Lighthouses of Northern Perú

Ancash Region (Chimbote Area) Lighthouses

Punta Cabeza de Largato (Puerto Huarmey) (2)

1981 (station established 1930). Active; focal plane 85 m (279 ft); white flash every 10 s. 6.5 m (21 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower, painted white with a single red horizontal band; no lantern. We have a Navy photo (last row, right photo), a distant view is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a headland about 115 km (70 mi) south of Chimbote. The lighthouse stands on property of the mining company Antamina. Site and tower closed. ARLHS PER-029; PE-21110; Admiralty G2076; NGA 0716.

Morro Calvario (Bahía Casma)

1978. Active; focal plane 242 m (794 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 12 m (39 ft) Máncora class square cylindrical concrete tower rising from a square pyramidal base, painted yellow; no lantern. Le Bret has DHN's photo, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the area. Located on a headland about 50 km (30 mi) south of Chimbote. Accessible, but it's a steep climb to the lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-015; PE-21108; Admiralty G2080; NGA 0712.

Isla Ferrol del Norte (2)

2000 (station established 1973). Active (?); focal plane 25 m (82 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical fiberglass tower mounted on a pyramidal concrete base. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands; no lantern. Le Bret has DHN's photo, and Mariano Valverde has a distant view, but the tower is hard to see in Google's satellite view. Located on a small island at the southern entrance to Chimbote harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Site manager: Proabonos. PE-21107; Admiralty G2084.4; NGA 0708.

Isla Blanca (Islote Roca Blanca) (1) (?) 1971. Inactive since about 2007. 7 m (24 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower, painted with black and white horizontal bands; no lantern. No photo available, although the light is barely visible in a Google satellite view. This light was dropped from the 2009 NGA list, but the 2011 NGA list includes a small skeletal beacon on the islet: focal plane 26 m (85 ft); red flash every 5 s. Isla Blanca is known for its wildlife, including seals and birds; ecotours are available from Chimbote. Located at the north end of an islet off the northern end of Isla Blanca, which shelters the harbor of Chimbote. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS PER-040; PE-21100; Admiralty G2085; NGA 0700. La Liberdad Region Lighthouses Isla Guañape Sur 1930. Active; focal plane 139 m (456 ft); white flash every 5 s. 8 m (28 ft) round cylindrical steel tower, painted with black and white horizontal bands; no lantern. Le Bret has DHN's photo, and the light is barely visible in Mariano Valverde's view of the island, but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the island. The lantern was apparently removed in 1973. Located atop an island about 65 km (40 mi) west of Salaverry. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Site manager: Proabonos. ARLHS PER-007; PE-21091; Admiralty G2088; NGA 0692. Morro Carretas (Salaverry) 1974. Active; focal plane 145 m (476 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 17 m (56 ft) Máncora class square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a square pyramidal base, painted black with an orange band. The lantern is also painted orange. We have a Navy photo (third row, center photo), one of Beasley's 2008 photos is at the top of this page, Eduardo Ganoza has a distant view (lighthouse at upper left), a 2008 view is available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a steep bluff just south of Salaverry, a seaport just south of Trujillo in northern Peru. Site and tower closed (restricted area). ARLHS PER-018; PE-21090; Admiralty G2089; NGA 0680. * Punta Pacasmayo (2) 1967 (station established 1935). Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 11 m (36 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted in a black and white checkered pattern. A photo is at right, Adrian Torres has a good closeup, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. This location is famous for its surf; surfing sites often mention the lighthouse, and one of them has a photo. Pacasmayo is the first coastal location south of Máncora that is readily accessible from the Pan-American Highway. Located about 1.5 km (1 mi) southwest of Pacasmayo, a town about 160 km (100 mi) northwest of Trujillo. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-031; PE-12077; Admiralty G2106; NGA 0664.

Faro de Pacasmayo Town of Pacasmayo photo

Lambayeque Region Lighthouses

Morro Eten 1975. Inactive. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower, painted black with a single horizontal white band; no lantern. The active light (focal plane 219 m (719 ft); white flash every 10 s) is now on a skeletal mast. We have a Navy photo (fourth row, left photo), and Google has a satellite view. Sadly, this abandoned lighthouse is deteriorating rapidly. Located high above a prominent headland about 50 km (30 mi) north of Pacasmayo and 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Eten. Accessible by a long, steep climb. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-022; PE-12072; Admiralty G2117; NGA 0656. Isla Lobos de Afuera (1) 1906. Inactive, at least since 1975. 8 m (26 ft) cast iron tower; lantern removed. Isla Lobos de Afuera (2) 1975 (station established 1906). Active; focal plane 86 m (282 ft); white flash every 10 s. 18 m (59 ft) Máncora class square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern rising from a square pyramidal base, painted black with a single horizontal white band; lantern is white with a black roof. Crew quarters for rotating crews of Peruvian marines who staff the light station. Google has only a very distant satellite view of this remote island. This is one of several Máncora class towers that have lanterns. The island is a wildlife sanctuary. Located on a small island about 80 km (50 mi) off Chilayo. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed; landings on the island require permission of the Navy. Site manager: Proabonos. ARLHS PER-013; PE-12069; Admiralty G2112; NGA 0636. Isla Lobos de Tierra 1937. Active; focal plane 82 m (269 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) metal (cast iron?) tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. The Navy's photo is at right, and Google has a very distant satellite view. This traditional lighthouse design is unusual in Peru. Isla Lobos de Tierra is a barren island about 16 km (10 mi) long. The island is a wildlife sanctuary. Located about 16 km (10 mi) offshore. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Site manager: Proabonos. ARLHS PER-053; PE-12061; Admiralty G2124; NGA 0632. Piura Region Lighthouses Punta la Negra (2) 2003 (station established 1981). Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); white flash every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower rising from a square pyramidal base, painted with black and white horizontal bands; no lantern. Martin Berendson Leigh has contributed a photo, Le Bret has DHN's photo, and the slender tower is visible in a Google satellite view. Located on a headland about 65 km (40 mi) southwest of Bayóvar. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-028; PE-12060; Admiralty G2125; NGA 0628.

Faro Isla Lobos de Tierra Peruvian Navy photo

Bayóvar (Punta Aguja)

1977. Active; focal plane 184 m (604 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 18 m (59 ft) Máncora class square cylindrical concrete tower rising from a conical base, painted with black and white horizontal bands; no lantern. Le Bret has DHN's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on Punta Aguja, a prominent cape about 25 km (15 mi) west of the port of Bayóvar. This lighthouse is on property of Petroperu, the government-owned oil company. Site and tower closed. PE-12050; Admiralty G2127; NGA 0608.

Isla Foca 1931. Active; focal plane 57 m (187 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 4.5 m (15 ft) conical tower with gallery, painted with black and white horizontal bands. We have a Navy photo, and Google has a satellite view. The island (actually two islands separated by a narrow channel) is barely 5 degrees south of the equator but is the world's northernmost nesting ground for penguins. Located just off the coast about 40 km (25 mi) southwest of Paita. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS PER-046; PE-11047; Admiralty G2132; NGA 0604. Punta Telegrafo (Paita) 1974. Active; focal plane 101 m (332 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 19 m (60 ft) Máncora class square cylindrical concrete tower rising from a square pyramidal base, painted black with a broad orange horizontal band; no lantern. Martin Berendson Leigh has contributed the photo seen at right, a closeup is available, Le Bret has DHN's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a headland about 5 km (3 mi) west of Paita, the principal seaport of northern Peru. Site status unknown. ARLHS PER-017; PE-11037; Admiralty G2132.8; NGA 0584. * Punta Pariñas 1974. Active; focal plane 73 m (240 ft); white light, 2 s on, 8 s off. 18 m (59 ft) conical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a single red horizontal band. We have a closeup Navy photo, a 2009 closeup is available, Adam Gordon has a view from below, and Google has a good satellite view. This lighthouse marks the westernmost point of South America at longitude 81° 19' 40" west. There is a popular beach just south of the cape, and visitors can climb the headland to see seals below. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-030; PE-11032; Admiralty G2138; NGA 0580.

Faro Punta Telegrafo, Paita, 2004 photo copyright Martin Berendson Leigh; used by permission

Punta Talara 1942. Active; focal plane 61 m (201 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 8 m (26 ft) round metal tower with lantern and gallery, painted black with a single white horizontal band; no lantern. 1-story service building, also painted black. Le Bret has DHN's closeup photo, a very distant view and a second view are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the cape sheltering the harbor of Talara. Site status unknown. ARLHS PER-035; PE-11015; Admiralty G2140; NGA 0548. Cabo Blanco 1978. Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); white flash every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) Máncora class square cylindrical concrete tower rising from a square pyramidal base, painted with black and white horizontal bands; no lantern. Martin Berendson Leigh has contributed a photo, Le Bret has DHN's closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the cape about 55 km (35 mi) northeast of Talara. Site and tower closed (private property) but there is a good view from the nearby beach. ARLHS PER-003; PE-11007; Admiralty G2153; NGA 0544. * Máncora 1978. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); three white flashes at uneven intervals (separated by 2.5 s, 6 s, and 10 s) every 20 s. 12 m (39 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower rising from a square pyramidal base, painted with red and white horizontal bands; no lantern. This lighthouse design is very common in Peru, and I call it the "Máncora class." José Balta's photo is at right, we have a Navy photo, Martin Berendson Leigh has contributed a photo showing the lighthouse above the town, Luis Abanto Salazar has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a bluff above the port of Máncora about 100 km (60 mi) southwest of Tumbes. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-042; PE-11006; Admiralty G2158; NGA 0540.

Máncora Light, Piura Region, March 2013 photo copyright José Balta Varillas; used by permission

Tumbes Region Lighthouses

* Contralmirante Villar (Zorritos) (2) 1975. Active; focal plane 77 m (253 ft); white flash every 10 s. 18 m (59 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower on a pyramidal base, painted with black and white horizontal bands; no lantern. Martin Berendsen Leigh's 2009 photo is at right, Le Bret has DHN's closeup, Abe Saloman has a distant photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located in Puerto Zorritos, a fishing port about 30 km (20 mi) southwest of Tumbes. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-005; PE-11003; Admiralty G2180; NGA 0536. Punta Capones (2) 2000 (station established 1975). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 15 m (49 ft) slender round fiberglass tower on a conical concrete base, painted with red and white horizontal bands; no lantern. Le Bret has DHN's photo, and the lighthouse appears on a 2004 postage stamp, but Google has only a very blurry satellite view of the location. Located near the border of Ecuador, at the southern entrance to the Golfo de Guayaquil, about 50 km (30 mi) northeast of Tumbes. Site status unknown. ARLHS PER-044; PE-11001; Admiralty G2202; NGA 0528. Río Amazonas Lighthouse Pijuayal Date unknown. Active. Round cylindrical tower painted with narrow red and white horizontal bands. We have a Navy photo (last row, center photo). This is one of at least seven Peruvian lights on the upper course of the Amazon, but it is the only one for which a photo is available. We don't know if the others qualify as lighthouses. Located in or near the town of Pijuayal, where the river makes a right-angle turn from northeast to southeast. Ecotours of the Amazon visit Pijuayal, which is Peru's port of entry from downstream. Site status unknown. ARLHS PER-043. Information available on lost lighthouses: Notable faux lighthouses:

Faro Contralmirante Villar, Zorritos, April 2009 photo copyright Martin Berendson Leigh used by permission

Adjoining pages: North: Ecuador | South: Southern Perú

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Created June 2002. Checked and revised October 16, 2012. Lighthouses: 22. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.