Prince Philip’s Steps, Genovesa
Short answer
Prince Philip’s Steps is a steep natural staircase up a cliff on Genovesa to a plateau of broken lava. Nazca boobies nest on the open ground, storm petrels swarm over the cracks in their thousands, and short-eared owls hunt them there in broad daylight — behaviour seen almost nowhere else.
On this page — 7 sections
Short-eared owls hunt at night everywhere else on Earth. On Genovesa there are no hawks to compete with, so they hunt by day — and they hunt on foot, walking into the lava cracks after petrels.
Prince Philip’s Steps at a glance
| Island | Genovesa |
|---|---|
| Landing | Dry landing, then a steep climb |
| The climb | A natural rock staircase up a cliff of about 25 m |
| How you visit | Northern cruise itineraries only |
| Guide | Park-licensed naturalist required |
| Named after | Prince Philip, who landed here in the 1960s |
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Genovesa — Prince Philip’s Steps
Prince Philip’s Steps is a steep natural staircase up a cliff on Genovesa to a plateau of broken lava. Nazca boobies nest on the open ground, storm petrels swarm over the cracks in their thousands, and short-eared owls hunt them there in broad daylight — behaviour seen almost nowhere else.
How you get there
- On a northern cruise itinerary
- The only way, and it means an overnight crossing to reach Genovesa. Almost always done the same day as Darwin Bay.
It sits on Genovesa, so how you reach the island decides how you reach this.
What you actually see
The climb
A natural staircase in the cliff with a handrail on part of it. It is steep and it is the deciding factor for some visitors, but it is short.
The petrel storm
Over the plateau, storm petrels in the thousands, wheeling constantly. The noise and the sheer number are what people describe afterwards, not the individual birds.
The owl
Short-eared owls hunt the petrels by day here, on the ground, walking into the lava cracks. Seeing one is not guaranteed — but this is the place it happens.
What goes wrong
We run these trips, so we know what people complain about afterwards. Better to read it here than find out on the day.
- The steps stop people
- Steep, uneven natural rock. Groups regularly split here, with some staying on the boat. Better to know before booking a northern itinerary.
- The owl is a wild animal
- Present most days, absent some. Guides who promise one are guessing.
- The plateau is sharp lava
- The whole walk is on broken rock. Closed shoes, and watch your feet rather than the birds.
Who this is not for
Saying this costs us bookings and saves the trip. If any of these is you, tell us and we will build the day differently.
- Anyone who cannot climb a steep, uneven natural staircase.
- Visitors unwilling to make an overnight crossing to reach Genovesa.
- People who want a beach day — Darwin Bay is the gentle half of this island.
What lives here
- Short-eared owl — Hunting by day, on foot. The reason to make the climb.
- Nazca booby — Nesting on the open ground of the plateau.
- Wedge-rumped storm petrel — In the thousands over the lava cracks.
- Red-footed booby — In the bush along the cliff edge.
Nearby
Darwin Bay
Genovesa
What it is →Punta Cormorant
Floreana
What it is →Charles Darwin Research Station
Santa Cruz
What it is →Cerro Tijeretas
San Cristóbal
What it is →La Galapaguera
San Cristóbal
What it is →El Garrapatero
Santa Cruz
What it is →Every visitor site we have written up → · Genovesa, the whole island →
Questions people also ask
Why do the owls hunt in daylight on Genovesa?
Because there are no Galápagos hawks on the island to compete with or threaten them. With the niche empty, the owls shifted to daytime hunting of the storm petrel colony.
How hard is the climb?
Short but steep, on uneven natural rock with a handrail in part. Groups often split here, and there is no shame in staying aboard.
Do you do both Genovesa sites the same day?
Almost always — Darwin Bay in one half and Prince Philip’s Steps in the other. They are very different visits.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from one of these. If one of them changes and we have not caught up, tell us and we will fix it the same day.
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