Puerto Rico Lighthouses

Puerto Rico, the easternmost island of the Greater Antilles, was a Spanish colony until it was captured by U.S. forces during the Spanish-American War of 1898. It is now a self-governing commonwealth within the United States. Puerto Rico's 16 surviving light stations include 11 historic lighthouses built by the Spanish before the U.S. annexation. Some of these Spanish lighthouses are revered national monuments, but several others are abandoned and endangered. Fortunately, interest in lighthouse preservation has increased greatly in recent years, and major restoration projects have been carried out at Arecibo, Cabo Rojo, and Punta de las Figuras. But much remains to be done, and five Puerto Rican lighthouses remain on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume J of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. USCG numbers are from Volume III of the U.S. Coast Guard Light List. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 110. What's Hot: New preservation group at Punta Tuna General Sources Faros de Puerto Pico A Spanish-language site by Alexis Colón-Sepúlveda with photos and historical information. The Lighthouse People - Puerto Rico Bob and Sandra Shanklin have reports and photos from each light station. The Doomsday Lighthouses of Puerto Rico Lighthouse Digest article of February 2002, also by Bob and Sandra Shanklin. Lighthouses in the Caribbean Excellent aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.

Faro de Punta Higuero, Rincón, May 2003 anonymous Creative Commons photo

Mona Island Lighthouse
Isla de Mona

1900. Inactive since 1976. 52 ft (16 m) pyramidal skeletal cast iron tower with central cylinder, lantern and gallery. Originally painted black, the lighthouse is now covered with rust. The active light (1976; focal plane 323 ft (98 m); white flash every 5 s) is on a 40 ft (12 m) steel tower. The Coast Guard has a photo of the light station in service, Colón-Sepúlveda has a recent photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. The lighthouse has deteriorated severely since deactivation and is in danger of being lost, according to an October 2004 article by the Shanklins. The abandoned lighthouse has been added to the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. The Isla de Mona, part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is located in the Mona Passage between the Puerto Rican mainland and the Dominican Republic. Uninhabited except when visited by biological and ecological researchers, it is accessible by charter and tour boats (6 hour trip one way) from Mayaguez and Cabo Rojo. Located on a high bluff on the east side of the island, accessible by hiking trails from established campsites. Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Departamento de Recursos Naturales. ARLHS PUR-011; Admiralty J5486; USCG 3-32295; NGA 14412.

Northern Puerto Rico Lighthouses

** Punta Higuero (Point Jiguero, Rincón) (2)

1922 (station established 1892). Active; focal plane 90 ft (27 m); white light occulting every 4 s. 69 ft (21 m) cylindrical reinforced concrete tower with lantern and gallery; 250 mm lens. Tower painted white; the gallery and lantern roof are black. A photo appears above, Mickey Carrasquillo also has a good photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. The original lighthouse was destroyed by the tsunami of October 11, 1918. The lighthouse is the centerpiece of El Faro Park, a popular surfing and whale watching site. The park includes a visitor center and gift shop. Located off highway 413 north of Rincón at the easternmost point of the island, marking the entrance from the Atlantic to the Mona Passage. Google has a good satellite view. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Municipio de Rincón. ARLHS PUR-019; Admiralty J5488; USCG 3-32400; NGA 14416.

* Punta Borinquen (1)

1889. Inactive since 1918, when the lighthouse was nearly destroyed by a tsunami. The lighthouse was an octagonal cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story stone keeper's house, similar to the Cabo San Juan lighthouse. Foundations and portions of the walls are standing. Site closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS PUR-022.

* Punta Borinquen (2) 1920. Active; focal plane 292 ft (89 m); two white flashes, separated by 4 s, every 15s. 60 ft (18 m) cylindrical stone tower with gallery, unpainted; DCB-224 aerobeacon. Lantern removed. The 1-story keeper's house is used as vacation housing for Coast Guard personnel. Marinas.com has aerial photos, and the Coast Guard has a historic photo. The lighthouse is adjacent to a popular golf course built on the former Ramey Air Force Base. Located north of Aguadilla near the northwesternmost point of the island; Google has a satellite view. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS PUR-013; Admiralty J5490; USCG 3-30715; NGA 14420. *** Arecibo (Punta Morrillo) 1898. Active; focal plane 120 ft (36 m); white flash every 5 s. 46 ft (14 m) hexagonal cylindrical stone tower attached to 1-story stone office and keeper's house; 190 mm lens. Tower painted white. The original lantern, remove many years ago, has been replaced by a restored lantern with an unpainted copper roof. The Coast Guard has a historic photo, an excellent April 2007 photo is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. This is the last lighthouse built by the Spanish in Puerto Rico. The city restored the lantern and the lighthouse in 2001-02 and has opened the building as a historical museum. Located northeast of Arecibo, on the east side of the harbor entrance. Google has a good satellite view. Site open (park entry fee), lighthouse open daily, tower status unknown. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Municipio de Arecibo (Arecibo Lighthouse and Historical Park). ARLHS PUR-001; Admiralty J5492; USCG 3- 30720; NGA 14432.

Faro de Arecibo photo copyright Manuel Santiago; used by permission

* Puerto San Juan (El Morro) (3)

1908 (station estalished 1846). Active; focal plane 181 ft (55 m); white flashes every 10 s, every fourth flash omitted. 51 ft (15.5 m) square brick Moorish tower atop the battlements of El Morro (San Felipe del Morro), the castle-like fort guarding the entrance to San Juan harbor. Light tower painted gray, gallery and trim white, lantern black. The original 3° Fresnel lens remains in use. No keeper's house. This lighthouse, with its unique and beautiful design, represents Puerto Rico's oldest light station. Colón-Sepúlveda has a historic photo of the 1876 tower, which was heavily damaged by U.S. bombardment in 1898, and a portfolio of photos of the current light. The Shanklins also have excellent photos, and Marinas.com has fine aerial photos. The lighthouse was restored by the National Park Service in 1991. Located on the east side of the entrance to San Juan harbor; Google has a fine satellite view. Site open (1/4 mile (400 m) walk from parking), tower closed. Owner: U.S. National Park Service. Site manager: San Juan National Historic Site. ARLHS PUR-005; Admiralty J5494; USCG 3-30735; NGA 14436.

** Cabo San Juan (Fajardo)

1880. Active; focal plane 260 ft (79 m); white flash every 15 s. 45 ft (14 m) cylindrical stone tower; DCB-24 aerobeacon. Tower painted light gray with white trim, lantern black. The original 1-story neoclassical stone keeper's house is used as a nature center and marine laboratory operated by the College of Humacao of the University of Puerto Rico. A closeup of the tower is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. This beautiful and well-preserved Spanish lighthouse is the oldest in Puerto Rico. Located in the Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve on the northeasternmost point of the island, northeast of Fajardo, commanding a spectacular view. Google has a good satellite view. Site and tower open to guided tours Friday through Sunday (reservations required). Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico. ARLHS PUR-021; Admiralty J5528; USCG 3-31155; NGA 14464.

Southern Puerto Rico Lighthouses

**** Cabo Rojo (Los Morrillos) 1882. Active; focal plane 121 ft (37 m); white flash every 20 s. 40 ft (12 m) hexagonal cylindrical stone tower attached to a 1-story stone keeper's house; DCB-24 aerobeacon. Lighthouse painted gray with white trim. A photo appears at right, Phil Putnam has also posted a good photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. The lighthouse was renovated in 1986, but therafter it was not maintained and rapidly deteriorated through neglect and vandalism. In early 2001 the lighthouse was in very poor condition. In June 2002 the city government announced it would spend $4.5 million to restore the lighthouse, construct a visitor center, and establish a nature preserve in the surrounding area. Restoration of the light station began later in 2002 and was completed in October 2004. A second phase of this project will develop the grounds with walkways and wildlife viewing platforms. The light station is located within the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. Located on a dramatic limestone bluff overlooking the Caribbean at the end of PR 301 at Cabo Rojo, the southwestern tip of the island. Google has a satellite view. Site open, lighthouse and tower open daily Wednesday through Sunday. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Municipio de Cabo Rojo. ARLHS PUR-002; Admiralty J5578; USCG 3-32290; NGA 14572.

Faro de Cabo Rojo, May 2007; anonymous Creative Commons photo

* Guánica (Cana)

1893. Inactive since 1950. Octagonal cylindrical masonry tower attached to a 1-story masonry keeper's house; lantern removed. The tower and and keeper's house are in ruins. The lighthouse was replaced by a buoy offshore. Colón-Sepúlveda has a historic photo and a portfolio of photos of the current ruins.This is a critically endangered lighthouse; the building appears to be in danger of collapse. Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. The lighthouse is within a commonwealth nature reserve, El Bosque Seco (Guánica Dry Forest). Located on PR 333 about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) south of Guánica, where the lighthouse formerly marked the east side of the entrance to the Bahía de Guánica. Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Departamento de Recursos Naturales. ARLHS PUR-007.

Isla de Cardona

1889. Active; focal plane 46 ft (14 m); white flash every 4 s. 36 ft (11 m) cylindrical stone tower attached to 1-story stone keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; lantern is black. Original 6° Fresnel lens still in use. Marinas.com has aerial photos; Colón-Sepúlveda has a historic photo and an aerial photo of the island and lighthouse. The Coast Guard also has a historic photo. Located on the highest point of a small island about 2 km (1.2 mi) southeast of Ponce, marking the entrance to Ponce harbor; Google has a satellite view. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS PUR-009; Admiralty J5560; USCG 3-31950; NGA 14536.

Isla Caja de Muertos (Coffin Island, Muertos Island)

1887. Active; focal plane 297 ft (91 m); white flash every 30 s. 63 ft (19 m) cylindrical stone tower attached to 1-story stone keeper's house; 500 mm lens. Lighthouse painted white, lantern black. Marinas.com has aerial photos, Colón-Sepúlveda has an 1895 historic photo, and the Coast Guard also has a historic photo. Poorly maintained, the light station is on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. The Shanklins found the keeper's house unsecured and open to the elements. Caja de Muertos is a small island in the Caribbean about 8 km (5 mi) southeast of Ponce; it is accessible by passenger ferry from Ponce on weekends. The island is a nature preserve. Lighthouse located on the highest point of the island, more or less accessible by a very steep and difficult hiking trail. Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower apparently open but dangerous. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Departamento de Recursos Naturales. ARLHS PUR-003; Admiralty J5556; USCG 3-31925; NGA 14524.

* Punta de las Figuras (Point Figuras, Arroyo)

1893. Inactive since 1938. Approx. 50 ft (15 m) octagonal cylindrical brick tower attached to 1-story brick keeper's house. Lighthouse painted cream with white trim. A good 2007 photo is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. In early 2001, the lighthouse was in very poor shape, with no roof and only scraps of its lantern; this earned it a spot on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. However, the Puerto Rican government beautifully restored the lighthouse in 2002-03. The restoration cost $2.3 million and is part of a larger project creating a public recreation facility in the area. Google's satellite view shows the swimming pool and other facilities located adjacent to the light station. On the beach nearby is the metal ruin of a former range light, also long abandoned. Located southeast of Arroyo on the southeastern coast of the island. Owner/site manager: Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources. ARLHS PUR-014; Admiralty J5489.

* Punta Tuna (Maunabo)

1892. Active; focal plane 111 ft (34 m); two white flashes, separated by 10 s, every 30 s. 49 (15 m) ft octagonal cylindrical brick tower rising from a 1-story brick keeper's house; 190 mm lens. Lighthouse painted white, lantern black; the keeper's house is painted cream with white trim. Alberto Delucca has posted a good photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. In 2006, George Van Parys founded a support organization called Faro de Punta Tuna or Punta Tuna Lighthouse to work toward ownership and restoration of the lighthouse. Located southeast of Maunabo on a sharp promontory at the southeasternmost point of the island. Google has a satellite view. Site and tower closed, but the lighthouse can be viewed at close range from the beach nearby. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS PUR-016; Admiralty J5545; USCG 3-31800; NGA 14512.

Vieques and Culebra Lighthouses
Note: Vieques and Culebra are smaller island located off the east coast of Puerto Rico. Vieques is about 34 km (21 mi) long and has a population of about 10,000. Culebra is about 8 km (5 mi) in diameter has has a population of less than 2,000. Both islands are accessible by air and by ferries from Fajardo and San Juan.

**** Punta Mulas (Morropó, Isabella Segunda) 1896. Reactivated; focal plane 68 ft (21 m); red light occulting every 4 s. 32 ft (10 m) octagonal cylindrical brick tower rising from 1-story brick keeper's house; original 6° Fresnel lens. Lighthouse painted cream with white trim, lantern black. A photo appears at right, Colón-Sepúlveda has good photos, and the Coast Guard has a historic photo. Restored in 1992, the building houses a small maritime museum. Located on the east side of the entrance to the harbor of Isabella Segunda (Vieques) on the north side of the island of Vieques. Google has a satellite view. Site and tower normally open daily. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Municipio de Vieques. ARLHS PUR-015; Admiralty J5592; USCG 3-31530; NGA 14497. * Puerto Ferro 1896. Inactive since 1926. Octagonal cylindrical stone tower rising from the center of 1-story stone keeper's house. Active light (focal plane 56 ft (17 m); white flash every 4 s; USCG 1- 31715) on skeletal tower next to the lighthouse. The Coast Guard has a historic photo. Lantern removed. Endangered by decay and lack of maintenance, the lighthouse has fallen into ruin. Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. The lighthouse is in the former U.S. military base area; the Navy withdrew from these bases, after years of public protests, on May 1, 2003. Located on the central south coast of Vieques inside the former Camp Garcia Marine Base. Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: U.S. Marine Corps. ARLHS PUR-024.

Faro de Punta Mulas, December 2004 anonymous Creative Commons photo

Culebrita

1886. Reactivated (inactive 1959-?); focal plane 305 ft (93 m); white flash every 10 s. 43 ft (13 m) cylindrical stone tower rising from the center of a 1-story stone keeper's house. Although a July 2006 photo shows a modern light in the shattered lantern, it is amazing that this lighthouse is back in service. As of late 2000, the building is in ruins, severely damaged by vandals and by Hurricanes Hugo (1989) and Marilyn (1995). The Shanklins have a portfolio of photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Colón-Sepúlveda has an 1895 historic photo. This is another lighthouse on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. The building is reported to be hazardous inside. In 2003 ownership of the light station was transferred from the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge to the Municipality of Culebra. A commonwealth grant of $700,000 was reported to be available for preliminary restoration, and architects had been hired to supervise the work. However, a June 2007 photo shows no evidence of work in progress. Located on the highest point of Culebrita, off the eastern tip of Culebra and overlooking the Virgin Passage. Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Accessible only by boat (good anchorage available; day tours available from Culebra, which can be reached by air from San Juan or by ferry from Fajardo). It's a stiff hike from the beach to the lighthouse. Site open; tower open. Owner/site manager: Municipality of Culebra. ARLHS PUR-004; Admiralty J5608; USCG 3-31685; NGA 14480.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

• Isla Cabras (1908-1966), Ceiba Harbor. ARLHS PUR-008; Admiralty J5495.4.

Return to the Lighthouse Directory index

Checked and revised November 13, 2007. Lighthouses: 16. Site copyright 2007 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.