Lighthouses of Uruguay

Rocha Department (Atlantic Coast) Lighthouses

* [Monumento Artigas (Sandra)] Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 5 s. Approx. 3 m (10 ft) square white concrete pillar attached to a second pillar carrying a statue of Gen. José Gervasio Artigas, the hero of Uruguay's struggle for independence from Spain. A closeup photo and a second closeup are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rocky promontory about 3 km (2 mi) northeast of the Punta Palmar lighthouse (next entry). Site open. Admiralty G0658; NGA 19016. Punta Palmar (2) 1984 (station established 1977). Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) round "barbell" fiberglass tower, flared at top and bottom, painted with red and white horizontal bands. No lantern. A closeup is available, Wikimedia has a photo, Maizels has photos showing the site, and Google has a satellite view. This light replaced a 10 m (33 ft) skeletal tower that proved unsatisfactory. Located off national route 9 about 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Castillos. Site and tower closed (surrounded by private property). ARLHS URU-013; Admiralty G0660; NGA 19020. ** Cabo Polonio 1881. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 12 s. 26 m (85 ft) round brick tower with lantern and double gallery rising from 1-story keeper's house. Tower unpainted except for three narrow white horizontal bands; lantern and watch room painted with red and white vertical stripes. Sibling of the Faro José Ignacio. A photo appears at the top of this page, another good photo is available, Köhler has a nice view, and Google has a fine satellite view. This light station is staffed. The lighthouse marks a rocky point in an otherwise sandy area; nearby offshore are several islands with colonies of seals. The area was declared a national monument in 1976. There's no public road access, but the light can be reached by hiking on the beach from nearby resorts. Guided tours are available. Located off national route 9 about 25 km (15 mi) south of Castillos. Site open; tower open for climbing on weekend and holiday late afternoons. Site manager: Monumento Nacional de Dunas. ARLHS URU-005; Admiralty G0662; NGA 19024. * Maria Victoria Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft) (?); flash every 4 s, white or red depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery and an enclosed upper section, painted with red and white horizontal bands. The tower height looks more like 12 m (39 ft) in a photo by Victor Denis and a second photo by Alejandro Eguía. Google has a satellite view. This light guides vessels entering a small harbor on the north side of Cabo Santa Maria. Located on the beach about 3 km (2 mi) north of the Faro de la Paloma (next entry). Site open, tower closed. Admiralty G0664; NGA 19028. *** Cabo Santa Maria (La Paloma) 1874. Active; focal plane 42 m (137 ft); white flash every 60 s. 20 m (98 ft) round brick tower with lantern and gallery rising from 1-story keeper's house. Tower painted white; lantern and watch room painted with red and white vertical stripes. Mauro Bosagna's photo is at right, Portal de la Paloma has a page for the lighthouse with good photos, Ingo Wilges has a good 2008 photo, Köhler has a closeup, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The light station is staffed, and it was declared a national historic monument in 1976. Located on the cape in the seaside resort of La Paloma, at the end of national route 15. Site open; tower open for climbing in late afternoons Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays. ARLHS URU-004; Admiralty G0668; NGA 19032.

Faro de la Paloma, February 2007 Flickr Creative Commons photo by Mauro Bosagna

Maldonado Department (Punta del Este Area) Lighthouses

* Punta José Ignacio 1877. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); white flash every 2 s. 25 m (82 ft) round brick tower with lantern and gallery rising from 1-story keeper's house. Tower unpainted except for three narrow white horizontal bands; lantern and watch room painted with red and white vertical stripes. Light station is staffed. Sergio Amosar has a good photo, Matt Rubens has a nice photo, Köhler has a photo, Maizels has two photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rocky point in a popular resort area on the coastal road (national route 10) about 55 km (35 mi) southwest of La Paloma. Site open, tower status uncertain. ARLHS URU-006; Admiralty G0672; NGA 19036. Isla de Lobos (2) 1906 (station established 1858). Active; focal plane 66 m (217 ft); white flash every 5 s; the tower also carries a continuous red light at a focal plane of 53 m (174 ft). 59 m (194 ft) round tapered concrete tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a round stone base. Lighthouse painted white; base unpainted; lantern and watch room painted with red and white vertical stripes. Priscilla Jordão's photo is at right, Alejandro Machin has a 2007 photo, a closeup photo (misidentified as "Punta Ballena") is available, Julieta Zubiri has a view from the sea, Trabas has Capt. Peter's view from the sea, Wikimedia has photos, and Huelse has a historic postcard view, but the island doesn't appear in Google's satellite view. The light station is staffed. Uruguay's tallest lighthouse, this is also one of the tallest concrete lighthouses in the world. The 1858 lighthouse was short-lived: sealers protested that it scared away the animals, so the light was moved to Punta del Este in 1860. The 1906 tower was designed by Victor Benavídez and built by José María Claret. Located on a small (36 ha, 90 acre) island about 13 km (8 mi) southeast of Punta del Este. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed (the island is a wildlife sanctuary protecting a huge colony of seals). Site manager: Reserva Natural Isla de Lobos. ARLHS URU-002; UY-060; Admiralty G0676; NGA 19040. *** Punta del Este (Bahía de Maldonado) 1860. Active; focal plane 44 m (144 ft); white flash every 8 s. 25 m (82 ft) round brick tower with lantern and gallery rising from a 1-story keeper's house. Tower unpainted; lantern painted white with a red-and-white striped roof. Köhler has a photo, an excellent photo and another good photo are available, Maizels also has good photos, and Google has a satellite view. The light station is staffed. The lighthouse was refurbished in 1923, but it was not replaced as some sources state. The narrow peninsula of Punta del Este is the southernmost point of Uruguay; it encloses the east side of the Bahía de Maldonado and is the extreme eastern end of the Río de la Plata embayment and estuary. Located on the Plaza del Faro near the end of the peninsula in the resort city of Punta del Este. Site open; the tower is reported to be open, but no schedule is available. ARLHS URU-008; Admiralty G0682; NGA 19044.

Faro de Isla de Lobos, Punta del Este, November 2007 Flickr Creative Commons photo by Priscilla Jordão

* Punta del Este West Breakwater

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7.5 m (25 ft) (?); red flash every 5 s. 8 m (26 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, painted red. No closeup photo available, but the tower is seen in an aerial photo (click on the photo for enlargement), and Google has a satellite view. The tower appears to be taller than its listed height. Located at the end of the breakwater of Punta del Este; accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty G0684; NGA 19048.

Isla Gorriti

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); green flash every 5 s. 5 m (17 ft) post light attached to a 1-story square concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white. A distant photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Isla Gorriti is an island about 1.7 km (1 mi) long, lying about 1.6 km (1 mi) west of Punta del Este. The island is a nature reserve, but visitors are permitted. Located on the southeastern corner of the island, near a fort that defended the island unsuccessfully against a British attack in 1806. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty G0683; NGA 19056.

* [Punta Negra (Punta Colorada)]

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 5 s. Approx. 11 m (36 ft) square skeletal tower, painted black. Diego Lanza has a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located in the median of a street about 5 km (3 mi) southeast of Piriapolis. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS URU-015; Admiralty G0688; NGA 19068.

Montevideo Department Lighthouses

Isla de Flores 1828 (designed by Francisco Antonio Raposo). Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); two white flashes, separated by 4 s, every 16 s. 19 m (64 ft) round old-style brick tower with lantern and gallery attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Tower painted white; lantern and watch room painted with red and white vertical stripes. A 2007 photo is available, Trabas and Capt. Peter have a distant photo, and Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. Findlay's 1879 list has 1833 as the station establishment date. The height of the lighthouse was increased in 1911 (after Huelse's postcard view). The light station is staffed. The island is about 12 km (7 mi) offshore in the Río de la Plata and about 32 km (20 mi) east of Montevideo. It is a historic site, having been used formerly as a slave reception station and as a sanitorium; today the light station is the only activity. Located on the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS URU-001; Admiralty G0690; NGA 19080. * Yacht Club Uruguayo (Puerto del Buceo) 1939. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 5 s. Light mounted atop an 8-story Art Deco concrete and steel building. Entire building is white. Manilo Ferrari has a good photo, Köhler has a photo, Fernando Gonzalez has a view from across the harbor, and Google has a satellite view. The building was listed as a historic site in 1997. Located at the Puerto del Budeo on the east side of Montevideo. Site open. Site manager: Yacht Club Uruguayo. ARLHS URU-014; Admiralty G0699; NGA 19112. * [Puerto del Buceo West Breakwater] Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); green flash every 5 s. 8 m (26 ft) square skeletal tower, painted green. Lucio Lobo Jr. has a photo, Lighthouse Explorer has Nancy Rau's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater of Puerto del Buceo. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS URU-014; Admiralty G0696; NGA 19104. ** Punta Brava (Punta Carretas) 1876. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); flash every 5 s, alternating red and white. 19 m (63 ft) round cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 2-story keeper's house. Tower unpainted; lantern and watch room painted with red and white vertical stripes; keeper's house painted white. The house is wrapped around the tower in an unusual way. Vince Alongi's photo is at right, Köhler has a good photo, Maizels also has photos, another photo is available, Wikimedia has several excellent photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The second story was added to the keeper's house in 1911. The light station is staffed. Located at the end of a very sharp point on the southeastern side of the city of Montevideo, Uruguay's capital. Site open, tower sometimes open but we have no information on the schedule. ARLHS URU-012; Admiralty G0700; NGA 19124.

Faro de Punta Brava, Montevideo, December 2006 Flickr Creative Commons photo by Vince Alongi

* Montevideo Catedral Metropolitana

1862. Inactive since about 1910. Approx. 23 m (75 ft) square masonry church tower, the south tower of the 1790 Metropolitan Cathedral in downtown Montevideo. A good photo is available (the south tower is on the left in the photo), Köhler has a photo, and Google has a good satellite view. Findlay's 1879 list has 1864 as the station establishment date. The light was removed after mariners complained it was difficult to distinguish from other lights of the city. Located in the old part of the city, which is on a peninsula jutting into the Río de la Plata. Site open, tower closed.

* Escollera Sarandí (Montevideo East Breakwater) Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); red flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) post light centered on an octagonal stone and concrete fortification. Carlos Ruiz Badilla has a good photo, a second photo is available, Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater at the entrance to Montevideo harbor. Accessible by walking the pier, which is popular with fishermen. Site open, the old fort may be open, tower closed. Admiralty G0704; NGA 19136. ** El Cerro de Montevideo (Fortaleza General Artigas) 1802. Active; focal plane 148 m (486 ft); three white flashes, separated by 2 s, every 10 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery rising from a historic fortress. Entire lighthouse painted white. The light station is staffed. Maizels also has a closeup photo, Köhler has a photo, another photo is available, Wikimedia has photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This is Uruguay's oldest lighthouse, built by Spain before Uruguay became independent. Restored during the 1930s, the fortress reopened in 1939 as Uruguay's military museum, the Museo Militar Fortaleza General Artigas. The light has very little navigational value today, but it is maintained for historic continuity. Located atop the hill (cerro) for which the city is named, but across the harbor (west) from the main part of the modern city. Site open, museum open daily, tower closed so far as is known. ARLHS URU-009; Admiralty G0702; NGA 19184. San José Department Lighthouse La Penela (2) 1984 (station established 1915; lightship station established 1866). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); four white flashes every 10 s. 14 m (46 ft) round "barbell" fiberglass tower, flared at top and bottom, mounted on the circular caisson of the 1915 lighthouse. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. No lantern. Additional photos are available. There is a postage stamp image of the original lighthouse, which had a round light tower centered on a square keeper's quarters. Located in the Río de la Plata about 10 km (6 mi) west of Cerro de Montevideo. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS URU-011; Admiralty G0736; NGA 19196. Colonia Department Lighthouses *** Colonia del Sacramento 1857. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); red flash every 9 s. 27 m (88 ft) cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery, lower half square, upper half round. Lighthouse painted white; lantern painted with red and white vertical stripes. Ignacio Errico's photo is at right, Maizels has two photos, an excellent closeup is available, Wikimedia has numerous photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The light station is staffed. The lighthouse is built within the ruins of the Convento de San Francisco Javier, built by the Portuguese in 1682. Construction of the lighthouse began in 1845, but it was interrupted by a prolonged civil war, the Guerra Grande, which finally ended in 1852. Adjacent to the light station is the municipal museum of this historic city, which faces Buenos Aires across the broad Río de la Plata estuary. Located in the historic district of the city, on a peninsula extending into the Río de la Plata. Site open, tower is obviously open but no information on the schedule is available. ARLHS URU-007; Admiralty G0756; NGA 19260. Isla de Farallón 1876. Active; focal plane 26 m (86 ft); two white flashes, separated by 2.5 s, every 10 s. 24 m (79 ft) round brick tower with lantern rising from 1-story keeper's house. Tower painted white; lantern and watch room painted with red and white vertical stripes. Trabas has Capt. Theo Hinrichs's photo (also seen at right), Victor Longines has a good view from the sea, Robert Pollack has a distant view, Gonzalo Sainz-Trápaga has another distant view that shows the lighthouse in action, the lighthouse also appears on a postage stamp, Lighthouse Explorer has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This is an automated lighthouse; the keeper's house is abandoned and probably endangered. Located on a tiny island in the Río de la Plata about 5 km (3 mi) west southwest of Colonia del Sacramento. Accessible only by boat (and the island is said to be infested with poisonous snakes). Site and tower closed. ARLHS URU-003; Admiralty G0762; NGA 19280. Piedra Diamante Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); two long white flashes every 6 s. 18 m (59 ft) round tapered concrete tower with lantern, painted yellow. Trabas has Capt. Theo Hinrichs's photo (also seen at right). Despite its proximity to the Uruguay coast, this lighthouse was built by Argentina. (A note is needed here. Under a 1973 treaty, this lighthouse stands in "shared waters," where Argentina and Uruguay share jurisdiction. The treaty provides that both countries may build and maintain navigational aids in shared waters. Argentina maintains navigational aids in this area, very close to the coast of Uruguay, because the shipping channel leads to Argentine ports on the Río Uruguay and Río Paraná. Uruguay owns the economic rights to the seabed under the lighthouse, and if future sedimentation should bring the shoal to the surface the resulting island would be Uruguayan territory. Because of the ambiguous geographical context, the Directory lists this lighthouse both under Uruguay and under Northern Argentina.) Located on the Barra de San Pedro, a shoal in the Río de la Plata about 8 km (5 mi) north northwest of Isla de Farallón. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Argentine Servicio de Hidrografía Naval. Admiralty G0789; NGA 19284.

Faro de la Colonia del Sacramento, October 2006 Flickr Creative Commons photo by Ignacio Errico Faro de Farallón, Colonia del Sacramento, November 2009 photo copyright Capt. Theo Hinrichs; used by permission Faro de Piedra Diamante, Colonia del Sacramento, November 2009 photo copyright Capt. Theo Hinrichs; used by permission

Notable faux lighthouses:

• La Torre Anchorena, at the confluence of the Río San Juan and the Río de la Plata, is about 69 m (225 ft) tall. It was privately built and intended to serve as a lighthouse, but it has never been an official aid to navigation. Google has a satellite view of the tower.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

• Lightship Banco Inglés (1857-1973). The last lightship on this station was the former U.S. lightship LV-111 (WAL-533), which was sold to Uruguay in 1969 and stationed on Banco Inglés in 1970. The ship had served previously on the Ambrose station (New York) and the Portland station (Maine). A Uruguayan postage stamp has an image of the ship. The ship drifted from its station and ran aground near Montevideo in 1973. It was scrapped, but its fog bell is on display at the Faro José Ignacio.

Adjoining pages: North: Southern Brazil | South: Northern Argentina

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Posted 2004. Checked and revised August 30, 2012. Lighthouses: 19. Site copyright 2012 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.