Los Gemelos Twin Sinkholes
Two colossal volcanic sinkholes split by a highland road, each plunging up to 30 metres into the earth and ringed by a cathedral of endemic Scalesia trees — this is the Galápagos at its most theatrical. Stand at the rim at dawn and you may spot a short-eared owl perched silently above the abyss.
Geology you can actually stand on the edge of
Los Gemelos are not volcanic craters but true sinkholes, formed when underground magma chambers emptied and their roofs collapsed over thousands of years. The result is a pair of vast, sheer-walled pits that look almost impossibly dramatic against the misty highland sky.
The two sinkholes sit on opposite sides of the trans-island road, making them an easy stop on the route between Puerto Ayora and Baltra Airport. Despite lying just 25–125 metres from the tarmac, they are completely hidden by vegetation until you step onto the short trailhead path.
A forest unlike anywhere else on Earth
The surrounding Scalesia forest is composed of a tree endemic to the Galápagos — a giant member of the daisy family that grows between 5 and 15 metres tall and is considered an endangered species. The dense, broccoli-like canopies drip with bromeliads, orchids, mosses and lichens, creating a humid microclimate utterly unlike the arid coast below.
Birdwatchers should linger: the forest shelters Darwin's finches, Galápagos rails, vermilion flycatchers and the occasional short-eared owl perched in plain sight above the crater rim. Budget at least two hours if wildlife is your priority.
Getting there and trail basics
The trail is approximately 4 kilometres round-trip on mostly flat highland terrain, rated easy to moderate. A taxi from Puerto Ayora takes about 25 minutes and costs roughly $40 return — well worth it for a site this spectacular.
Visit in the early morning when mist hangs among the Scalesia trunks and bird activity peaks. Stay behind the railings at the crater edges; the drop is real and unguarded in places.
Los Gemelos Twin Sinkholes on video
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