Lighthouses of Northern 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 Peru'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 north of the metropolitan Lima Region.

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.

General sources
Lighthouses of Peru
18 photos of lighthouses retrieved from an older DHN web site.
Online List of Lights - Peru
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas.
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.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for Perú.

Pacasmayo Light
Faro de Pacasmayo
Town of Pacasmayo photo (no longer online)

Northern Lima Region Lighthouses
The Lima Region surrounds but does not include the metropolitan area of Lima, the national capital. Lighthouses in the region south of Lima are described on the Southern Perú page.

Isla Grande dos Pescadores
1973. Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); white flash every 5 s. 8 m (26 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower with gallery. Upper half of the lighthouse painted white, lower half red; no lantern. Bash has DHN's photo (#PE22 on his page), Luis Eduardo Braschi Glave has a view from the sea, Bruno Locatelli has a distant aerial view, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island about 8 km (5 mi) west of Ancón. Accessible only by boat, and a Sernanp permit is needed for visits. Site status unknown. ARLHS PER-041; DHN-22125; Admiralty G2063; NGA 0756.
Islote Huaquillo
1973. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 16 m (52 ft) round concrete tower with lantern, painted in a dark blue and white spiral pattern; lantern is dark blue. DHN has a closeup photo, Dan Omura has a distant view, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. This appears to be the only lighthouse of this design. Located on an island at Santa Rosa, near Ancón; the island is connected to the mainland by a footbridge but it is part of a naval officers' club. Site and tower closed. Site manager: Balneario la Marina. ARLHS PER-050; DHN-22126; Admiralty G2063.4; NGA 0764.
Ancón
1986. Active; focal plane 172 m (564 ft); white flash every 4 s. 18 m (59 ft) round concrete tower with gallery. Lighthouse painted orange with a black band; gallery painted black. J. Balta has a photo, Angela San Martin has a 2019 photo, Bash has DHN's photo (#PE21 on his page) and Google has a satellite view. Ancón is a popular beach resort about 30 km (20 mi) north of Callao. Site open but it is a strenuous climb to reach the lighthouse; tower closed. ARLHS PER-038; DHN-22124; Admiralty G2063.6; NGA 0754.
Punta Chancay
1973. Active; focal plane 67 m (220 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 11 m (37 ft) round hourglass-shaped tower painted yellow; no lantern. DHN has the closeup photo seen at right, J. Balta has a photo, Bash has a DHN photo (#PE25 on his page) and Google has an indistinct satellite view. This lighthouse is a sibling of the Faro Punta Huacho. Located on a headland at the southern entrance to the Bahía Chancay, the harbor of Chancay, about 50 km (30 mi) north of Callao. Site and tower closed (private property). ARLHS PER-024; DHN-22122; Admiralty G2065; NGA 0752.

Punta Chancay Light, Chancay
Peruvian Navy photo
Isla Mazorca
1928. Active; focal plane 127 m (417 ft); white flash every 10 s. 7.5 m (25 ft) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a circular concrete base. The lighthouse is (or was) painted with black and white horizontal bands. Bash has DHN's photo (#PE27 on his page), Mariano Valverde has a view from the sea, Trabas has a very distant view by Capt. Peter Mosselberger, and Google has a satellite view. Alessandro Catenazzi's photo shows the tower much in need of paint and refurbishment. This lighthouse is a sibling of the Faro Isla Lobos de Tierra (see above). Located on a rocky island 14 km (9 mi) west of Punta Salinas and about 40 km (25 mi) southwest of Huacho. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Site manager: Proabonos. ARLHS PER-014; DHN-22118; Admiralty G2068; NGA 0740.
Salinas (Bahía Salinas)
1973 (substantially altered in 2001). Active; focal plane 81 m (269 ft); white flash every 4 s. 16 m (52 ft) 2-stage tower: a round fiberglass post light, painted with red and white horizontal bands, mounted on a 1-story square unpainted concrete tower. The fiberglass tower was presumably added in 2001. DHN has a closeup photo, Pedro Bellido has a 2023 photo, Bash has a DHN photo (#PE28 on his page) and Google has a satellite view. Located on a prominent cape about 15 km (9 mi) south of Huacho. Accessible by 4WD; a Sernanp permit is required although the requirement is not strictly enforced. Site status unknown. DHN-22117; Admiralty G2069; NGA 0736.
Punta Huacho
1973. Active; focal plane 81 m (266 ft); white flash every 10 s. 10 m (33 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower, painted white; no lantern. The Navy's photo is at right, Raul Barahona has a 2019 closeup, Severo Sanchez Asencios has a sunset photo, and Google has a closeup street view and a satellite view. Located on a prominent headland at Huacho. Accessible by road, but the lighthouse is in a possibly dangerous shantytown area. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-026; DHN-22116; Admiralty G2071; NGA 0732.
Punta Tomás (Punta Thomas, Supe) (3?)
1995 (station established 1902). Active; focal plane 76 m (249 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 18 m (59 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower, painted black with a single broad yellow band; no lantern. We have a DHN photo (second row, left), Pedro Santisteban has a closeup, J. Balta has a photo, Julio Aquino has a distant view from a nearby beach, Trabas has a view by Hendrik Martin Porath, and Google has a satellite view. The original light was replaced in 1930. Located on a prominent cape about 40 km (25 mi) north of Huacho. Site status unknown. ARLHS PER-036; DHN-21113; Admiralty G2074; NGA 0728.
Faro Punta Huacho
Punta Huacho Light, Huacho
Peruvian Navy photo

Ancash Region (Chimbote Area) Lighthouses
Chimbote is a city of about 375,000 residents about 130 km (81 mi) south of Trujillo.
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) triangular cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, painted white with a single red horizontal band. A 2022 photo is available, Lemer Lemúrido's 2014 distant view shows the tower with its lantern, we have a Navy photo (last row, right photo) showing no lantern, 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; DHN-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. DHN has the closeup seen at right, Bash has a DHN photo (#PE33 on his page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a headland at Puerto Casma, 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; DHN-21108; Admiralty G2080; NGA 0712.
Punta Filomena
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 191 m (627 ft); white flash every 8 s. 10 m (33 ft) round fiberglass tower colored with black and white horizontal bands. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. This light is not on the 2013 Peruvian light list. Located on a steep promontary about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) southwest of Samanco. Site status unknown. Admiralty G2082; NGA 0710.
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. Bash has DHN's photo (#PE34 on his page), Mariano Valverde has a distant view from the sea, and Google has a distant 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. DHN-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. Google has a 2014 street view and Google has a satellite view. This light was dropped from the 2009 NGA list. Isla Blanca is known for its wildlife, including seals and birds; ecotours are available from Chimbote. Located atop 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.
[Isla Blanca (Islote Roca Blanca) (2)]
Around 2010. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); red flash every 5 s. 4 m (13 ft) mast atop a square concrete base. DHN has a closeup photo but the small light is not seen in Google's satellite view. Located on the Islote Farallon just off the north end of Isla Blanca. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. DHN-21100; Admiralty G2085; NGA 0700.


Morro Calvario Light, Ancash Region
Peruvian Navy photo


La Liberdad Region (Trujillo Area) Lighthouses
Trujillo is Perú's second largest city with a metropolitan population of about one million. It is 15 km (9 mi) inland from the coast and Salaverry is its seaport.
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. DHN has a closeup photo, Bash has a DHN's photo (#PE36 on his page), and Bing has a distant satellite view. 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; DHN-21091; Admiralty G2088; NGA 0692.
Morro Carretas (Salaverry) (2)
2021 (station established 1974). Active; focal plane 145 m (476 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 17 m (56 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted black with an orange band. The lantern is also painted orange. Iván Mir Yenes has the drone view seen at right. This lighthouse replaced a Máncora class square cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a square pyramidal base. Trabas has Douglas Cameron's photo of the original lighthouse, DHN has a closeup photo, Eduardo Ganoza has a distant view (lighthouse at upper left), a 2008 view is available, and Google has a distant street view and an indistinct satellite view. Iván Mir Yenes has a 2021 drone view showing the lighthouse 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-016 DHN-21090; Admiralty G2089; NGA 0680.
Salaverry Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); continuous green light. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a red rectangular daymark. Trabas has Douglas Cameron's photo and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located near several fuel tanks on the Salaverry waterfront. Site and tower closed. DHN-21089-A; Admiralty G2090.2; NGA 0682.
Salaverry Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); continuous green light. 16 m (52 ft) square skeletal tower carrying a red rectangular daymark. Trabas has Douglas Cameron's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located 181 m (594 ft) west of the front light. Site status unknown. DHN-21089-B; Admiralty G2090.21; NGA 0682.5.
Isla Macabi
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 46 m (151 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 7 m (23 ft) round yellow fiberglass tower. A photo of the base of the tower (second photo on the page) is available and Bing has a satellite view. The island is a nature reserve to protect a colony of Humboldt penguins. Located on an island about 8 km (5 mi) southwest of Puerto Malabrigo. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Site manager: Proabonos. DHN-12081; Admiralty G2096; NGA 0676.


Faro Monte Carretas, Salaverry, December 2021
Google Maps drone view by Iván Mir Yenes

* 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 the top of this page, Trabas has Eckhard Meyer's closeup photo, DHN also has a closeup, Adrian Torres has a closeup, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This location is famous for its surf; surfing web 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; DHN-12077; Admiralty G2106; NGA 0664.

Lambayeque Region Lighthouses
Morro Eten (3)
2017 (station established 1975). Active; focal plane 219 m (719 ft); white flash every 10 s). 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower, with lantern and gallery, painted black with a single horizontal white band. Alex Valle Soto has a February 2018 photo, Nelson Enrique Nieto Morales has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. 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; DHN-12072; Admiralty G2121.5.
Morro Eten (1)
1975. Inactive at least since 2017. 10 m (33 ft) round concrete tower with lantern, painted black with a single horizontal white band. We have an older Navy photo (next to last row, left photo) and Google has a satellite view. After deactivation in 2017 the light was moved to a skeletal mast. The abandoned lighthouse has deteriorated rapidly; Deyvi Alzamora Mendoza has a 2017 photo and Katia Tello has a distant view. Located about 800 m (1/2 mi) northeast of the current light (it is visible near the left edge of Soto's photo of the new light). Site open, tower closed. ex-Admiralty G2117; ex-NGA 0656.
Santa Rosa (3]
2022 (station established 1998). Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 11 m (36 ft) round tower with lantern and gallery, upper half painted white and lower half red. Maviles Lozano Paz has a photo (also seen at right) and Google has a satellite view. The original (1998) light was on a 13 m (43 ft) skeletal tower at a lower elevation. It was replaced temporarily with a red post topped by a red skeletal mast; J. Balta has a February 2021 photo. Located on a headland about 13 km (8 mi) northwest of Morro Eten. Site open but remote, tower closed. DHN-12064; Admiralty G2121; NGA 0649.

Santa Rosa Light, Lambayeque Region, April 2022
Google Maps photo by Maviles Lozano Paz
* [San José (2)]
Date unknown (station established 1998). Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two yellow flashes every 4 s. 13 m (43 ft) red skeletal mast. Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on the beach at Pueblo San José, a beachfront village about 15 km (9 mi) west of the regional capital of Chiclayo. Site open, tower closed. DHN-12062; Admiralty G2119; NGA 0640.
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). Inactive. 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. This lighthouse has been replaced recently; we do not know if it was demolished.
Isla Lobos de Afuera (3)
Recent (station established 1906). Active; focal plane 86 m (282 ft); white flash every 10 s. 18 m (59 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted black with a single horizontal white band; lantern is white. Crew quarters for rotating crews of Peruvian marines who staff the light station. Trabas has a photo by Capt. Peter Mosselberger and Bing has a satellite view of this remote island. Located on a small island about 80 km (50 mi) off Chilayo. 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; DHN-12069; Admiralty G2112; NGA 0636.
Isla Lobos de Tierra (1)
1937. Inactive since 2008. 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 Bing has a distant satellite view. This traditional lighthouse design is unusual in Peru. In 2008 the light (focal plane 64 m (210 ft); four white flashes every 20 s) was moved to an 18 m skeletal mast near the northern end of the island; Bing has an indistinct satellite view. 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. Active light: DHN-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, J. Balta has a closeup, Bash has DHN's photo (#PE42 on his page), and Google has a satellite view. Located on a headland about 65 km (40 mi) southwest of Bayóvar. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-028; DHN-12060; Admiralty G2125; NGA 0628.
Faro Isla Lobos de Afuera
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. A DHN photo is at right, Bash also has a DHN photo (#PE43 on his page), 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. DHN-12056; Admiralty G2127; NGA 0608.
* Bayóvar Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 39 m (138 ft); flashing green light. 26 m (86 ft) square skeletal tower. Google has a street view and a satellite view. The rear light is on a 6 m (20 ft) skeletal tower high on the bluff behind the port. Located beside National Highway 4 at the Bayóvar Terminal, which ships phosphate ore. Site open, tower closed. DHN-12057; Admiralty G2127.4; NGA 0616.
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. DHN has a closeup photo, we have another Navy photo (first row, left) and Google has a distant 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; DHN-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. DHN has a closeup photo, Martin Berendson Leigh has contributed a photo, J. Balta has a photo, and Google has a satellite view and a distant street 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; DHN-11037; Admiralty G2132.8; NGA 0584.
* Paita Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); continuous green light. 17 m (56 ft) square skeletal tower. Eva Guzman's photo shows the two range towers on the pier next to the Peruvian Navy's tall training ship Unión, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the pier at the Paita Naval Station. Site apparently open, tower closed. DHN-11036-A; Admiralty G2133.7; NGA 0602.

Bayóvar Light, Bayóvar
Peruvian Navy photo
* Paita Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); continuous green light. 32 m (105 ft) square skeletal tower. Eva Guzman's photo shows the two range towers and Google has a satellite view. Located on the pier at the Paita Naval Station. Site apparently open, tower closed. DHN-11036-B; Admiralty G2133.71; NGA 0602.5.
* 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 (first row, right), Werner Rogerio Galhardo has a 2017 closeup, a 2019 view is available, Diana Patricia has a 2022 photo, and Google has a satellite view and a distant street 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; DHN-11032; Admiralty G2138; NGA 0580.
Punta Talara (2)
2022 (station established 1942). Active; focal plane about 85 m (280 ft); two white flashes every 15 s. Approx. 25 m (82 ft) 2-stahe tower painted with black an white horizotal bands; the lower 3/4 of the tower is octagonal and the upper stage is a 6 m (29 ft) round tower perched atop the lower stage. Mario Aly Laban Martinez has a 2023 photo and Google has a satellite view. Removed in 2018. The earlier lighthouse was an 8 m (26 ft) round metal tower with lantern and gallery. DHN has a closeup photo of that tower, Trabas has Jim Smith's photo, Bash also has a DHN photo (#PE47 on his page), José Barandiaran has a distant view, and Google has a distant street view from town. The Admiralty announced in January 2020 that the light had been moved about 400 m (1/4 mi) south "temporarily." Located on the cape sheltering the harbor of Talara. Site status unknown. ARLHS PER-035; DHN-11015; Admiralty G2140; NGA 0568.
* Punta Talara Range Front (2)
1974. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); continuous green light. Approx. 18 m (59 ft) square white skeletal tower. Google has a street view and a satellite view. The earlier light was described as a "green tubular tripod." Located beside the main harbor street in Puerto Talara. Site open, tower closed. DHN-11022; Admiralty G2141; NGA 0572.
* Punta Talara Range Rear (2)
1974. Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); continuous green light. Approx. 25 m (82 ft) square white skeletal tower. Google has a street view and a satellite view. The earlier light was described as a "green tubular tripod." Located just off the Avenida Grau 540 m (0.34 mi) southeast of the front light. Site open, tower closed. DHN-11025; Admiralty G2141.1; NGA 0576.
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 with lantern and gallery rising from a square pyramidal base, painted with black and white horizontal bands. Martin Berendson Leigh has contributed a photo, DHN has a closeup photo, Bash also has a DHN photo (#PE48 on his page), J. Balta has a photo, and Google has a street view and 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 distant view from the nearby beach. ARLHS PER-003; DHN-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 with lantern and gallery, rising from a square pyramidal base, painted with red and white horizontal bands. This lighthouse design is very common in Peru, and I call it the "Máncora class." Armando Cuichán Arias has the street view seen at right, DHN has a closeup photo, Carlos Alberto Roig has a closeup photo, Fabio De Venz has a 2022 sunset photo, we have a Navy photo (first row, center), Martin Berendson Leigh has contributed a photo showing the lighthouse above the town, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse had no lantern as recently as 2008. The daymark was changed from black and white to red and white in 2014. Located on a bluff above the port of Máncora about 100 km (60 mi) southwest of Tumbes. Site open, tower closed. . ARLHS PER-042; DHN-11006; Admiralty G2158; NGA 0540.

Máncora Light, Piura Region, August 2014
Google Maps street view by Armando Cuichán Arias

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 with lantern and gallery on a pyramidal base, painted with black and white horizontal bands. Martin Berendsen Leigh's 2009 photo is at right, DHN has a closeup, J. Balta has a photo, Abe Saloman has a distant 2006 photo showing the lighthouse without a lantern, and Google has a street view and an indistinct satellite view. Accessible by climbing a long staircase. Located in Puerto Zorritos, a fishing port about 30 km (20 mi) southwest of Tumbes. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS PER-005; DHN-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. DHN has a closeup photo, Bash also has a DHN photo (#PE51 on his page), J. Balta has a photo, the lighthouse appears on a 2004 postage stamp, and Google has a distant satellite view. 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; DHN-11001; Admiralty G2200; NGA 0528.

Río Amazonas (Amazon River) Lighthouses
* Santa Rosa de Yavari
Date unknown. Active. Approx. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical tower painted with red and white horizontal bands (the colors of the Peruvian flag). Luis Alveart has a closeup photo, Celso Meira has a photo, Christian G. Roa Rojas has a photo, Juan Miguel Lopez Valles has a more distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Santa Rosa de Yavari is on the Amazon at the point where Peru, Brazil, and Colombia come together; the town is built on an island in the river. Across the river to the east are the adjacent towns of Tabatinga, Brazil, and Leticia, Colombia. Located across the street from the Peruvian Customs and border control building. Site open, tower closed.
Pijuayal
Date unknown. Active. Round cylindrical tower painted with narrow red and white horizontal bands. We have a Navy photo (last row, center photo), it appears on a postage stamp, and Google has a satellite view. Located in a Peruvian Army post on the north side of the river at the entrance to the town of Pebas, where the river makes a right-angle turn from northeast to southeast. Ecotours of the Amazon visit Pijuayal. Site status unknown. ARLHS PER-043.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Faro de Zorritos
Contralmirante Villar Light, 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 September 12, 2023. Lighthouses: 42. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.