Los Gemelos
Two giant collapsed pits beside the highland road on Santa Cruz, surrounded by endemic Scalesia forest. A great spot for birdwatching.
Los Gemelos are two huge pits on either side of the Puerto Ayora–Baltra road in the central highlands of Santa Cruz. They are not volcanic craters. Instead, they formed when the roofs of underground magma chambers collapsed. The pits are dozens of meters deep, with fern- and moss-covered walls. Around them grows the Scalesia forest, a daisy-family tree unique to the Galapagos. Darwin's finches such as the woodpecker finch, vermilion flycatchers and Galapagos short-eared owls are common here. A gentle loop trail around the pits takes 30 to 45 minutes, and admission is free. They are about 20 kilometers from Puerto Ayora, a drive of about 30 minutes. Most visitors stop on the way to or from the airport, or combine them with the El Chato Giant Tortoise Reserve. The highlands are often foggy and slippery, so bring rain gear.
Opening hours
All day, free
Nearby sights
- El Chato Tortoise Reserve
- Cerro Crocker
- Black Turtle Cove
- Dragon Hill
- Las Bachas Beach
- Puerto Ayora Fish Market & Av. Charles Darwin
- Laguna de las Ninfas
- Charles Darwin Research Station