Lighthouses of Mexico: Northwest Coast (Sinaloa and Sonora)

Mexico, officially the United Mexican States (Estados Unidos Mexicanos or EUM), is the second largest country of Latin America and the largest Spanish-speaking nation in the world. With an east coast on the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea and a long west coast on the Pacific Ocean it has by far the longest coastline in Latin America and, as a result, the largest number of lighthouses.

Mexico is a federal union of 31 states (estados) plus the capital district, and the states are subdivided into municipalities (municipios). This page lists of lighthouses of the northwest coast of mainland Mexico in the states of Sinaloa and Sonora. This coast faces mostly on the Sea of Cortés (Gulf of California). From Mazatlán southward the coast is open to the Pacific Ocean.

Tourism is a major industry on much of this coast, but only a few of the lighthouses are tourist attractions. As a result, photos and visitor information are rather scarce on the Internet. If you have information on any of the lighthouses of Mexico, or photos you would be willing to share, please let me know.

In Spanish the word for a lighthouse is faro, baliza is a beacon, isla is an island, cabo is a cape, punta is a promontory or point of land, péñon is a rock, arrecife is a reef, bahía is a bay, ría is an estuary or inlet, estrecho is a strait, río is a river, and puerto is a port or harbor.

Mexican lighthouses are managed by the Port Captains and Maritime Affairs Unit (Unidad de Capitanías de Puerto y Asuntos Marítimos, UNICAPAM). Many of the larger light stations are staffed by resident civilian keepers.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. CF numbers are from the Mexican Cuaderno de Faros (Handbook of Lighthouses). Admiralty numbers are from volume G of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA numbers are from Publication 111.

General sources
Online List of Lights - Mexico Pacific
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas. Most of the photos for this coast are by Capt. Peter Mosselberger ("Capt. Peter").
Lighthouses in Mexico
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
World of Lighthouses - Mexico
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Leuchttürme Mittelamerikas auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.
Navionics Charts
Navigational chart for the Mexican coast.


Isla Crestón Light, Mazatlán, March 2022
Google Maps photo by Salomon Tamagawa

Sinaloa Lighthouses

Teacapán Lighthouse
Teacapán (2?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 6 s. Listed as a 17 m (56 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, painted white. Google has a 2014 street view. In 2018 the light was relocated about 200 m (220 yd) to the west and Google's satellite view of the new location shows that it may have been replaced by a concrete tower.. Located on the north side of the inlet at the southern border of Sinaloa. Site open, tower closed. CF-25-725; Admiralty G3502.5; NGA 15006.

Mazatlán Area Lighthouses
Mazatlán is a city of about 500,000 residents. One of Mexico's largest fishing ports, it is a center of the Mexican seafood industry.

* Mazatlán Fishing Wharf (Marina del Sabalo) Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 3 s. 14 m (46 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This range guides vessels into the fishing harbor on the northeast side of Mazatlán. Located on the waterfront of the harbor. Site open, tower closed. CF-25-755; Admiralty G3505.5; NGA 15000.
* Mazatlán Fishing Wharf (Marina del Sabalo) Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (62 ft); white flash every 3 s. 18 m (59 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located atop a 1-story administration building at the entrance to the harbor. Site open, tower closed. CF-25-585.1; Admiralty G3505.51; NGA 15000.1.
* Mazatlán Harbor Channel Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 3 s. 16 m (52 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, painted orange. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This is the inner harbor range for Mazatlán. Located on the waterfront at the north end of the harbor. Site open, tower closed. CF-25-775; Admiralty G3504.4; NGA 14992.
* Mazatlán Harbor Channel Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 24 m (79 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, painted orange. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located 500 m (0.3 mi) north northeast of the front light, in the middle of Altata Street (cars can actually be driven through the base of the tower). Site open, tower closed. CF-25-770.1; Admiralty G3504.41; NGA 14996.
* Mazatlán Entrance Channel Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 3 s. 20 m (66 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, painted orange. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This is the harbor entrance range for Mazatlán. Located on the waterfront at the northwest corner of the harbor. Site open, tower closed. CF-25-765; Admiralty G3505; NGA 14997.
* Mazatlán Entrance Channel Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 55 m (180 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 16 m (52 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, painted orange. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on heights above the city, in the Loma Atravesada neighborhood, 1.45 km (0.9 mi) north northeast of the front light. Site open, tower closed. CF-25-760.1; Admiralty G3505.1; NGA 14997.5.
Mazatlán West (Crestón) Breakwater (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); green flash every 5 s. 16 m (52 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower. The top of the tower has a slatted white daymark in three horizontal bands. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo (also seen at right), Gregory Melle has another photo, and Google has a satellite view. The original light was on a 9 m (30 ft) concrete post. Located at the end of the breakwater, which extends eastward from the base of Isla Creston. Site and tower closed, but there's a good view from vessels entering or leaving the harbor. CF-25-785; Admiralty G3507; NGA 14976.

West Breakwater Light, Mazatlan
photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberge
used by permission
*** Isla Crestón (Mazatlán)
1879. Active; focal plane 157 m (515 ft); white flash every 7 s. 11 m (36 ft) square masonry tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a 1-story service building; 2nd order Fresnel lens in use. Building painted with blue and white horizontal bands; lantern painted red. This is a staffed light station. In addition to Armando Lizarraga's photo at the top of this page Jim Andeva has another closeup, Wikimedia has several photos, Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo, Juan Pablo Aguilar Jalomo has a 2021 photo, Luis and Jessica Nunez Alvarez has a 2023 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This is one of the best known lighthouses of Mexico, famous for its spectacular setting high atop a gigantic rock often compared to the Rock of Gibraltar. The view is extraordinary. Navigational lights were displayed from this height as early as 1571. In Mazatlán the lighthouse is often said to be the second highest (or even highest) in the world, claims that unfortunately do not hold true even for Middle America (the lighthouses at Lovers Leap in Jamaica, Chacachacare in Trinidad, and Cap Moule-à-Chique in St. Lucia are all much higher). Located south of downtown Mazatlán at the summit of the rock, which is connected to the mainland by a causeway. Accessible by a climb (about 45 minutes each way) from the end of Paseo Centenario. Site and tower open. Site manager: Parque Natural Faro Mazatlán. . ARLHS MEX-027; CF-25-560; Admiralty G3504; NGA 14964.

San Ignacio Lighthouse
Punta Piaxtla
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 5 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery painted with red and white horizontal bands. Angel Aguilar's photo is at right, a 2008 closeup and a distant view are available, and Google has a satellite view. According to the International Hydrographic Organization Punta Piaxtla marks the boundary between the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean. Located on a rocky headland about 50 km (30 mi) north of Mazatlán. Site status unknown. ARLHS MEX-126; CF-25-430; Admiralty G3512; NGA 14960.

Culiacán and Navolato (Altata Area) Lighthouses
Río San Lorenzo
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); four white flashes every 16 s. 16 m (52 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. Jose Manuel Cambel has a 2023 photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on the beach about 8 km (5 mi) southwest of El Dorado. Accessible by 4WD. Site open, and nothing prevents visitors from climbing the ladder on the tower. CF-25-425; Admiralty G3513.2; NGA 14953.
Punta La Tonina (Bahía de Altata)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located on the east side of the entrance to the Altata lagoon, opposite the mouth of the Río Culiacán. Site open, tower closed. CF-25-410; Admiralty G3513.25; NGA 14952.2.
* Altata
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); white flash every 6 s. 16 m (52 ft) square skeletal tower. The tower is in the left background of a photo by Javier Antonio Ocampo Gomez and the shadow of the tower is seen in Google's satellite view. Located one block off the waterfront of Altata, a town on the north side of the Bahía de Altata. Site open, tower closed. CF-25-380; Admiralty G3513.5; NGA 14944.

Angostura (Bahía Santa María) Lighthouse
* [Yameto]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); four white flashes every 16 s. 10 m (33 ft) concrete mast painted with red and white horizontal bands and surrounded by a concrete enclosure; the front wall of the enclosure is also painted with red and white horizontal bands. Google has a distant street view and a satellite view. Located just off the beach on the south side of the southern entrance to the Bahía Santa María. Site open, tower closed. CF-25-375; Admiralty G3513.6; NGA 14940.

Punta Piaxtla Light, Piaxtla, March 2023
Google Maps photo by Angel Aguilar
La Reforma
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 13 m (43 ft) square skeletal tower. Miguel Ángel Jiménez Cárdenas has an aerial view and Google has a satellite view. Located on the waterfront of La Reforma, a town on the mainland side of the Bahía Santa María lagoon. Site status unknown. CF-25-365; Admiralty G3514.5; NGA 14928.
Punta Riscion
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); white flash every 6 s. 15 m (49 ft) square skeletal tower painted white. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located at the north end of the Isla Altamura, marking the northern inlet to the Bahía Santa María. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown (the barrier island is privately owned). CF-25-360; Admiralty G3514.4; NGA 14932.
El Perihuete Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white flash every 3 s. 17 m (56 ft) square skeletal tower painted white. No photo available but Google has an indistinct satellite view. The range guides vessels through a dredged channel at the extreme northern end of the Bahía Santa María. Located on the north side of the channel. Site status unknown. CF-25-350; Admiralty G3515; NGA 14926.
El Perihuete Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 18 m (59 ft) square skeletal tower painted white. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located on the north side of the channel about 400 m (1/4 mi) northeast of the front light. Site status unknown. CF-25-355; Admiralty G3515.1; NGA 14927.

Guasave and Ahome (Topolobampo Area) Lighthouses
Boca de Macapule
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); three white flashes every 12 s. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal white concrete tower. No photo available but Google has a distant satellite view. Located on the east side of the entrance to the Macapule lagoon, which leads to the port of Ahome. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CF-25-340; Admiralty G3516; NGA 14924.
Cerro Partido
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 95 m (312 ft); white flash every 7 s. 5 m (17 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is white. A photo is at right, a distant sea view from the lagoon side is available and Google has a satellite view. Located atop a vertical cliff about 15 km (9 mi) southwest of Topolobampo. Site status unknown. CF-25-025; G3518; NGA 14920.
Punta Copas Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 14 m (46 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white. Luis Espero has a very distant view and Google has a satellite view. This range guides vessels departing Topolobampo. The front light is on a shorter tower 420 m (1375 ft) northeast. Located on the point on the east side of the entrance to the Bahía de Ohuira and Topolobampo. Site status unknown. CF-25-215; Admiralty G3518.51; NGA 14916.
Las Animas Range Front (2)
Around 2013. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white and carrying a white triagular daymark. Below the tower a strip of the hillside about 80 m (260 ft) long is paved in white concrete as a daymark. Google has a street view and a satellite view. This is the entrance range for Topolobampo, an important port of northern Sinaloa and the mainland terminal for ferries crossing the Sea of Cortés to La Paz in southern Baja California. The range was shifted about 30 m (100 ft) northwest around 2013; daymarks of the former range remain. Located on a ridge across the lagoon behind the beach town of Las Animas, about 7 km (4.5 mi) west of Topolobampo. Site status unknown but easy to see from ferries arriving in Topolobampo. CF-25-190; Admiralty G3518.2; NGA 14909.
Las Animas Range Rear (Cerro Iturbe) (2)
Around 2013. Active; focal plane 100 m (328 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 8 m (26 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white. Behind the tower a strip of the mountainside about 80 m (260 ft) long is paved in white concrete as a daymark. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. The range was shifted about 30 m (100 ft) northwest around 2013; daymarks of the former range remain. Located on a high ridge on the west side of Topolobampo, about 4.3 km (2.7 mi) northeast of the front light. Site status unknown. CF-25-195; Admiralty G3518.21; NGA 14910.
Faro de Cerro Partido
Cerro Partido Light, Topolobampo, September 2011
ex-Panoramio photo copyright festiva88; permission requested
Farallón de San Ignacio
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 120 m (394 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white. The Farallón de San Ignacio is massive rock emerging from the Pacific about 25 km (15 mi) southwest of Punta Copas and 16 km (10 mi) south of Punta San Ignacio. Google has a distant street view and Bing has a satellite view. Located at the highest point of the rock. Practically inaccessible. ARLHS MEX-016; CF-25-010; Admiralty G3519; NGA 14904.

Sonora Lighthouses

Huatabampo (Yavaros Area) Lighthouses
Yavaros Range Rear
Date unknown. Inactive; not charted by Navionics. 12 m (39 ft) square white skeletal tower. Frank Clement has a 2013 distant view from the sea and Google has a satellite view. Located on the east side of the entrance to the Bahía de Yavaros. Site status unknown. CF-26-250; ex-Admiralty G3521.1; NGA 14898.
* Yavaros (Bahía de Yavaros)
1964. Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); white flash every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) round concrete tower with gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. The photo at right was posted to Facebook by the port captain, a distant photo shows the lighthouse in silhouette against the sunset, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Yavaros is a small fishing port in southern Sonora about 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Huatabampo. Located on a sandy ridge on the west side of the entrance to the Bahía de Yavaros. Site open, tower closed. CF-26-240; Admiralty G3520; NGA 14896.
Punta Arboleda
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) square white skeletal tower. No photo available and the tower is barely visible in Google's indistinct satellite view. The "point" is only a rounded bulge of the coastline. Located in a tiny village at Playa Rito. Site open, tower closed. CF-26-230; Admiralty G3522.5; NGA 14885.

San Ignacio Río Muerto Lighthouses
Isla Lobos
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white flash every 6 s. 22 m (72 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located on Isla Lobos, a boomerang-shaped barrier island sheltering the Bahía de Lobos lagoon about 80 km (50 mi) southeast of Guaymas. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CF-26-210; Admiralty G3526; NGA 14868.

Yavaros Light, Yavaros, August 2016
Facebook photo by Puerto Yavaros Sonora

Guaymas Area Lighthouses
Guaymas is the principal port of Sonora and the mainland terminal for ferries crossing the Sea of Cortés (Gulf of California) to Santa Rosalia in Baja California. The city has a population of about 140,000.
Isla Pájaros (Guaymas, "Bird Island")
Date unknown (station established 1913). Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); red flash every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) hexagonal white concrete tower with gallery. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo, Luis Alejandro Peralta Rodriguez has a 2017 closeup (also seen at right), and Google has a satellite view. Isla Pajaros is a fishhook-shaped island lying across the entrance to the harbor of Guaymas. Huelse has a historic postcard view of an earlier Guaymas lighthouse (probably not at this location). Located on the southwestern tip of the island, marking the entrance to the harbor. Accessible only by boat, but easy to see from ferries entering or leaving Guaymas. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS MEX-011; CF-26-165; Admiralty G3530; NGA 14828.
Cerro Cabezon (Cape de Las Golondriuas) Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 90 m (295 ft); white flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower. In front of the tower a 6 m (20 ft) tall concrete wall is painted white with a large diamond-shaped red daymark. Trabas has Capt. Peter's view of the two range lights, a distant street view is available, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a steep hill behind the port of Guaymas. Site status unknown. CF-26-180; Admiralty G3533; NGA 14844.
Cerro Cabezon (Cape de Las Golondriuas) Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 100 m (328 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 14 m (46 ft) square skeletal tower. In front of the tower a 6 m (20 ft) tall concrete wall is painted white with a large diamond-shaped red daymark. Trabas has Capt. Peter's view of the two range lights and Google has a street view and an indistinct satellite view. Located on a steep hill behind the port of Guaymas. Site status unknown. CF-26-180.1; Admiralty G3533.1; NGA 14848.

Isla Pájaros Light, Guaymas, May 2017
Google Maps photo by Luis Alejandro Peralta Rodriguez
* Marina Guaymas
Date unknown. Active (unofficial); charted as a landmark by Navionics; focal plane about 18 m (59 ft); white light, characteristic unknown. Approx. 18 m (59 ft) square stucco-covered tower with lantern, double gallery, and an observation room. Lighthouse painted white, lantern red. Deneb Salguero has a closeup photo, Francisco Javier Castañeda Díaz also has a closeup, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the public marina in Guaymas harbor. Site open, tower closed. Owner/operator: unknown.
Punta Baja
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); green flash every 5 s. 5 m (17 ft) square skeletal mast atop a 1-story square concrete equipment room. Equipment room painted white. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on a headland on the south side of the entrance to Guaymas harbor. Site open, tower closed. CF-26-170; Admiralty G3531; NGA 14832.
Cabo Haro (2)
Date unknown (station established 1886). Active; focal plane 107 m (351 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. 7 m (23 ft) square concrete tower rising from a 1-story keeper's house. Entire lighthouse is white, except the lantern roof is red. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo (also seen at right) and Google has a satellite view. This historic light station is the landfall light for Guaymas. Located high on the point of the cape, which projects into the Sea of Cortés about 5 km (3 mi) south of Guaymas. The intervening territory is quite rugged, so reaching the site requires 4WD and a local guide. Site status unknown. ARLHS MEX-023; CF-26-145; Admiralty G3528; NGA 14824.

Cabo Haro Light, Guaymas
photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger; used by permission

Hermosilla and Caborca Lighthouses
Isla Patos (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 71 m (233 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. The original lighthouse was a 6.5 m (21 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower. Sometime after 2003 (probably in 2011) this lighthouse was replaced by a light on an aluminum pole. A distant 2020 view is available and Google has an indistinct satellite view. The light marks the northern entrance to a narrow strait separating the mainland from the large Isla Tiburón. Located atop Isla Patos, a small island about 10 km (6 mi) southwest of Cabo Tepoca. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. CF-26-065.2; Admiralty G3538.5; NGA 14792.
Isla San Esteban (2?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 6 s. Described as a 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, and the Cuaderno pictures that light, but Google's satellite view appears to show a robust post. No photo available. Located on the northeast point of the Isla San Esteban, an island in the center of the Sea of Cortés. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. CF-26-085; Admiralty G3538.25; NGA 14793.
#Río San Ignacio
Date unknown. Inactive and possibly removed; listed by NGA with focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white flash every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower mounted on a square concrete base. No photo available and the light is not seen in Google's satellite view. This light has been missing from the Cuaderno de Faros since 2015 but it was not dropped by the Admiralty until 2018. Located on the south side of the mouth of the (usually dry) Río San Ignacio, about 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of the village of El Desemboque. Accessible by a 4WD track. ex-Admiralty G3538.6; NGA 14790.
* Cabo Tepoca (Puerto Lobos) (2)
Date unknown (recent). Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); three white flashes every 12 s. Approx. 18 m (60 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. José Abelardo Nuñez Aguilar has the 2018 photo seen at right, Rosalva Granillo González also has a 2018 photo, Ricardo Pulido has a 2021 photo, Mario Ruiz Madrigal has a closeup street view, and Google has a satellite view. The earlier lighthouse was a round cylindrical concrete tower. The cape shelters the Bahía Tepoca, an anchorage about 130 km (80 mi) southeast of Puerto Peñasco and a few miles south of the village of Puerto Lobos. The site is a popular goal of 4WD expeditions. Located on a bluff at the point of the cape. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS MEX-104; CF-26-055; Admiralty G3539.2; NGA 14786.

Cabo Tepoca Light, Puerto Lobos, February 2018
ex-Google Maps photo by José Abelardo Nuñez Aguilar

Puerto Peñasco Lighthouses
Puerto Peñasco is near the northern end of the Sea of Cortés, accessible by a 1-hour drive via paved road (highway 8) from Sonoita at the U.S. border. The town is very popular with vacationers and retirees from the U.S. The permanent population is about 65,000.
* Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) (2)
Date unknown (around 2014). Active; focal plane 97 m (318 ft); white flash every 8 s. 18 m (59 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. Enrique Beltrane's photo is at right, Yolanda B. Molina has a closeup photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Sometime between 2012 and 2015 this lighthouse replaced a tower half as tall; the older tower is seen in a 2006 photo of the light in action. The lighthouse is featured on the town's coat of arms, but it doesn't seem to attract many visitors. Located on a hill above the harbor of Puerto Peñasco. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS MEX-046; CF-26-010; Admiralty G3540; NGA 14778.
* Puerto Peñasco Northeast Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 5 s. 7 m (23 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, mounted on a square 1-story equipment building. Lighthouse painted white. A photo is available, Guezy Alatirre has an evening photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater at the entrance to the marina of Puerto Peñasco. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. CF-26-035; Admiralty G3540.15; NGA 14779.
* Puerto Peñasco First Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower. Google has a street view and a satellite view. This is the approach range. The front range is on a shorter skeletal tower. Located one block off the waterfront in Puerto Peñasco. Site open, tower closed. CF-26-020.1; Admiralty G3540.06(=G3540.17); NGA 14774.
* Puerto Peñasco Second Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 3 s. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower. Google has a street view and a satellite view. This is the harbor entrance range. Located one the Recinto Portuaria on the waterfront in Puerto Peñasco. Site open, tower closed. CF-26-025; Admiralty G3540.08; NGA 14775.
Puerto Peñasco Second Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 12 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower rising from a square 1-story equipment building. Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on a hill about 200 m (220 yd) southeast of the front light. Site status unknown but the tower can be seen from nearby streets. CF-26-025.1; Admiralty G3540.09; NGA 14776.

Puerto Peñasco Light, Puerto Peñasco, November 2020
Google Maps photo by Enrique Beltran

San Luis Río Colorado Lighthouses
Punta Borrascosa
Date unknown. Inactive for many years but still listed by NGA. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, originally painted with red and white horizontal bands. The lighthouse is abandoned and endangered. Andrew Riley has a photo and Bing has a satellite view. Located on the north shore of the Sea of Cortés about 50 km (30 mi) west northwest of Puerto Peñasco. Accessible by a lengthy 4WD expedition. Site open, tower closed. ex-Admiralty G3540.3; NGA 14772.
* Santa Clara (3) (Punta Machorro, Golfo de Santa Clara)
2019 or 2020. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 6 s. Approx. 10 m (33 ft) square concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Juan Martin Vázquez Gonzales has the August 2020 photo at right, Rolfy Elivo has a 2021 photo, Josué Montañez has an April 2020 drone view, and Google has a satellite view. The original light here was a 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower. It was abandoned by the late 1990s and the light was moved to a nearby communications tower. Ramón León has a 2012 photo of the abandoned tower and Johnny Casias has a 2018 photo. Located in the village of El Golfo de Santa Clara on the east side of the Colorado River Delta, the northern end of the Sea of Cortés. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS MEX-075; CF-26-005; Admiralty G3540.5; NGA 14765.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

  • Nuevo Altata, a resort development on the barrier spit opposite Altata, Sinaloa, has a lighthouse painted with blue and white horizontal bands at the Club de Yatess Marina. It is probably active but is not a recognized as an aid to navigation. A good photo is available and Google has a satellite view.

Santa Clara Light, Santa Clara, August 2020
Google Maps photo by Juan Martin Vázquez Gonzales

Adjoining pages: South: West Coast | Southwest: Southwestern Baja California | Northwest: Eastern Baja California

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Posted 2003. Checked and revised November 14, 2023. Lighthouses: 44. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.