Lighthouses of Southern Perú

The Republic of Perú occupies the central west coast of South America, between Chile on the south and Ecuador on the north. It has a lengthy coastline (about 2400 km or 1500 mi) on the Pacific Ocean. The coast is guarded by a large number of lighthouses, mostly concrete towers of relatively modern design. There is also navigation on Lake Titicaca in the southeastern corner of the country and on the upper Amazon River in the northeastern corner.

Information about whether many of these light stations are accessible to the public has been hard to find; special thanks are due to José Balta Varillas for his reports from some of the lighthouses and to Martin Berendsen Leigh and Alessandro Catenazzi for information on several light stations. Tourism is not well developed on the Peruvian coast except for a few sites favored by surfers. A large part of the coast is not accessible by road. Callao, near Lima, is a major seaport, but most of the other ports are quite small.

Some of Perú's lighthouses are located in natural protected areas. A permit from the natural areas protection agency Sernanp is required to visit these lights. Sometimes, these areas are islands under the management of AgroRural, a public corporation that mines the guano deposits produced by seabirds nesting on the islands.

Perú is divided into 25 regions (regiones) plus the Department of Lima for the national capital area. This page includes lighthouses of Perú from the Chilean border northward through the metropolitan Lima area.

The Spanish word for a lighthouse is faro; 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. Also, the Spanish word canal means a natural channel, not an artificial canal.

Lighthouses in Perú are owned by the navy (Marina de Guerra del Perú) and managed by the navy's Dirección de Hidrografía y Navegación (DHN) through its Departamento de Señalización Nautica. DHN also manages the lights on the Amazon and on Lake Titicaca.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. DHN numbers are from DHN's Lista de Faros y Señales Nauticas; Admiralty numbers are from volume G of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA numbers are from Publication 111.


La Marina Light, Miraflores, June 2013
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Mira4espina78y

General Sources
Lighthouses of Peru
18 photos of lighthouses retrieved from an older DHN web site.
Online List of Lights - Peru - South-West Coast
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas. Many photos from Perú were contributed by Hendrik Martin Porath.
The Lighthouses of Peru
Small versions of photos by DHN archived by C.W. Bash on his LighthousesRUs web site.
World of Lighthouses - Peru
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Lighthouses in Peru
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
Leuchttürme Südamerikas auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.

Punta Atico Light, Chala
Departamento de Señalización Nautica photo
Tacna Region Lighthouses
The Tacna Region was occupied by Chile during the War of the Pacific (1879-83) and it remained under Chilean administration until a peace settlement in 1929 returned it to Perú.

#La Concordia (Range Front)
1972. Demolished sometime before 2010 although still listed by NGA. This was a 19 m (62 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted with blue and white bands. The former rear light of this range is still active but is maintained by Chile. According to Ivan Vargas this lighthouse was demolished by the Peruvian Navy after being heavily damaged by an earthquake. Eduardo Rubina Hidalgo's 2024 photo and Google's indistinct satellite view show some of the ruins remining after the demolition. In 2013 a watchtower was being built as part of a new border post, and it's possible a light will be shown from that tower. Formerly located just north of the Chilean border, marking the approach to the port of Concordia at the border. ARLHS PER-009; ex-Admiralty G1996; NGA 1004.
* Los Palos
1967. Active; focal plane 30.5 m (100 ft); white flash every 6 s. 9 m (30 ft) slender round fiberglass tower rising from a conical base. Lighthouse colored with black and white horizontal bands. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Located in Los Palos, a settlement about 10 km (6 mi) northwest of the Chilean border. Site open, tower closed. DHN-32264; Admiralty G2000; NGA 1000.
* Boca del Río
1982. Active; focal plane 51 m (167 ft); white flash every 15 s. 12 m (39 ft) Máncora class square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a square pyramidal base, painted white with a single red horizontal band. José Balta's photo is at right, Trabas has Porath's photo, Miguel Vargas has a photo, and Google has a street view and a good satellite view. This is a Máncora class lighthouse, named after an example in northern Perú. Located on a hill behind the town of Boca del Río, about 40 km (25 mi) northeast of La Concordia. Site open (requires climbing the hill), tower closed. ARLHS PER-004; DHN-32263; Admiralty G2000.4; NGA 0998.
* Punta Sama (Morro de Sama)
2009. Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); white light, 2 s on, 3 s off. 12 m (39 ft) square concrete tower, painted with black and white horizontal bands. Trabas has Porath's photo and Google has a street view from the coastal highway and a distant satellite view. Located on heights above Morro de Sama, about 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Boca del Rio. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. DHN-32262; Admiralty G2001; NGA 0996.

Boca del Río Light, Tacna Region, March 2013
photo copyright José Balta Varillas; used by permission

Moquegua Region (Ilo Area) Lighthouse
* Punta Coles (2)
1973 (station established 1900). Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 15 m (49 ft) round concrete tower painted with horizontal black and white bands. The lantern shown in Danny Baldarrago's 2008 view from the sea has been removed. Millie Coquis has the 2019 photo seen at right and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse was relocated to Miraflores in 1973 (see below). Punta Coles is often visited by ecotours; it is known for its birds and seals. Located at the tip of a rocky promontory about 2 km (1.2 mi) southwest of Ilo. Easily accessible but a Sernanp permit is required. ARLHS PER-025; DHN-32261; Admiralty G2002; NGA 0992.
Puerto de Ilo (Rampa Enapu) Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); green flash every 1.3 s. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a large slatted daymark painted red. Jose Carlos Fernandez Gomez has a street view across the harbor showing both towers (this one is on the right) and Google has a distant street view but the tower is difficult to find in Google's satellite view. Located at the base of a main pier in Ilo, a seaport of about 70,000 residents. Site status unknown. DHN-32259A; Admiralty G2006; NGA 0978.
Puerto de Ilo (Rampa Enapu) Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); green flash every 3 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a large slatted daymark painted red. Jose Carlos Fernandez Gomez has a street view across the harbor showing both towers (this one is on the left) but the tower is difficult to find in Google's satellite view. Located 66 m (217 ft) east of the front light. Site status unknown. DHN-32259B; Admiralty G2006.1; NGA 0979.
 

Punta Coles Light, Ilo, March 2019
Google Maps photo by Millie Coquis

Arequipa Region Lighthouses
* Punta Islay (Matarani, Mollendo) (2)
1930 (station established 1899). Active; focal plane 65 m (213 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 13 m (43 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower. Upper half of the tower painted red, lower half black. A 2016 photo is at right, Trabas has Porath's photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The light was originally on an island just offshore; Huelse has a postcard view of the first light and a second postcard view showing that light raised atop a square stone tower. Located on a promontory at Matarani, about 10 km (6 mi) west of Mollendo in southern Arequipa. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-027; DHN-32250; Admiralty G2010; NGA 0976.
Matarani Range Rear
1994. Active; focal plane 67 m (220 ft); green flash every 3 s. 14 m (46 ft) square skeletal tower mounted on a large square concrete base. The upper half of the tower carries a slatted daymark, painted red. Trabas has Capt. Peter Mosselberger's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The front light is on a similar but smaller tower. Located on a bluff above the harbor of Matarani, in the lee of Punta Islay. Site status unknown. DHN-32245; Admiralty G2013.1; NGA 0955.
* Punta Quilca
1997 (station established 1936). Active; focal plane 96 m (315 ft); white flash every 10 s. 6 m (20 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, upper half painted white and lower half black. Bash has a DHN photo (#PE6 on his page), Rosbel Ingaroca has a distant view from the sea, and Google has a satellite view. Located atop a very steep bluff near Quilca, a small port southwest of Arequipa city. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-045; DHN-32234; Admiralty G2014; NGA 0944.

Punta Islay Light, Matarani, July 2016
Google Maps photo by de jaxsun
** Camaná (?)
Date unknown. Inactive. 12 m (39 ft) square Máncora class concrete tower, painted with black and white horizontal bands; no lantern. We need information on the history of this lighthouse. Rafael Mendoza has a 2021 photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located just off the coastal highway about 15 km (9 mi) east of Camaná. Site open, and José Balta reports that the abandoned tower is open and can be climbed. ex-Admiralty G2015.
* La Planchada
1976. Active; focal plane 96 m (315 ft); white flash every 10 s. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower, painted black with a single white horizontal band; no lantern. José Calvo has a photo, another closeup is available, Trabas has Porath's distant view, and Google has a satellite view and a very distant street view from the Pan-American Highway. This lighthouse is very similar to the Morro Eten lighthouse. Located on a headland about 55 km (35 mi) west of Punta Atico. Accessible by an unpaved road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-011; DHN-32231; Admiralty G2016; NGA 0936.
Punta Atico
1929. Active; focal plane 101 m (331 ft); white flash every 15 s. 18 m (59 ft) round conical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. A DHN photo is at the top of this page, Trabas has Porath's photo, and Google has a satellite view and a very distant street view from the Pan-American Highway. Located on a sharp, rocky promontory about 55 km (35 mi) southwest of Chala. Accessible, but a Sernanp permit is required. Site restricted, tower closed. ARLHS PER-023; DHN-31227; Admiralty G2018; NGA 0932.
* Chala (Punta Chala)
1974. Active; focal plane 149 m (489 ft); three white flashes every 20 s, at staggered intervals separated by 3, 6, and 9 s. 6 m (23 ft) square cylindrical tower with a small lantern, painted with black and white horizontal bands. Ramiro Carpio Saavedra has the 2017 photo at right, and a more distant view, José Balta contributed a 2013 photo, Luis Trabas has Porath's photo, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse resembles the Infiernillos light (see below); both towers have vertical vane-like projections. Located on heights southeast of Chala, a small fishing port in the northwestern part of Arequipa. Accessible by a dirt road (4WD recommended). Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-047; DHN-31226; Admiralty G2022; NGA 0924.
[Punta Lomas (2)]
2002 (station established 1935). Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); white flash every 7 s. 8.5 m (28 ft) concrete post rising from a conical concrete base. Upper half of the beacon painted red, lower half black. Trabas has Porath's photo and Google has a satellite view. The light is in a natural area and a Sernanp permit is required for visits. Located on a promontory at Punta Lomas, about 50 km (30 mi) southeast of San Juan de Marcona. Site and tower closed. DHN-31220; Admiralty G2025; NGA 0920.

Punta Chala Light, Arequipa Region,October 2017
Google Maps photo by Ramiro Carpio Saavedra

Ica Region Lighthouses
* Punta San Juan (San Juan de Marcona) (2)
1974 (station established 1935). Active; focal plane 95 m (312 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 12 m (40 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a small workroom. Entire lighthouse painted white. Miguel Peralta has a 2019 photo, Jose Luis Cuevas Venegas has a 2022 closeup and a more distant view, Frank Abel Huamani Delgado has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse is a sibling of the Faro Punta Thomas (see the Northern Perú page). Located on a cape projecting into the Pacific about 8 miles south of San Nicolás. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-033; DHN-31213; Admiralty G2028; NGA List 0916.
Punta San Nicolás
1959. Active; focal plane 46 m (152 ft); white flash every 6 s. 18 m (59 ft) round tower with lantern and gallery, painted black with one broad horizontal white band. We have a Navy photo (fourth row, center photo) and Google has a satellite view. Located on the north side of San Nicolás, an iron-ore terminal southwest of Nazca. Site and tower closed (private property). ARLHS PER-034; DHN-31210; Admiralty G2029.4; NGA 0900.
Infiernillos
1961. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 7 s. 8 m (27 ft) square concrete cylindrical tower with lantern, painted with vertical black and white stripes. A photo is at right and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse marks the Islotes Infiernillos, a group of dangerous rocky islets just off the coast. Located on a headland about 50 km (30 mi) northwest of Puerto Caballos. Accessible by 4WD. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-048; DHN-31204; Admiralty G2030; NGA 0896.
[Punta Carretas]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 206 m (676 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 5 m (16 ft) round tower with a conical base painted black with a white horizontal bands. Amateur radio operator OA4KJ has several photos and Google has a satellite view. Located on a sharp cape about 50 km (30 mi) south of Pisco. Site open but challenging to reach, tower closed. ARLHS PER-056; DHN-22203; Admiralty G2032; NGA 0892.
[Isla San Gállan]
1981. Active; focal plane 385 m (1263 ft); white flash every 10 s. 5 m (17 ft) concrete post rising from a conical concrete base. Beacon painted with orange and white vertical stripes. No photo available but Google has a distant satellite view. The altitude of this beacon is exceptional. Located atop a high island just off the coast, about 35 km (22 mi) southwest of Pisco. Site status unknown. DHN-22202; Admiralty G2033; NGA 0888.

Islotes Infiernillos Light, Ica Region, May 2008
Flickr Creative Commons photo by moonshot peru
Isla Blanca
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); white flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) square skeletal tower mounted on a blue and white square concrete base. Trabas has Porath's distant view and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a small island about 15 km (9 mi) northwest of Paracas, the seaport associated with the city of Pisco. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. DHN-22178; Admiralty G2034; NGA 0864.
Isla Chincha del Centro (2)
1975 (station established 1928). Active; focal plane 107 m (351 ft); white flash every 10 s. 18 m (59 ft) Máncora class square cylindrical tower with lantern on a pyramidal base, painted with orange and black bands. Bash has DHN's photo (#PE13 on his page), a distant January 2002 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. A small round tower next to the lighthouse may be a remnant of the 1928 tower. Located atop a bare rocky island northwest of Pisco. Accessible only by boat, and a Sernanp permit is needed for landing. Site and tower closed. ARLHS PER-002; DHN-22176; Admiralty G2033.5; NGA 0856.

Cañete Province (Southern Lima Region) Lighthouses
The Lima Region surrounds but does not include the metropolitan area of Lima, the national capital. Lima Province includes most of the metropolitan area and is not part of any region. In turn Lima Province surrounds but does not include the Callao Region.
* Cerro Azul
1974. Active; focal plane 128 m (420 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, rising from a conical concrete base. Lighthouse painted with black and white horizontal bands. A photo by Boris Valenzuela Darisich is at right, Edwing Tony Cayo Huerta has a 2017 photo, Dale Plotzki also has a 2017 photo, Trabas has Porath's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a high cape at Cerro Azul, about 15 km (9 mi) northwest of San Vicente de Cañete. Site open (requires climbing the hill), tower closed. DHN-22175; Admiralty G2041; NGA 0846.
Isla Asia
2009. Active; focal plane 130 m (427 ft); white flash every 8 s. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical white fiberglass tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a conical stone base. No closeup photo available but the light is barely visible atop the island in Fernando Calderon's distant view and Google has a satellite view. Isla Asia is a high island about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) off the coast halfway between the Cerro Azul and Isla Chilca lights. Located on heights at the southwest end of the island. Site and tower closed. DHN-22173; Admiralty G2042; NGA 0845.

Lima Province Lighthouses
Isla Chilca
1974 (substantially altered in 1999). Active; focal plane 110 m (361 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. 10 m (33 ft) fiberglass post light centered on a round strongly conical concrete base. Lighthouse painted with black and white horizontal bands. Jefry Bellido Velarde has a 2020 closeup photo, Bash has a DHN photo (#PE14 on his page), Jefry Bellido Velarde has a 2020 photo, and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view across the harbor. Located on the west side of Isla Chilca, which shelters the harbor of Puerto Pucusana, a fishing port about 10 km (6 mi) northwest of Chilca. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-001; DHN-22172; Admiralty G2043; NGA 0844.
* Lima Marina Club
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 20 m (66 ft); light characteristic unknown. Light on a mast atop an approx. 16 m (52 ft) square concrete or masonry tower. Lighthouse painted white with a black band at the top. Fernando Acuna Tirado has a photo, Miguel Trelles has a more distant view, and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located on the breakwater of the Lima Marina Club at the southern edge of the Lima metropolitan area. Probably accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty G2045.6.

Cerro Azul Light, Lima Region, October 2021
Google Maps photo by Boris Valenzuela Darisich
* La Marina (Miraflores)
1900 (relocated here in 1973). Active; focal plane 108 m (354 ft); three white flashes every 15 s, with 6 s between the second and third flashes. 22 m (72 ft) round cylindrical metal tower, painted navy blue with white bands. A photo is at the top of this page, Trabas has a photo, Wikimedia has numerous photos, Irit Fuhrman has another good photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This is the original Punta Coles lighthouse (see above), disassembled and rebuilt here in 1973. It has become Peru's best known and most visited lighthouse by far. Located in Parque el Faro (Lighthouse Park) on the seaside in Miraflores, southwest of Lima and southeast of Callao. . ARLHS PER-010; DHN-22166; Admiralty G2046; NGA 0836.

Callao Region Lighthouses
Callao is by far Peru's most important port. Located 12 km (7.5 mi) west of downtown Lima, the port city is built on and around a peninsula called La Punta. The harbor is protected from Pacific surf by the Isla San Lorenzo, Peru's largest island, which lies about 4 km (2.5 mi) off the tip of La Punta.

Islas Palamino
(2)
1928 (station established 1897). Inactive since 2016. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical (concrete?) tower, painted black with a single orange band; no lantern. We have a Navy photo (next to last row, center photo), Trabas has Carlos Maria Silvano's photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on an island off Callao, about 5 km (3 mi) south of Isla San Lorenzo. Practically inaccessible due to rough surf and (one visitor reports) unfriendly seals. Site status unknown. ARLHS PER-018; ex-DHN-22168; ex-Admiralty G2048; NGA 0837.
Gran Almirante Grau (Isla San Lorenzo) (2?)
1973 (station established 1857). Active; focal plane 309 m (1014 ft); white flash every 10 s. 16 m (52 ft) round metal tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a 1-story square base. Lighthouse painted with yellow and black horizontal bands. A photo by Carlos Maria Silvano is at right, Trabas has a photo by Capt. Theo Hinrichs, Dara Buenos Dias has a view from the sea, and Google has a satellite view. This is the highest traditional lighthouse in South America, having a range of 37 km (23 mi). (The beacon on Isla San Gállan, near Pisco, has a focal plane of 385 m or 1263 ft; see above). This is Perú's oldest light station. Nothing remains of the original lighthouse, an 18 m (60 ft) octagonal stone tower with a focal plane of 299 m (980 ft). Located atop a very high bluff at the northwestern end of Isla San Lorenzo, the large island that shelters Callao harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS PER-006; DHN-22156; Admiralty G2049; NGA 0812.

Gran Almirante Grau Light, Callao, April 2013
photo copyright Carlos Maria Silvano; used by permission
La Punta de Callao (1)
Date unknown (probably around 1900). Inactive. 12 m (40 ft) (?) round metal (?) tower, painted black with two white horizontal bands. The lighthouse has been relocated to stand outside DHN's oceanographic institute in Callao. Miguel Alonso Vera León has a closeup photo, Luis Montero has a good photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on the Avenida Augustin Gamarra at Calle Roca in La Punta, about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) from the tip of the point. Site open, tower closed.
La Punta de Callao (2)
1973. Active; focal plane 42 m (138 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. Light mounted atop a high-rise building of the Escuela Naval (Naval School). Bash has DHN's closeup photo of the lens (#PE18 on his page), and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located near the end of La Punta (The Point), a long point projecting into the Pacific at Callao. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-012; DHN-22158; Admiralty G2059; NGA 0792.
* Torre Reloj (Muelle de Guerra, Callao)
1930 (tower built about 1880). Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two green flashes every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with a clock and gallery, painted black with two horizontal white bands. The clock has faces mounted on each of the four sides; the light is displayed from a short mast atop the clock. "Torre Reloj" means "clocktower". Trabas has the good closeup by Carlos Maria Silvano seen at right, Sosó Carlin has a 2010 photo, a fine 2008 closeup is available, Leonardo Enrique Machett Penagos has a street view from a nearby pier, Klaus Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a short pier off the Plaza Miguel Grau on the Callao waterfront. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-037; DHN-22154; Admiralty G2058; NGA 0796.
Callao South Breakwater (2)
Date unknown (2012?). Inactive since 2022 and since removed. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) round barbell-shaped tower, colored red. Trabas has Michael Boucher's photo and Google has a satellite view. The breakwater itself was removed. Located at the end of the south breakwater of Callao's commercial harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ex-DHN-22141; ex-Admiralty G2053.4; NGA 0784.
Callao Range Front (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); quick-flashing green light. Approx. 30 m (98 ft) round barbell-shaped tower, white with a red vertical stripe near the top. Trabas has Jim Smith's photo, Lightphotos.net has a 2012 photo showing both range lights painted white, and Bing has a satellite view. Located on the main container wharf of Callao's commercial harbor. Site and tower closed. DHN-22131A; Admiralty G2054; NGA 0786.

Muelle de Guerra Light (Torre Reloj), Callao
photo copyright Carlos María Silvano; used by permission
Callao Range Rear (2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); green flash every 3 s. Approx. 36 m (118 ft) round barbell-shaped tower, yellow (formerly white) with a red vertical stripe near the top. Trabas has Michael Boucher's photo (seen below right), Lightphotos.net has a 2012 photo showing both range lights painted white, Google has a 2014 street view, and Bing has a satellite view. Located on the main container wharf of Callao's commercial harbor. Site and tower closed. DHN-22131B; Admiralty G2054.1; NGA 0786.5.
Callao Muelle No. 7 (Petroleum Wharf)
1995. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); continuous red light. Mast mounted on a 3-story harbor control tower, painted white. Trabas has Capt. Theo Hinrichs's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located inside the north breakwater of Callao. Site and tower closed. DHN-22136; Admiralty G2055; NGA 0805.2.
Callao North Breakwater (2)
Date unknown (2012?). Active; focal plane about 17 m (56 ft); green flash every 5 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) round barbell-shaped tower, colored green. Trabas has Michael Boucher's photo and Google has a satellite view. Located just off the end of the north breakwater of Callao's commercial harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. DHN-22139; Admiralty G2053; NGA 0780.
Isla Hormigas de Afuera
1973 (substantially altered in 1994). Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) round conical fiberglass tower mounted on a 1-story square concrete base. Upper half of the fiberglass tower painted black, lower half white; the concrete base is unpainted. Trabas has a photo by Capt. Peter Mosselberger, and Bash has a DHN photo (#PE20 on his page) but Google has only a fuzzy satellite view of the island. "Hormigas de Afuera" means "Outer Ants"; sailors often call isolated rocks on the horizon ants. Located on a small island well offshore, about 65 km (40 mi) west of Callao. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS PER-008; DHN-22127; Admiralty G2062; NGA 0768.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:


Callao Range Rear Light, December 2011
photo copyright Michael Boucher; used by permission

Adjoining pages: North: Northern Perú | East: Lake Titicaca | South: Northern Chile

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Posted June 2002. Checked and revised November 6, 2024. Lighthouses: 37. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.