This page lists of lighthouses of the west coast of mainland Mexico in the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa, and Sonora. Lighthouses of Baja California are on separate pages, and lighthouses south of Jalisco are listed on the South Coast page. This coast faces mostly on the Sea of Cortés (Gulf of California). From Mazatlán southward the coast is open to the Pacific Ocean. There are very few tall lighthouses along this coast. Tall towers aren't needed because in most places the coastline is high, and navigational lights can be mounted high on the bluffs and headlands. 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. Mexico is a federal republic comprised of 31 states, and the lighthouses are listed below by state. Mexican lighthouses are managed by the merchant marine directorate (Dirección General de Marina Mercante) within the Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes, the cabinet agency that also manages the country's airports and seaports. 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.
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Jalisco Lighthouses
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![]() Roca Azul Light, Jocotepec, July 2009 Panoramio Creative Commons photo by Aislander |
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Nayarit Lighthouses
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Sinaloa Lighthouses
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![]() Cerro Partido Light, Topolobampo, September 2011 Panoramio photo copyright festiva88; permission requested |
Sonora Lighthouses
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![]() Cabo Haro Light, Guaymas photo copyright Capt. Peter Mosselberger; used by permission |
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![]() Cabo Tepoca Light, Puerto Lobos photo copyright Will Heckman; used by permission |
Information available on lost lighthouses:
Notable faux lighthouses:
Adjoining pages: South: South Coast | West: Southern Baja California | Northwest: Northern Baja California
Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key
Posted 2003. Checked and revised September 13, 2018. Lighthouses: 47. Site copyright 2018 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.