The largest island of the West Indies, Cuba was a Spanish colony until it was conquered by the U.S. forces during the Spanish-American War of 1898; the U.S. occupation ended officially in 1902. Nineteenth century Cuban lighthouses therefore have Spanish designs, similar to those used in Puerto Rico and the Philippines. One surviving lighthouse, Cayo Jutías, is known to have been built under the U.S. occupation. This page includes lighthouses of the western half of the island, from Villa Clara and Cienfuegos Provinces westward. There's another page for Eastern Cuba. Due to longstanding political difficulties between Cuba and the U.S., American tourists had practically no access to these lighthouses for more than 50 years. This is changing now that the two countries have resumed contacts, but it is still true that most of the information available on the Internet has been posted by European or Canadian visitors or by Cuban tourist agencies. Many Cuban lighthouses are not automated, and keepers are on site at most locations. Some of the stations are staffed by civilian keepers, but some are tightly restricted military posts. In general, the information on the Internet indicates that the major lighthouses, at least, are well maintained. More information is needed on these lighthouses. If you have information or photos you are willing to share, please contact me. Aids to navigation in Cuba are maintained by the Ayuda a la Navegación division of Grupo Empresarial Geocuba. The Spanish word for a lighthouse is faro. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. CU numbers are from the Cuban light list; it is not available online but many numbers appear in the Admiralty's Notice to Mariners of 2012 Week 45. Admiralty numbers are from Volume J of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA numbers are from Publication 110.
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![]() Faro de Roncali (Cabo San Antonio Light), 2005 photo copyright Garry Searle; used by permission |
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![]() Punta de los Colorados Light, Cienfuegos, March 2015 Panoramio Creative Commons photo by balepc |
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![]() Cayo Guano del Este Light, Canarreos, February 2005 photo copyright Erwin Strohmer; used by permission |
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![]() Punta Gobernadora Light, Bahía Honda, March 2016 photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger; used by permission |
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![]() Río Jaruco Light, Santa Cruz del Norte, November 2017 photo copyright Wilfried Kalinowski; used by permission |
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![]() Cayo Cruz del Padre Light, Matanzas, 2012 photo copyright CosasDeBarcos.com; permission requested |
Information available on lost lighthouses:
Notable faux lighthouses:
Adjoining pages: North, Eastern Florida and the Keys | East: Eastern Cuba | South: Cayman Islands
Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key
Posted 2003. Checked and revised November 19, 2018. Lighthouses: 34. Site copyright 2018. Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.