Lighthouses of Panamá

As one might expect, the lighthouses of Panamá are generally associated with passage through the Panama Canal. The Canal opened on 15 August 1914, after ten years of U.S. construction following earlier work by a French company. In 1903, shortly after winning its independence from Colombia, Panama granted the U.S. extraterritorial jurisdiction over the Canal Zone. The Zone remained under exclusive U.S. control until the Panama Canal Treaty, ratified in 1978, provided for its restoration to Panama. Under the treaty, Panama assumed full operation of the Canal at the end of 1999. The U.S. Panama Canal Commission, which operated the canal until the reversion, is now the Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (Panama Canal Authority). The Authority is expanding the Canal, doubling its capacity by constructing a third set of locks and widening and deepening the entire route. Groundbreaking for this enormous project was held in September 2007, and the work is scheduled for completion in 2015. It seems likely that this project will result in the removal or replacement of at least some of the historic lighthouses. Some 35 range lighthouses were constructed to help guide ships through the Canal, and many of these lighthouses are reported still in service. However, no list of the lighthouses is available, and not all of them are listed here. Further information would certainly be very welcome. The listing here is from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The Isthmus of Panama runs east to west, and the Atlantic (Caribbean) coast lies north of the Pacific coast. Accordingly, northbound on the Canal means toward the Atlantic, and southbound is toward the Pacific. The actual zigzag course of the Canal has many turns separating straight sections called reaches. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume J of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals for the Atlantic coast and from volume G for the Pacific coast. U.S. NGA numbers are from Publication 110 for the Atlantic coast and from Publication 111 for the Pacific coast. The lights of the Panamá Canal are not listed by the Admiralty or by NGA.

Gatún Northbound Rear Light, April 2010 photo copyright Jim and Hilari Seery; used by permission

General Sources

Online List of Lights - Panama (Caribbean) and Gulf of Panama

Photos by Capts. Peter Mosselberger and Theo Hinrichs, posted by Alex Trabas.

Panama Canal Range Lights

(652 kB pdf document) This report by Jan Rommers is a careful study of the lighthouses seen on a passage northward through the Canal on 29 January 2009. Photos are included for all the lighthouses seen.

Panamá Canal Lights - Page 1 and Page 2

Photos contributed by Jim and Hilari Seeri following an April 2010 passage through the Canal.

Lighthouses of Panama

Photos posted by Snow W. Frost.

Royal Geographical Society Map - Panama Canal 1914

This historic map shows the locations of the original range lights around Gatún Lake.

Lighthouses of the Panama Canal

Additional comments on the lighthouses, with several aerial views formerly posted on the official canal web site.

Leuchttürme Mittelamerikas und der Karabik auf historischen Postkarten

Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.

Northwestern Panama (Bocas del Toro Province) Lighthouse

Sixaola

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower, presumably concrete, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse marks Panama's border with Costa Rica, which lies along the Río Sixaola. Site status unknown. Admiralty J6072; NGA 110-16527.

Atlantic Approach Lighthouses

** Isla Grande 1894. Active; focal plane 93 m (305 ft); white flash every 5 s. 26 m (85 ft) steel skeletal tower with central cylinder. Lighthouse painted white. The original 2nd order Barbier & Cie. Fresnel lens from this light is on display at the Museo del Canal in Panamá City. A closeup photo is available, also a closeup of the lantern, Trabas has Capt. Peter's distant view, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is a twin of the Toro Point Light (see below). This is a landfall light for ships arriving at the Canal from the northeast. Located at the highest point of Isla Grande, a resort island off Punta Manzanillo, about 80 km (50 mi) northeast of the Canal entrance. Accessible by a 30 minute walk from the town and from nearby resorts. Site open, tower reported open for climbing. ARLHS PAN-026; Admiralty J6138; NGA 110-16628. Farallón Sucio Rock (2) Date unknown (station established 1925). Active; focal plane 32.5 m (107 ft); red flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) pyramidal concrete tower, painted white. Trabas has Capt. Peter's distant view, and José A. Jiménez also has a distant photo, but the island is barely visible in Google's satellite view. The original tower was a 6 m (20 ft) white, pyramidal steel framework tower on a tank house. Located about 10 km (6 mi) west northwest of Isla Grande. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS PAN-023; Admiralty J6136; NGA 110-16624. Toro Point 1893. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white light, 5 s on, 25 s off. 27.5 m (90 ft) steel skeletal tower with central cylinder, mounted on a stone base. Entire lighthouse painted white. Capt. Theo Hinrichs's photo is at right, Peter Detwiler has a photo, a 2007 photo is available, Klaus Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This elegant lighthouse, built by the French during their efforts to construct the Canal, is a familiar landmark for everyone passing through the waterway. Located at the root of the Limón Bay West Breakwater, on the west side of the entrance to Limón Bay from the Caribbean. Accessible by road, but site status unknown. ARLHS PAN-021; Admiralty J6092; NGA 110-16592. Limón Bay West Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30.5 m (100 ft); two very quick red flashes every 2 s. 31 m (102 ft) steel mast with gallery, a tripod base and a small metal equipment shelter, mounted on a triangular concrete platform. The tower carries a large slatted daymark, painted red. Google has a satellite view. Located just inside the hooked end of the west breakwater at the entrance to Limón Bay and the Canal. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty J6102; NGA 110-16600. Limón Bay East Breakwater Date unknown. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); two short green flashes followed by one very long (5 s) flash every 20 s. 33 m (108 ft) steel mast with gallery, a tripod base and a small metal equipment shelter, mounted on a triangular concrete platform. The tower carries a large slatted daymark, painted green. Google has a satellite view. Located just inside the hooked end of the east breakwater at the entrance to Limón Bay and the Canal. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Admiralty J6098; NGA 110-16604.

Toro Point Light, April 2010 photo copyright Capt. Theo Hinrichs; used by permission

Gatún Area Lighthouses

* Atlantic Entrance Range Middle 1914. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); continuous green light visible only on the range line. 23 m (75 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Capt. Peter Mosselberger's photo is at right, Hanny Heim has a photo, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. The front light is on a small skeletal tower. This lighthouse faces southbound (Pacific-bound) ships approaching the Gatún Locks from the Atlantic side. The new locks are being built a short distance to the east. Located about 100 m (100 yd) east of the Canal near the southbound entrance to the Gatún Locks. Site and tower closed, but the lighthouse can be viewed from the end of a street nearby. ARLHS PAN-017; Admiralty J6132.1; NGA 110-16616. * Atlantic Entrance Range Rear 1914. Active; focal plane 48 m (158 ft); occulting green light visible only on the range line. 14 m (46 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Jim Seery has a photo, another photo is available, Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on Lighthouse Road in the town of Gatún, roughly 500 m (0.3 mi) east of the Gatún Locks and 1.2 km (3/4 mi) south of the middle range light. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PAN-018; Admiralty J6132.2; NGA 110-16620. Gatún Northbound Rear (Gatún Locks) 1914. Active; green light occulting once every 4.5 s. Roughly 27 m (89 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with blue trim. Jim and Hilari Seery's photo appears at the top of this page, another photo is available, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse is the rear light of the range for northbound (Atlantic-bound) ships approaching the Gatún Locks from Gatún Lake. The tallest and most conspicuous lighthouse of the Canal, it is frequently photographed. The photos show that the lighthouse has been restored and is in good condition. Michel Forand has historic photos of the original front light, now demolished; the modern front light is mounted somewhere near the end of the jetty projecting southward into Gatún Lake. Located on the west wall of the Gatún Locks. Site and tower closed, although the view from ships passing through the locks is excellent. ARLHS PAN-014. Gatún Lake Range Lighthouses Gatún Southbound Front 1914. Active; characteristic unknown. Roughly 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, at least on the side facing northbound ships. The Seerys have a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a concrete pier just off a peninsula projecting into the south side of Gatún Lake; this is the peninsula separating the two principal branches of the lake. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Gatún Southbound Rear 1914. Active; characteristic unknown. Roughly 27 m (89 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This substantial lighthouse is located deep in the jungle about 800 m (1/2 mi) south of the front light; a cleared corridor connects the two lights. The site is accessible by boat along a twisting side channel of the lake. Site and tower closed.

Atlantic Entrance Range Middle Light photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger used by permission

Peña Blanca Northbound Front 1914. Active; characteristic unknown. Roughly 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern, painted white, at least on the side facing northbound ships. Rommers's photo is at right, and the Seerys also have a photo. The Peña Blanca Northbound lights can be seen from the starboard side of southbound vessels just as they begin their first turn south of the Gatún Locks. Located just off the waterfront on the west side of the lake about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Gatún Dam. Site and tower closed. Peña Blanca Northbound Rear 1914. Active; characteristic unknown. Roughly 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern, painted white, at least on the side facing northbound ships. Rommers's photo is at right, and the Seerys also have a photo. Lighthouse painted white. Located between the two historic range lights. Site and tower closed. Peña Blanca Southbound Front 1914. Active; characteristic unknown. Roughly 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, at least on the side facing northbound ships. The Rommers report has photos (page 5), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a peninsula projecting into the lake on the north side of Barro Colorado Island. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Peña Blanca Southbound Rear 1914. Active; characteristic unknown. Roughly 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, at least on the side facing northbound ships. The Rommers report has photos (page 5), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a cleared corridor on the north side of Barro Colorado Island, about 600 m (0.4 mi) southeast of the front light. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed.

Peña Blanca Northbound Range Lights, January 2009 photo copyright Jan Rommers; used by permission

Buena Vista Northbound Front

1914. Active; continuous green light. Roughly 14 m (45 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, at least on the side facing northbound ships. A photo is available, Betty Reed has a 2007 photo, the Seerys also have a photo, we have a photo looking down the reach toward the range lights, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the east side of the canal near the end of the Bohio Peninsula projecting into the central part of Gatún Lake. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS PAN-034.

Buena Vista Northbound Rear

1914. Active; occulting green light. Roughly 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, at least on the side facing northbound ships. A photo is available, Betty Reed has a 2007 photo, the Seerys also have a photo, we have a photo looking down the reach toward the range lights, and Google has a satellite view. Located about 300 m (325 ft) behind the front light on the east side of the canal near the end of the Bohio Peninsula projecting into the central part of Gatún Lake. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS PAN-035.

Tabernilla Northbound Front 1914. Active; characteristic unknown. Roughly 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, at least on the side facing northbound ships. Rommers's photo is at right, the Seerys also have a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a peninsula projecting into the lake northwest of Frijoles. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Tabernilla Northbound Rear 1914. Active; characteristic unknown. Roughly 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, at least on the side facing northbound ships. Rommers's photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the south side of the Bohio Peninsula near its base, northwest of Frijoles and about 800 m (1/2 mi) north of the front light. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Buena Vista Southbound Front 1914. Active; characteristic unknown. Roughly 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, at least on the side facing northbound ships. The Rommers report has photos (page 3), and the Seerys also have a photo, but a cloud blocks Google's satellite view. Located in the open waters of the lake southeast of the Buena Vista Range. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Buena Vista Southbound Rear 1914. Active; characteristic unknown. Roughly 15 m (49 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, at least on the side facing northbound ships. The Rommers report has photos (page 3), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the base of a forested peninsula on the east side of the lake, about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) southeast of the front light. Site and tower closed.

Tabernilla Northbound Range Lights, January 2009 photo copyright Jan Rommers; used by permission

Gamboa Area Range Lighthouses

San Pablo Northbound Front 1914. Active; continuous green light. Roughly 14 m (45 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white (this light appears not to be painted black on the rear). The Seerys' photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. The range helps guide northbound ships through the middle portion of the Mamei Curve, which connects the San Pablo and Gamboa Reaches. Located on the east side (really the north bank) of the Canal about 1000 m (0.3 mi) west of the Gamboa Northbound Front Light. Site and tower closed. ARLHS PAN-036. San Pablo Northbound Rear (1) 1914. Inactive. Roughly 18 m (56 ft) concrete tower with lantern, painted black. The Seery's photo of this range is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Located about 400 m (1/4 mi) behind the front light. Site and tower closed. San Pablo Northbound Rear (2) Date unknown. Active; characteristic unknown. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) square pyramidal steel skeletal tower, with an enclosed equipment building in the base. The tower also carries a horizontally slatted daymark. Lighthouse painted white. The Seerys' photo of this range is at right. Located between the two historic range lights. Site and tower closed. Tabernilla Southbound Front 1914. Active; characteristic unknown. Roughly 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, at least on the side facing northbound ships. The Rommers report has a photo (page 2), and Google has a satellite view. Located near the waterline at the head of a bay in the southeast corner of the lake. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Tabernilla Southbound Rear 1914. Active; characteristic unknown. Roughly 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, at least on the side facing northbound ships. The Rommers report has a photo (page 2), and Google has a satellite view. Located surrounded by the jungle about 400 m (1/4 mi) south of the front light. Site and tower closed. San Pablo Southbound Range Front 1914. Active; characteristic unknown. Roughly 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. The Seerys have a good photo, the Rommers report has a small photo (bottom of page 2), and Google has a satellite view. Located on the south side of the canal at the exit from Gatún Lake. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. San Pablo Southbound Range Rear (2) Date unknown (station established 1914). Active; characteristic unknown. Roughly 20 m (66 ft) skeletal tower carrying a daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. The Rommers report has a small photo (bottom of page 2), and Google has a satellite view. Located on the south side of the canal at the exit from Gatún Lake. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed.

San Pablo Northbound Lights, April 2010 photo copyright Jim and Hilari Seery used by permission

Gamboa Northbound Front

1914. Active; continuous green light. Roughly 14 m (45 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white on the northbound side, black on the southbound. A photo is available, also a second photo, the Rommers report has a photos (bottom of page 1 and top of page 2), and Google has a satellite view. Located about 6 km (4 mi) west of Gamboa, marking the end of the Gamboa Northbound Reach leading into Gatún Lake. Site and tower closed. ARLHS PAN-028.

Gamboa Northbound Rear 1914. Active; occulting green light. Roughly 18 m (60 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white on the northbound side at least. The Seerys have a photo, the Rommers report has photos (bottom of page 1 and top of page 2), we have a very distant aerial view (the lighthouse appears above the ship in the distance), and Google has a satellite view. Located a short distance east of Darien marking the end of the westward Gamboa Reach leading into Gatún Lake. Site and tower closed. * Gamboa Southbound Front (1) 1914. Inactive. Roughly 14 m (45 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted gray. This lighthouse faces southbound ships at the entrance to the Gaillard (Culebra) Cut from Gatún Lake. Jaime Iturralde's photo is at right, a 2008 photo is available, Lighthouse Explorer has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse was abandoned and in poor condition as of 2000, but it has been at least partially restored. A November 2004 photo shows it repainted black. This light has been replaced by a light on a skeletal tower on the opposite (east) side of the Río Chagres. Located on the west side of the Río Chagres, at the entrance to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, in the town of Gamboa. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PAN-027. Gamboa Southbound Front (2) Date unknown. Active; light characteristic unknown. Approx. 30 m (98 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. The upper third of the tower carries a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. Dana Krapfl has a photo of the range lights. Located on the north side of the Canal on the east side of the Río Chagres. Site status unknown.

Gamboa Southbound Front Light, April 2011 photo copyright Jaime A. Iturralde D.; used by permission

Gamboa Southbound Rear (2)

Date unknown. Active; light characteristic unknown. Approx. 30 m (98 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. The upper third of the tower carries a slatted daymark painted black with a white vertical stripe. Dana Krapfl has a photo of the range lights. Located on the north side of the Canal on the east side of the Río Chagres. Site status unknown.

Miraflores Area Lighthouses

* Balboa (Miraflores) Northbound Front 1914. Active; continuous green light. Roughly 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white on the front (south-facing) side and black on the rear. Another photo is available, the Rommers report has nighttime and daytime photos (page 1), and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse faces northbound (Atlantic-bound) ships approaching the Miraflores locks from the Pacific on the Balboa Reach. The new locks are being built west of the old ones, which will not disturb the historic lighthouses. Located on the east side of the Canal just south of the Miraflores Locks. Site open, and the view from ships passing through the locks is excellent; tower closed. ARLHS PAN-033. * Balboa (Miraflores) Northbound Rear 1914. Active; occulting green light. Roughly 15 m (50 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Elbier Minks's photo is at right, Elisabeth D'Orcy has a closeup photo, the Rommers report has a photo (page 1), and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is located about 500 m (0.3 mi) east of the Miraflores Locks in an area crossed by powerlines. The main road paralleling the canal passes the lighthouse. Site open; tower closed. ARLHS PAN-030. Balboa Area Lighthouses Pacific Entrance Range Rear (1) 1914. Inactive since 1962(?). Roughly 25 m (82 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted black. The Seerys have a photo. This lighthouse is similar to the well-known Gatún Northbound Rear Light (see above), but it is abandoned, forgotten, and probably endangered. Located to the north of its successor (next entry). Site status unknown. Pacific Entrance Range Rear (2) 1962(?) (station established 1914). Active; focal plane 61 m (200 ft); green light occulting every 3.5 s (white light occulting every 3.5 s during the day). 30.5 m (100 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo of the present rear light, the Seerys have a photo of all three lights of this range, and Google has a satellite view. Huelse has a postcard view of the original front light in which the original rear light is visible in the distance. Located about 1000 m (0.6 mi) west of the Canal in the area of the former U.S. Navy Depot. Site status unknown. ARLHS PAN-031; Admiralty G3200.1; NGA 111-0108.

Miraflores Northbound Rear Light, December 2004 Creative Commons photo by Elbier Minks, no longer available online

Pacific Entrance Range Middle

1962(?). Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); continuous green light. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower carrying a large white daymark facing the range line. Trabas has a photo by Capt. Peter Mosselberger, the Seerys have a photo of all three lights of this range, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the west side of the Canal just south of the Bridge of the Americas in Balboa. Site status unknown, possibly open; tower closed. Admiralty G3200.05; NGA 111-0106.

Pacific Entrance Range Front (1)

1914. Inactive since 1962(?). 13 m (43 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted black. The Seerys have a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the west bank of the Canal about 2 km (1.25 mi) north of the Bridge of the Americas. Site status unknown.

Pacific Entrance Range Front (2)

1962(?) (station established 1914). Active; focal plane 20 m (65 ft); continuous green light. 8 m (26 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower adjacent to a small concrete workroom. The tower has a white rectangular daymark facing the range line. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo of the present light, the Seerys have a photo of all three lights of this range, and Google has a satellite view. It appears that the original range lights were replaced with taller towers when the Bridge of the Americas was built (1959-62), in order to maintain visibility of the lights against the competing lights of the bridge. Located on the west side of the Canal south of the Bridge of the Americas in Balboa. Site status unknown, possibly open; tower closed. ARLHS PAN-032; Admiralty G3200; NGA 111-0104.

Balboa Southbound Front (1) 1914. Inactive, probably since 1962. Roughly 9 m (30 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted black, mounted on a square concrete pier. Becky Gravenmier has a closeup photo, a second closeup is available, we have an aerial photo in which the lighthouse can be seen to the left (north) of the main span of the Bridge of the Americas, and Google has a satellite view. This range guided ships leaving the Miraflores Locks and departing the Canal. The range was probably deactivated around 1962, when the Bridge of the Americas was completed, requiring a small adjustment in the line of the range. The light was moved to a short skeletal tower. Located on the west side of the Canal channel just north of the bridge in Balboa. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS PAN-038. Balboa Southbound Rear (1) 1914. Inactive, probably since 1962. Roughly 13 m (43 ft) concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted black. The Seerys have a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Becky Gravenmier has a photo in which the light can be seen under the western approach span of the Bridge of the Americas, and we have an aerial photo showing the light just behind (south of) the Bridge of the Americas. This light is located perhaps 100 m (330 ft) south of the Pacific Entrance Range Front Light. Located on the west side of the Canal just south of the Bridge of the Americas in Balboa. Site status unknown, possibly open; tower closed. ARLHS PAN-039. Balboa Southbound Rear (2) 1962(?). Active; occulting green light. Roughly 13 m (43 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower carrying a large white daymark facing the range line. The Seerys have a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located a few feet northwest of the original lighthouse. Site status unknown, possibly open; tower closed. Flamenco Island (Pacific Signal Station) 1920s. Active; focal plane 47 m (154 ft); alternating white and red lights, occulting every 5 s. No tower: lantern mounted directly on the face of a steep bluff. The Seerys' photo is at right, Trabas has Capt. Peter's distant photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on an island about 8 km (5 mi) southeast of the Canal entrance. The island, site of a popular restaurant and marina, is connected to the mainland by the Amador Causeway, but we don't know if there is any public access to the signal station area. Site status unknown. ARLHS PAN-024; Admiralty G3198; NGA 111-0096.

Flamenco Signal Station and Light, April 2010 photo copyright Jim and Hilari Seery; used by permission

Pacific Coast Lighthouses

Peñon Limoncillo (Isla Chama)

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); white light, 2 s on, 13 s off. Approx. 14 m (46 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. Trabas has Capt. Theo Hinrich's distant photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located atop a huge rock off the northern tip of Isla Chama, about 20 km (13 mi) south of the Canal entrance. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty G3216; NGA 111-0060.

Isla Boná Date unknown. Active; focal plane 54 m (173 ft); white light, 3 s on, 10 s off. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, painted white. Trabas has Capt. Theo Hinrich's distant photo, but the tower is not seen in Google's fuzzy satellite view. Located atop a huge rock off the southern tip of Isla Boná, about 30 km (19 mi) south of the Canal entrance. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty G3222; NGA 111-0052. Isla Iguana Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white flash every 13 s. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. Trabas has Capt. Theo Hinrich's photo, a distant view is available, but Google's satellite view of the island has no detail at the location. Located on the east side of the island, about 18 km (11 mi) north of Punta Mala. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS PAN-005; Admiralty G3243; NGA 111-0047. Punta Mala (1) 1914. Inactive. Roughly 15 m (50 ft) tower, painted black. This is a landfall light for ships bound for the Canal from the Pacific. The abandoned lighthouse was in very poor condition until the government of Panama restored it in 2000. An older photo (next to last photo on the page) shows the lighthouse before the restoration. Located at the foot of a headland at the west entrance to the Gulf of Panama about 175 km (110 mi) southwest of the Canal entrance. Site status unknown. ARLHS PAN-013. Punta Mala (3) Date unknown (station established 1914). Active; focal plane 45 m (148 ft); white light, 5 s on, 15 s off. 33 m (108 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower mounted on a square cylindrical concrete skeletal base. The pyramidal portion of the tower is enclosed on at least 3 sides by a slatted daymark. Entire lighthouse is white. This tower seems to have replaced the shorter square cylindrical tower shown in Nancy Rau's photo. Trabas has Capt. Theo Hinrich's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located atop the headland at Punta Mala. Site status unknown. Admiralty G3242; NGA 111-0048. Frailes del Sur Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); red flash every 4 s. 12 m (40 ft) pyramidal concrete tower, painted white. Darién Montañez posted the photo at right, but Google's satellite view does not show the reef. The ruined doorway at left may be from a former keeper's house. Located on a rocky islet about 25 km (15 mi) southwest of Punta Mala. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS PAN-025; Admiralty G3246; NGA 111-0044.

Frailes del Sur Light, July 2008 Creative Commons photo by Darién Montañez

Morro de Puercos

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 84 m (276 ft); white flash every 7.5 s. 15 m (49 ft) square cylindrical 2-stage skeletal tower, painted white. Anel Gòmez has a view from the sea (the light is near the bottom of this giant cliff; click on the photo for enlargement), but Googl has only a very distant satellite view of the cape. Located on a promontory near the southernmost point of Panamá. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Admiralty G3250; NGA 111-0040.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

• Colón Breakwater (1852-?), Colón
• Gatún Northbound Front (1914-?), Gatún Locks

Adjoining pages: East: Colombia Caribbean | South: Colombia Pacific | West: Costa Rica

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Posted April 2001. Checked and revised November 24, 2011. Lighthouses: 53. Site copyright 2011 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.