Lava Tunnel
Lava Tunnel
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
324 reviews
Excellent
108
Very good
136
Average
70
Poor
6
Terrible
4
Roblyn
Maryland697 contributions
Dec 2019
After my family and I toured the Reserva El Chato Ranch, our tour guide took us on a hike through the reserve’s lava tunnel. It was chilly inside the amazing tunnel to see how nature was formed. My husband, two young adult daughters, and I enjoyed our tour.
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SSL920
Independence, OH141 contributions
Dec 2022
Finally, you can have a close contact with the giant tortoises. The tour guide is very professional. I got hurt on the way here, one of the ladies at the front desk cleaned the wounds carefully and professionally. I didn't have any infection. Really appreciate her help.
It it rains, you might need Rainy Boots to go into the tunnel. The place offers them.
It it rains, you might need Rainy Boots to go into the tunnel. The place offers them.
Written January 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
County-Hunter
Tacoma, WA3,750 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
We went to EL Chato to see the giant tortoises and were pleasantly surprised to be able to explore a lava tunnel located right in the property. And since it was hot and sunny up too, it was nice to have it cool and dark for a change. Definitely worth a visit.
Written August 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mrc282
World9,578 contributions
Jul 2021
I have been to a couple of lava tunnels in my life and now here in Galapagos. I would say the ones I visited at Iceland are the most wild and amazing, while the ones at Big Island and Maui are most "developed" - paved path, proper steps etc. The ones at Santa Cruz are somewhere in between, and is closer to what you would experience in Hawaii.
There are 3 lava tunnels that I know of, that are easily accessible at Santa Cruz. Probably more exist, but not all will be open to public, so I will describe the 3 I know about
1. Tunel de Lava Bellavista. This is about 1km long, 20 minutes walk. Enter at one opening, and then exit another. Your taxi driver will usually know to wait for you at a different place from where he drops you off. Does not require crawling.
2. Rancho Primicias (El Chato 1). Access is included as part of the tortoise reserve entrance fee. Requires crawling at some parts. Technically this tripadvisor listing is about this lava tunnel, but it seems like reviewers are also talking about the various lava tunnels they visited at Santa Cruz under this listing.
3. Reserva El Chato 2. Similar to the above, access is included as part of the tortoise reserve entrance fee. This one is very short, maybe 200m in length. You enter at one opening, and then exit another. And there are two 'storeys' to the lava formation in the cave, but you are walking at the lower level since the upper one is fragile. Does not require crawling.
There are 3 lava tunnels that I know of, that are easily accessible at Santa Cruz. Probably more exist, but not all will be open to public, so I will describe the 3 I know about
1. Tunel de Lava Bellavista. This is about 1km long, 20 minutes walk. Enter at one opening, and then exit another. Your taxi driver will usually know to wait for you at a different place from where he drops you off. Does not require crawling.
2. Rancho Primicias (El Chato 1). Access is included as part of the tortoise reserve entrance fee. Requires crawling at some parts. Technically this tripadvisor listing is about this lava tunnel, but it seems like reviewers are also talking about the various lava tunnels they visited at Santa Cruz under this listing.
3. Reserva El Chato 2. Similar to the above, access is included as part of the tortoise reserve entrance fee. This one is very short, maybe 200m in length. You enter at one opening, and then exit another. And there are two 'storeys' to the lava formation in the cave, but you are walking at the lower level since the upper one is fragile. Does not require crawling.
Written August 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nick and Angel S
Milton Keynes, UK5,518 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
We visited the Lava Tunnel during our walk to see the giant tortoises at the El Chato Ranch. The walk through this tube like cave, formed by volcanic activity, only took a few minutes but was an interesting inclusion to the overall El Chato Ranch visit
Written March 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LaurieJanean
Logan, UT184 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
On our (second) arrival on Isla Santa Cruz, coming from Baltra Airport, we negotiated with a taxi driver to take us to Los Gemelos (the twin craters), the Lava Tunnel, and Rancho Primicias, before going to our hotel in Puerto Ayora. This, a taxi tour of the Santa Cruz highlands, is a common request and easily accomplished. We don't speak Spanish, just basically named the places that we wanted to visit with a smile.
We have seen many lava tunnels, including the Thurston Lava Tube on the Big Island of Hawaii. Still, we found the Lava Tunnel near Rancho Primicias to be especially impressive and a very worthwhile stop.
Our driver dropped us off at the trail to the entrance to the tunnel and, using a map/sign at the trailhead as a visual, asked us if it would be OK if he moved his taxi to the exit at the other end of the tunnel to pick us up. We agreed and set off down the trail.
The first portion of the Lava tunnel is "improved." There was a dry, maintained path (which, on a rainy day, may have been wet), stone steps, and electric lighting overhead.
We saw a group from a cruise ship with an English speaking naturalist guide going through the tunnel ahead of us--well dressed senior citizens. They stopped midway and turned back to exit the way they had come in. We continued on and on. The path became muddier, with more rubble--boulders that had fallen from the ceiling--to navigate around and over. In one place in the passageway, the ceiling was so low that we had to duck and kneel for just a moment to get through. The knee on one pant leg got a little muddy--I didn't mind, a little mud is a small price to pay for an adventure. (My husband rolled up his pants so his leg got muddy instead of his pants--good strategy for keeping clothes clean!) We continued on through until we reached the end of the tunnel.
I thought the lava tunnel was a worthwhile stop on our way through the highlands. For me, it would not be a destination tour--with so much to see in the Galapagos, it's a "nice to see," not a "must see."
If you will be travelling between Puerto Ayora and the Baltra Airport, you might want to consider a 20-30 minute detour for the Lava Tube, 10-15 minutes for Los Gemelos, and at least 45-90 minutes at Rancho Primicias with the giant tortoises. (For me, seeing the giant tortoises roaming free in the highlands, was an absolute priority.)
Transportation options and costs:
A public bus (without air conditioning) between the Baltra/Santa Cruz dock and Puerto Ayora is approx. US $2.00 per person. About 1 hour.
A taxi for the same drive is US $18. per taxi--you may split the cost with others to save money. About 45 minutes.
A taxi tour--basically the same drive, but with stops and small detours--has a negotiable price, approx. US $40-$50. for the taxi. Split the cost with others if you wish. About 3 hours. Duration depends on your interest level. (Consider a generous tip if you wish! In our 2 weeks on Galapagos, we took four taxi tours and were very happy with the efforts of our drivers! We were glad to tip.)
"A Highlands Tour," led by an English speaking naturalist guide, may be purchased from one of the many travel agencies in Puerto Ayora. Price varies based on group size and other factors.
Los Gemelos and the Lava Tunnel are free to visit. If Rancho Primicias is part of your tour, you will need an additional $3.00 per person to pay at the Rancho. You may also bicycle through the highlands if you wish!
Happy travels!
We have seen many lava tunnels, including the Thurston Lava Tube on the Big Island of Hawaii. Still, we found the Lava Tunnel near Rancho Primicias to be especially impressive and a very worthwhile stop.
Our driver dropped us off at the trail to the entrance to the tunnel and, using a map/sign at the trailhead as a visual, asked us if it would be OK if he moved his taxi to the exit at the other end of the tunnel to pick us up. We agreed and set off down the trail.
The first portion of the Lava tunnel is "improved." There was a dry, maintained path (which, on a rainy day, may have been wet), stone steps, and electric lighting overhead.
We saw a group from a cruise ship with an English speaking naturalist guide going through the tunnel ahead of us--well dressed senior citizens. They stopped midway and turned back to exit the way they had come in. We continued on and on. The path became muddier, with more rubble--boulders that had fallen from the ceiling--to navigate around and over. In one place in the passageway, the ceiling was so low that we had to duck and kneel for just a moment to get through. The knee on one pant leg got a little muddy--I didn't mind, a little mud is a small price to pay for an adventure. (My husband rolled up his pants so his leg got muddy instead of his pants--good strategy for keeping clothes clean!) We continued on through until we reached the end of the tunnel.
I thought the lava tunnel was a worthwhile stop on our way through the highlands. For me, it would not be a destination tour--with so much to see in the Galapagos, it's a "nice to see," not a "must see."
If you will be travelling between Puerto Ayora and the Baltra Airport, you might want to consider a 20-30 minute detour for the Lava Tube, 10-15 minutes for Los Gemelos, and at least 45-90 minutes at Rancho Primicias with the giant tortoises. (For me, seeing the giant tortoises roaming free in the highlands, was an absolute priority.)
Transportation options and costs:
A public bus (without air conditioning) between the Baltra/Santa Cruz dock and Puerto Ayora is approx. US $2.00 per person. About 1 hour.
A taxi for the same drive is US $18. per taxi--you may split the cost with others to save money. About 45 minutes.
A taxi tour--basically the same drive, but with stops and small detours--has a negotiable price, approx. US $40-$50. for the taxi. Split the cost with others if you wish. About 3 hours. Duration depends on your interest level. (Consider a generous tip if you wish! In our 2 weeks on Galapagos, we took four taxi tours and were very happy with the efforts of our drivers! We were glad to tip.)
"A Highlands Tour," led by an English speaking naturalist guide, may be purchased from one of the many travel agencies in Puerto Ayora. Price varies based on group size and other factors.
Los Gemelos and the Lava Tunnel are free to visit. If Rancho Primicias is part of your tour, you will need an additional $3.00 per person to pay at the Rancho. You may also bicycle through the highlands if you wish!
Happy travels!
Written February 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
champkis
Dublin, Ireland1,678 contributions
The lava tunnels are just beside El Chato turtle reserve so it's worth going here when you're there anyways. There are smaller lava tunnels in the turtle reserve area already which are free but they are smaller. These ones cost $3 and are longer. It's interesting to see and worth the trip when you are beside it anyways. You walk through for about 400 metres (our taxi driver said that was the length). There is one bit where you need to crawl for a second but other than that you walk as it's a large tunnel. Cool to see, I liked it.
Written March 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marion M
Zionsville, IN450 contributions
Nov 2019
If in the area is definitely worth seeing but I wouldn’t let a day revolve around it. Interesting walk with some good photo ops but not much more.
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RCStaab
New York City, NY98 contributions
Feb 2019 • Family
Much is made of these lava tunnels on Santa Cruz Island. Not worth a special trip, but combined with a trip to turtle farm, makes an interesting 15-minute tour.
Written April 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ali921
Edinburgh, UK1,553 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
How much you enjoy this visit depends very much if you've ever seen a lava tunnel before. Well it's a tunnel, it just happens to have been created by molten lava moving under solidified lava above it but it is just a tunnel. If you don't expect too much then it does break up the bus trip and let you stretch your legs
Written August 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Im not a very good swimmer but like snorkling as long as i can have some sort of flotation device. Are these provided or can i bring my own
Written March 20, 2018
Ive not taken a snorkeling tour in the Galapagos, but I will tell you that in the many other organized snorkeling tours I’ve booked the have to offer people safety jackets. They have always made it a point to tell the group that if you do not feel safe without the jacket, then please wear one. I can’t imagine that they would not be offered on any organized tour.
Written September 8, 2018
Hi, is there an entrance fee ? If so, how much USD? Thank-you
Written September 6, 2017
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