Los Tuneles, Galapagos

Los Tuneles, the tunnels.  These are the marvellous formations created after lava flows from the volcanoes that make up the Galapagos Islands cooled and solidified.

There are all kinds of structures here, some imposing as cathedrals, others as intricate as sculpture.  The most famous, though, are the tunnels and abridges, formed when lava hit the sea and the top crust hardened while the lava underneath continued to flow, creating hollow lava tubes.

The great draw here is snorkeling, where tourists can explore the vast underwater architecture of Los Tuneles and marvel at the green sea turtles, seahorses and rays, among many others, that make this unique formation home.