We took the tour to Los Tuneles today and it was spectacular. It is a 25 mile high speed boat ride out of Puerto Villamil to a lava field that meets the water. The Tuneles are a maze of narrow water ways that the boats somehow navigate while nearly touching the rocks on either side of the boat. The water is crystal clear and the landscape is famous for the many rock archways which are too numerous to count.
The tour included a short hike over some pretty treacherous terrain. You could look down into the water and see large fish and sea turtles. Across the rocky terrain you could see a variety of birds including Blue Footed Boobies which are currently nesting.
Besides the hike the tour included a chance to snorkel through Los Tuneles which was truly an incredible experience. Right away we were able to get up close and personal with some Galapagos penguins that were just hanging out on a rock. We swam through tunnels, with sea turtles and some rather large fish. Every animal seemed to take our presence in stride. You could almost hear them saying, “Oh another human. He looks just like the last one.”
The tour included a short ride in the boat to another location to do some more snorkeling. The water was not as clear but we did get to swim with sharks that were hanging out in the caves and tunnels. We also saw a sea turtle that we all agreed was the biggest we had ever seen and I got to see my first sea horse.
If you find yourself in the Galapagos and on Isla Isabela a trip to Los Tuneles is something that should definately be on your list of things to do.
Sailing for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Chris Gourley
Penguins Touched