Lighthouses of Trinidad and Tobago

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an island nation in the southeastern corner of the Caribbean Sea north of Venezuela's Orinoco Delta. Originally colonized by Spain, the islands were ceded to Britain in 1802 and united as a single colony in 1889. The country has been independent since 1962. Trinidad and Tobago is usually considered part of the West Indies, but it is on the South American continental shelf and is geographically a South American country.

Trinidad is much the larger of the two main islands. It is separated from the Venezuelan coast by the Gulf of Paria, a broad but relatively shallow sea connected to the Caribbean Sea to the north by straits called the Dragon's Mouths and to the Atlantic Ocean on the south by a strait called the Serpent's Mouth. The population of Trinidad is about 1.3 million. Port-of-Spain, on the west coast of the island, is the national capital and major port.

The smaller island of Tobago is about 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Trinidad. The island is about 40 km (25 mi) long and 10 km (6 mi) wide; its population is about 60,000.

Trinidad is divided into nine regions and five municipalities (boroughs or cities). Tobago has its own House of Assembly and enjoys some limited autonomy..

Navigational aids in Trinidad and Tobago are managed by the Maritime Services Division of the Ministry of Works and Transport.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. TT numbers are from the National Register of Aids to Navigation. Admiralty numbers are from Volume J of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA numbers are from Publication 110.

General Sources
Online List of Lights - Trinidad and Tobago
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas; for this area the photos are mostly by Capt. Theodore Hinrichs ("Capt. Theo") and Capt. Peter Mosselberger ("Capt. Peter").
Lighthouses in Trinidad and Tobago
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
World of Lighthouses - Trinidad and Tobago
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Leuchttürme Mittelamerikas und der Karibik auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.
National Register of Aids to Navigation
Inventory of navigational aids.
GPSNauticalCharts
Navigational chart for Trinidad and Tobago.
Navionics Charts
Navigational chart for Trinidad and Tobago.


Galera Point Light, Toco, January 2022
Google Maps photo by FotoSalek

Tobago Lighthouses

* Scarborough (Fort King George) (3?)
Date unknown (station established 1842). Currently inactive; listed with focal plane 141 m (463 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 7m (23 ft) pentagonal cylindrical concrete tower with round lantern and gallery, rising from the center of a 1-story concrete keeper's quarters; VRB-25 lens. Lighthouse painted white; the lantern roof and keeper's quarters roof are red. A 2019 photo is at right, Candice Campbell has 2021 photo, Keith Rock has a 2005 closeup, Lightphotos.net has a closeup photo, Wikimedia has Nigel Ayen's closeup, Trabas has Darlene Chisholm's closeup photo, Susan Hunt has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. In May 2024 officials announced plans to repair the lighthouse and relight it later in 2024. Work on the project began in August. The lighthouse is located within the grounds of Fort King George, built in the 1770s; the fort is one of the best known historic sites of Tobago. According to research by Michel Forand, the original lighthouse was a pentagonal tower with a much lower focal plane of 39 m (128 ft), and in the mid 20th century the lighthouse was square rather than pentagonal. The fort and lighthouse are built on a hill commanding Bacolet Bay, the harbor of Scarborough, near the southwestern tip of Tobago. Site open (free), tower closed. Site manager: National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago. ARLHS TRI-003; TT 2001; Admiralty J5838; NGA 15184.
* Scarborough Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 1 s on, 1 s off. 12 m (39 ft) square white skeletal tower carrying a red slatted daymark. Trabas has Darlene Chisholm's closeup photo, Lelord Cordel has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The range leads vessels into Scarborough. The rear light is on a similar but shorter tower on a hillside 244 m (800 ft) northwest. Located on Milford Road (the waterfront street) about three blocks west of the Port Authority terminal. Site open, tower closed. TT 2002; Admiralty J5839; NGA 15196.
Crown Point
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. 26 m (85 ft) square white skeletal tower with gallery. Andres Lezama has a distant 2019 photo and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the southwestern tip of the island, adjacent to the runway of the international airport. Site and tower closed. TT 2035; ARLHS TRI-007; Admiralty J5841.5; NGA 15200.

Scarborough Light, Tobago, January 2019
Google Maps photo by Susan Hunt

Trinidad Lighthouses

Port-of-Spain City Lighthouse
Sea Lots Channel Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white light, 7 s on, 3 s off; also a continuous red light. Approx. 24 m (79 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white. The tower also carries a vertical daymark painted orange. Trabas has a photo by Capt. Hinrichs showing both range lights and Google has a satellite view. Located on the waterfront on the south side of Port-of-Spain. Site status unknown. TT 1120; Admiralty J5882; NGA 16197.
#Sea Lots Channel Range Rear
Date unknown. Removed in 2020. This was an approx. 39 m (118 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white. The tower also carried a vertical daymark painted orange. Trabas has a photo by Capt. Hinrichs showing both range lights. Located downslope below the Beetham Highway on the south side of Port-of-Spain. Site status unknown. TT 1121; Admiralty J5882.1; NGA 16197.1.
* Grier Channel Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); white light occulting once every 4 s seen along the range; also a continuous green light. Approx. 35 m (115 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery. The tower also carries a rectangular daymark painted in a red and white checkered pattern. Trabas has a photo by Capt. Hinrichs and Google has a satellite view. Located on the waterfront of Port-of-Spain's modern harbor, about 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of the historic lighthouse. Site presumably open, tower closed. TT 1050; Admiralty J5884.24; NGA 16190.
* Grier Channel Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane approx. 50 m (164 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off; also a continuous white light. Approx. 35 m (115 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery. The tower also carries a rectangular daymark painted orange. Trabas has a photo by Capt. Hinrichs and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Capt. Hinrichs found that this light has been relocated recently and light list descriptions are incorrect. Located about 180 m (200 yd) northeast of the front light. Site presumably open, tower closed. TT 1052; Admiralty J5884.25; NGA 16190.1.
* Port-of-Spain (St. Vincent Jetty Range Rear) (2)
1880s (station established 1841). Inactive. 19.5 m (64 ft) hexagonal tower with a small lantern at the top and a gallery in the middle, painted white with red and black trim. Google has the 2022 street view seen at right, Lawrence James has a 2019 photo, a June 2009 photo is available, Lightphotos.net has a 2012 photo, Lighthouse Digest has Sharon Arrindell's photo, and Google has a satellite view. According to Findlay's 1879 list the original lighthouse was also hexagonal but only 13 m (43 ft) tall. The lighthouse was built at the base of the St. Vincent Jetty, but since then the shoreline has been extended and the original purpose of the light has been lost. Huelse has a historic postcard view of the lighthouse in its original context. At some point (perhaps in the 1980s?) some restoration work was done on the tower, but by 2004 it was in poor condition with a lean of about 5°. In late 2005 the lighthouse was repainted in a wildly colorful pattern honoring Trinidad and Tobago's World Cup soccer team, and in late 2006 it was painted again to publicize the Cricket World Cup played in Trinidad in 2007. It still has the 5° lean. The lighthouse stands in the middle of a very busy downtown intersection. Located on Wrightson Road in downtown Port-of-Spain, the capital of the country. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Government of Trinidad and Tobago. . ARLHS TRI-008.

Port of Spain Light, Port of Spain, June 2022
Google Maps street view by Ch We

Diego Martín Region (Dragon's Mouths Area) Lighthouses
The Dragon's Mouths (Bocas del Dragón) are the straits separating the northwestern corner of Trinidad from the tip of Venezuela's Paria Peninsula. The ridge of the peninsula continues across the strait to form the ridge along the north coast of Trinidad. Several islands in the strait also represent summits of the ridge.
Chaguaramas Bay (Point Gourde)
Date unknown. Active (unofficial); focal plane about 65 m (215 ft); continuous red light. Approx. 13 m (39 ft) square pyramidal skeletal communications tower. Google has a street view and Bing has a satellite view. Located on heights of the Point Gourde peninsula, which shelters Chaguaramas Bay, a very popular anchorage at the northwestern corner of Trinidad. Site status unknown. Admiralty J5860.
* Crew's Inn Marina
Date unknown. Active (privately maintained and unofficial); white light, pattern unknown. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) hexagonal wood tower with lantern and gallery centered on the roof a 1-story marina building. Tower painted white with narrow red spiral bands; lantern and gallery painted black. Winston Singh has a 2022 photo of the light in action, a 2011 photo and a 2018 photo are available and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The lighthouse was built by Colin Barcant to help guide yachts into the docking area of Chaguaramas Bay. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Crew's Inn Hotel and Yachting Centre. Not listed by the Admiralty.
Point Baleine (Espalon Point)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (42 ft); white flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) square skeletal tower, painted white. No lantern. Wikimedia has a photo by James Roberts, Joshua De Suze has a very distant 2023 view from the sea, and Google has an indistinct satellite view of the point. Located on the southwest point of Gaspar Grande Island, just off Chaguaramas Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago. ARLHS TRI-009; TT 1007; Admiralty J5856; NGA 16236.
** Chacachacare
1897. Active; focal plane 251 m (825 ft); white flash every 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) round tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, lantern red. The original Fresnel lens, removed in 2007, was unfortunately broken while being transported to Port-of-Spain. A 2203 photo by Ambika Rampaul is at right, Amrit Ramoutar has a 2014 photo, Angilla Brathwaite has a 2022 photo showing the tower in need of restoration, another good photo and a 2008 photo are available, Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo, a street view from the gallery is available, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse, one of the highest in the Americas, is built atop a steep mountain with a spectacular view of the Dragon's Mouth. The island, site of a leper colony from 1922 to 1948, is now uninhabited except for periodic visits from the lighthouse service staff. Located on the island of Chacachacare on the east side of Boca Grande, the widest Dragon's Mouth strait, off the northwesternmost tip of Trinidad. Accessible only by boat; tours available from Chaguaramas. Site open, tower open by arrangement with the keepers. Owner: Government of Trinidad and Tobago. Site manager: Chaguaramas National Park. ARLHS TRI-002; TT 1610; Admiralty J5846; NGA 16256.

Chacachacare Light, Dragon's Mouth, February 2023
Google Maps photo by Ambika Rampaul
* [North Post (Pointe de Diable)]
Date unknown. Active (unofficial?); focal plane 228 m (748 ft); white flash every 5 s. Prasanth Ramanpillai's 2021 photo shows a cell phone tower but the light may be on the short post on the right side of that tower. Google has a satellite view. Located atop a summit on the north coast of Trinidad north of Diego Martin. Accessible by road. Site appears open, tower closed. Admiralty J5844; NGA 16264.

San Juan-Laventille Region (North Coast) Lighthouse
Chupara Point
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 99 m (325 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo, Kurleigh Martin has a 2015 closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a prominent headland at Fort Abercrombie on the north coast of Trinidad, about 7 km (4 mi) northeast of Las Cuevas. Site status unknown. TT 3015; Admiralty J5843; NGA 16264.7.

Sangre Grande Region (Northeastern Trinidad) Lighthouses
** Galera Point (Toco)
1897. Active; focal plane 43 m (141 ft); white light, 6 s on, 4 s off. Approx. 12 m (40 ft) masonry tower with gallery; the lantern has been removed. For some years a square skeletal tower raised the total height to 23 m (75 ft), but recently that extsnion has been removed. Lighthouse painted white with red trim; the skeletal tower is painted with red and white horizontal bands. The University of the West Indies maintains weather and air monitoring equipment also mounted on the skeletal tower. A 2022 photo is at the top of this page, the National Trust has a page for the lighthouse, Cara Ainsley has a 2023 closeup, Lightphotos.net has a good photo, Wikimedia has a 2009 photo, a 2008 photo is available, Trabas has a photo by Capt. Peter, and Google has a satellite view and a street view from the beach below the light station. After being neglected for many years the lighthouse was restored and repainted in 2006-07. In 2011 there was additional restoration, a parking lot for visitors was completed, and the lighthouse was staffed by security guards to protect visitors and prevent vandalism. Located at the northeastern tip of Trinidad, east of Toco. Site open, tower open by arrangement with the staff. Owner/site manager: Government of Trinidad and Tobago. . ARLHS TRI-004; TT 3007; Admiralty J5842; NGA 16266.
* Brigand Hill
1958. Active; focal plane 217 m (712 ft); three white flashes every 30 s, in an unusual pattern: first two flashes separated by 3 s, second and third by 12 s. 11 m (36 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern, gallery, and enclosed watch room. Lighthouse painted white. Douglas Phang You's 2019 photo is at right, Harry Sawh has a closeup, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse shares the site with a large TV/radio transmission facility. The view from the gallery is said to be spectacular. Located on a ridgetop on the east side of Trinidad, overlooking the Atlantic. Site and tower open. Owner/site manager: Government of Trinidad and Tobago. ARLHS TRI-001; TT 3004; Admiralty J5913.9 (ex-J5915); NGA 16108.

Río Claro-Mayaro Region (Southeastern Trinidad) Lighthouse
Galeota Point
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 87 m (285 ft); white flash every 5 s. 9 m (30 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available butGoogle has a satellite view. A large BP Trinidad and Tobago oil terminal and processing plant blocks access to this lighthouse. Located atop a vertical cliff on a high headland at the southeastern tip of Trinidad. Site and tower closed. Site manager: BP Trinidad and Tobago. TT 4001; Admiralty J5913.8 (ex-J5914); NGA 16109.

Brigand Hill Light, July 2019
Google Maps photo by Douglas Phang You

Princes Town Region (Southern Trinidad) Lighthouse
Moruga (Grand Chemin Point, La Lune Point)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 45 m (148 ft); four white flashes every 20 s. Approx. 30 m (98 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. Trini Prydz has a view from the beach (a portion is at right), the tower is behind the church in Orlando Pyle's photo and at lower right in Varun Ghisyawan's drone view of the town, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located in Moruga, a village on the central south coast of Trinidad. Site status unknown. TT 4025; Admiralty J5913.5; NGA 16110.

Siparia Region (Southwestern Trinidad): South Coast Lighthouses
The 60 km (37 mi) long Siparia peninsula frames the south end of the Gulf of Paria. At its end the 14 km (9 mi) wide strait of the Serpent's Mouth separates Trinidad from the Orinoco delta region of Venezuela.

Taparo Point
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 69 m (226 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. Described only as a tower, height unknown. No phpto available and Google has only a fuzzy satellite view. Located on a headland on the south side of the Siparia peninsula, near San Francique. Site status unknown. TT 5001; Admiralty J5913.4; NGA 16111.
Punta del Arenal (Icacos Point) (2?)
Date unknown (station established 1870). Active; focal plane 22 m (72 ft); white flash every 7.5 s. Approx. 18 m (56 ft) skeletal tower, painted white. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse guides vessels through the Serpent's Mouth strait. The original light was shown from a mast at a focal plane of 12 m (39 ft). Located at the tip of the Cedros Peninsula, which is the extreme southwestern tip of Trinidad. Site status unknown. TT 5002; Admiralty J5912; NGA 16116.
[Soldado Rock]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane about 40 m (131 ft); white flash every 10 s. Approx 5 m (17 ft) round concrete post. Two views from the sea are available and Bing has a satellite view. Soldado (Soldier's) Rock is the larger of two rocks rising dangerously near the center of the Serpent's Mouth strait off the Punta del Arenal. The rocks were formerly claimed by Venezuela but the 1942 border treaty placed them in Trinidad and Tobago. The rocks are a protected wildlife reserve. Site and tower closed. TT 5008; Admiralty J5909.5; NGA 16118.

Moruga Light, Moruga, December 2018
Google Maps photo by Trini Prydz

Point Fortin Borough Lighthouses
Point Fortin Pierhead (Oil Jetty)
Date unknown. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 30 m (98 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 24 m (79 ft) aluminum skeletal tower. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. Point Fortin is a former oil port that now handles liquified natural gas. Located at the end of a jetty about 4 km (2.5 mi) long that delivers liquified natural gas to waiting tankers. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Atlantic LNG. Admiralty J5908; NGA 16132.
Point Fortin Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 32 m (105 ft); green flash every 3 s. 28 m (92 ft) skeletal tower carrying a daymark painted red with a yellow vertical stripe. Krzysztof Brzozowicz has a street view showing both range lights and Google has a satellite view. Located on the waterfront at Point Fortin. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Atlantic LNG. TT 1430; Admiralty J5908.7; NGA 16134.
Point Fortin Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 42 m (138 ft); green light, 3 s on, 2 s off. 28 m (92 ft) skeletal tower carrying a daymark painted red with a yellow vertical stripe. Krzysztof Brzozowicz has a street view showing both range lights and Google has a satellite view. Located 300 m (330 yd) southeast of the front light. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Atlantic LNG.TT 1431; Admiralty J5908.71; NGA 16134.5.

Siparia Region Lighthouse
Brighton (La Brea) Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); three white flashes every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower. No photo available but Bing has a satellite view. The rear light is on a much shorter tower on the hillside behind the port. Located on the industrial quay at La Brea. Site and tower closed. TT 1401; Admiralty J5903; NGA 16140.

Couva-Tabaquita-Talparo Region (Gulf of Paria) Lighthouses
La Carrière
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 71 m (233 ft); quick white flash every 2.5 s. Approx. 20 m (66 ft) square platform supported by four steel legs. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located high on a bluff overlooking Pointe à Pierre, a town surrounding the Petroprin oil refinery. Site and tower closed. TT 1293; Admiralty J5895; NGA 16152.
Claxton Bay Terminal Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); quick-flashing yellow light. 20 m (66 ft) skeletal tower mounted on a building and carrying a daymark painted red with a yellow vertical stripe. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view and a street view from the rear of the structure. Located on the pier of the terminal. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Trinidad Cement Limited. TT 1280; Admiralty J5894.3; NGA 16169.
Claxton Bay Terminal Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); yellow light, 2 s on, 1 s off. 22 m (72 ft) light mounted on the front of a large double silo structure. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located 260 m (853 ft) east of the front light. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Trinidad Cement Limited. TT 1282; Admiralty J5894.31; NGA 16169.5.
Point Lisas (Savonetta) Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white flash every 2 s, synchronized with the rear light. Approx. 27 m (89 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, painted black. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo and Google has a satellite view. Savonetta is an industrial port on the central west coast of Trinidad, facing the Gulf of Paria. Located close to the waterfront at Savonetta. Site and tower closed. TT 1240; Admiralty J5891; NGA 16180.
Point Lisas (Savonetta) Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 41 m (135 ft); white flash every 2 s, synchronized with the front light. Approx. 35 m (115 ft) triangular skeletal tower with gallery. Trabas has Capt. Peter's photo (also seen at right) and Google has a satellite view. Located within the industrial area 700 m (0.44 mi) northeast of the front light. Site and tower closed. TT 1242; Admiralty J5891.1; NGA 16184.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:


Savonetta Range Rear Light
photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger; used by permission

Adjoining pages: North: St. Vincent and the Grenadines | West: Eastern Venezuela

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Posted March 31, 2005. Checked and revised June 4, 2024. Lighthouses: 28. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.