeable. If you're wondering if this is the tour for you, here's your sign....take it! Swimming with turtles is an experience I'll remember forever!
– Madalyn (see more reviews)
What Does the Los Tuneles Tour Include?
The Los Tuneles tour we did includes:
- Transportation
- Use of snorkelling equipment – including a wetsuit!
- Breakfast
Conclusion: Is the Los Tuneles Tour Worth it?
Without a doubt – yes! The Los Tuneles (Cabo Rosa) tour on Isabela Island is one of the best experiences you can have in the Galápagos Islands. From spotting blue-footed boobies at Roca Union to gliding past dramatic lava formations, the day builds up beautifully to the highlight: snorkelling among turtles, sharks, sea lions, seahorses, and even penguins.
What makes this tour truly special is not just the incredible marine life, but also the crystal-clear waters and surreal volcanic scenery. Add in a passionate guide who ensures you don’t miss a thing, and you’ve got an adventure that’s as educational as it is breathtaking.
If you only have time (or budget) for one snorkelling tour on Isabela, make it Los Tuneles. It’s an unforgettable mix of wildlife encounters and landscapes that you simply won’t find anywhere else in the world.
Where We Stayed in Isabela
We stayed at El Rincón de George and can fully recommend it. The location is great and the staff is friendly. It only costs around 16$ per person and night, which is hard to beat. The accommodation comes with a kitchen as well as free drinking water. The comfy rooftop terrace with great views is a bonus.
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