El Barranco (Prince Philip's Steps), Genovesa

About the site

El Barranco (Prince Philip's Steps)

El Barranco, better known as Prince Philip's Steps, is the second visitor site on Genovesa, named after Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who visited the island. The panga brings you to the foot of the cliff for a dry landing, and a steep stairway cut into the rock, with a handrail, climbs about 25 meters (80 feet) to the top.

At the top, a trail of roughly 1.5 kilometers crosses a forest of Palo Santo trees and an open lava field. Nazca and red-footed boobies nest beside the path, and over the lava thousands of storm petrels fly in and out of the cracks where they nest. This is the best place in the Galápagos to see the short-eared owl, which here hunts the petrels in broad daylight.

The visit takes about two hours. The steps and the uneven lava need some care, but the walk is not long, and the views over Darwin Bay and the open ocean from the edge of the cliff are among the finest in the islands. Before or after the walk, a panga ride along the base of the cliffs often finds Galápagos fur seals resting in the shade.

Highlights

Panoramic View
Birdwatching

Live dates & prices

Cruises that visit El Barranco (Prince Philip's Steps)

31 yachts include El Barranco (Prince Philip's Steps) in their routes, with 1,533 upcoming departures from US$1,822 per person. These are the next ones.

Departure	Yacht	Route	Price per person	Mindo gift	Details
October 2026
11 – 15 Oct5 days / 4 nights	Galapagos Sea StarLuxury motor yacht · 16 guests	5B · Genovesa, Bartolomé & SantiagoBaltra	US$3,845~~US$4,845~~Save US$1,000	+ Mindo PlusActivity tickets included	See departure
11 – 18 Oct8 days / 7 nights	Origin, Theory & EvolveLuxury motor yacht · 20 guests	B · Genovesa, Fernandina, Isabela & RábidaSan Cristóbal	US$10,950	★ All-InclusiveWith private guide	See departure
11 – 15 Oct5 days / 4 nights	TributeLuxury motor yacht · 16 guests	B · Genovesa, Santiago & Santa FeSan Cristóbal → Baltra	US$6,195	★ All-InclusiveWith private guide	See departure
12 – 16 Oct5 days / 4 nights	SolarisFirst Class motor yacht · 16 guests	B · Genovesa, North Seymour & South PlazaBaltra → San Cristóbal	US$4,150	+ Mindo PlusActivity tickets included	See departure
12 – 15 Oct4 days / 3 nights	Archipel IMid-range catamaran · 16 guests	B4 · Genovesa, Bartolomé & SantiagoBaltra	US$2,395	Complimentary nightsAll meals & transfers	See departure2 places left
12 – 19 Oct8 days / 7 nights	Archipel IMid-range catamaran · 16 guests	B · Genovesa, Española, Floreana & BartoloméBaltra → San Cristóbal	US$5,295	★ All-InclusiveWith private guide	See departure1 place left
12 – 18 Oct7 days / 6 nights	MonserratFirst Class motor yacht · 16 guests	C+D · Genovesa, Española & FloreanaSan Cristóbal → Baltra	US$4,076~~US$5,095~~Save US$1,019	+ Mindo PlusActivity tickets included	See departure2 places left
12 – 18 Oct7 days / 6 nights	HermesLuxury catamaran · 20 guests	C+D · Genovesa, Española & FloreanaSan Cristóbal → Baltra	US$13,095	★ All-InclusiveWith private guide	See departure
13 – 17 Oct5 days / 4 nights	Horizon TrimaranLuxury catamaran · 16 guests	5A · Genovesa, Bartolomé & North SeymourBaltra	US$4,845~~US$5,845~~Save US$1,000	+ Mindo PlusActivity tickets included	See departure4 places left
15 – 20 Oct6 days / 5 nights	EcoGalaxyFirst Class catamaran · 16 guests	C · Genovesa, Bartolomé & North SeymourBaltra → San Cristóbal	US$4,080~~US$5,100~~Save US$1,020	+ Mindo PlusActivity tickets included	See departure
15 – 20 Oct6 days / 5 nights	EndemicLuxury catamaran · 16 guests	E · Genovesa, Floreana & BartoloméBaltra	US$5,992~~US$7,490~~Save US$1,498	★ All-InclusiveWith private guide	See departure
15 – 18 Oct4 days / 3 nights	MonserratFirst Class motor yacht · 16 guests	D · Genovesa & BartoloméBaltra	US$2,076~~US$2,595~~Save US$519	Complimentary nightsAll meals & transfers	See departure2 places left

Yachts that visit El Barranco (Prince Philip's Steps)

Luxury catamaran · 20 guests Hermes 233 departures · from US$7,095

Mid-range catamaran · 16 guests Archipel I 118 departures · from US$2,395

First Class motor yacht · 16 guests Monserrat 106 departures · from US$2,076

First Class motor yacht · 16 guests Cachalote Explorer 105 departures · from US$3,380

First Class motor yacht · 16 guests Beluga 68 departures · from US$4,400

Luxury motor yacht · 12 guests Galaxy Stella 63 departures · from US$4,080

Luxury motor yacht · 16 guests Grand Majestic 63 departures · from US$3,645

Luxury catamaran · 16 guests Monique 54 departures · from US$4,152

Luxury motor yacht · 16 guests Natural Paradise 53 departures · from US$1,822

Luxury catamaran · 16 guests Galaxy Sirius 51 departures · from US$6,035

Luxury catamaran · 16 guests Eminence 48 departures · from US$7,390

First Class motor yacht · 16 guests Solaris 47 departures · from US$4,150

Genovesa Island

Other visitor sites on Genovesa

Darwin BayWet Landing

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