Short answer: Los Túneles, also sold as the Cabo Rosa tunnels, is a boat-only site on the south coast of Isabela. You walk among the lava arches where blue-footed boobies nest, then snorkel with sea turtles, whitetip reef sharks, rays and seahorses. Tours from Puerto Villamil take 5 to 6 hours and start from about $171 per person.
- IslandIsabela, west of Puerto Villamil
- AccessBoat tour only
- GuideCertified naturalist guide required
- Also calledCabo Rosa tunnels
What you will see
The visit has two parts: a walk over the lava, where blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds and sometimes penguins sit beside the path, and a snorkel among the arches, with rays, sea turtles, whitetip sharks and seahorses. The Charles Darwin Foundation lists Los Túneles among its favourite snorkel spots in the islands.
Green sea turtle
In the water among the lava arches.
Whitetip reef shark
Rest in the lava caves and channels by day.
Blue-footed booby
Nest on the lava next to the trail; rangers mark the nests in season.
Galápagos penguin
Recorded on the walk by park educators; not every trip.
Magnificent frigatebird
Overhead and on the rocks.
How to get there and what it costs
Los Túneles is reached only by boat from Puerto Villamil on Isabela, so you need a night or two on Isabela (the ferry from Santa Cruz takes about 2 hours). Several tours pick you up at your hotel.
Stay on the marked trail. During the booby nesting season park rangers put up stop signs along it to keep visitors away from the nests.
Tours that go to Los Túneles start from about $171 per person (3 listings compared below). The national park entrance fee is paid once, on arrival in the islands: entrance fee and entry rules.
Best time to visit Los Túneles
Los Túneles is good all year. The cool season, roughly June to October, brings the most active marine life; blue-footed boobies nest here in season, when the park marks the nests along the trail.
- Jun to Oct Cool-season upwelling: marine life most active, best snorkellingWestern and central islands
Weather, sea temperature and wildlife for every month: month-by-month guide.
Tours that go to Los Túneles
Cabo Rosa Tunnels: Snorkeling, Wildlife and Landscapes
Small-Group Los Túneles Day Tour
Los Túneles: Snorkel with Sharks, Seahorses & Sea Turtles
Prices and ratings as listed in November 2026; the price at checkout is what counts. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure
Compare every day trip on all islands: day-tour finder.
See Los Túneles on the 3D map →
Nearby: more visitor sites from Isabela
Isabela island guide · All visitor sites · Itinerary planner · Ferry board
Questions about Los Túneles
Are Los Túneles and Cabo Rosa the same place?
Yes. Tours sell the same site as Los Túneles or as the Cabo Rosa tunnels.
Can you visit Los Túneles without a tour?
No. It is a national park site reached only by boat, visited with a licensed operator and a naturalist guide. Tours from Puerto Villamil start from about $171 per person.
What can you see at Los Túneles?
On the walk: blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds and sometimes penguins. In the water: sea turtles, whitetip reef sharks, rays and seahorses.
Sources:Galápagos National Park and Governing Council, Charles Darwin Foundation. More numbers:facts and figures.
Updated 2026-11-07. Fees, boat times and prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.