Search
Close this search box.

10 Lighthouses of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has 15 lighthouses located around the coastline (16 if you include the ruins of the Isla de Cabras lighthouse built by the United States). Of these, 5 are in desperate need of repair (and included on the Lighthouse Doomsday List) and 10 have been recently restored or are in good shape.

If you are planning on travel around the island of Puerto Rico, these lighthouses make ideal photo opportunities. Most of the lighthouse buildings are closed to the public, but the grounds are usually open. Here is a guide to the 10 best lighthouses in Puerto Rico:

El Morro Lighthouse
As the name suggests this lighthouse is located inside the El Morro fort and was the first lighthouse to be built in Puerto Rico, Originally built in 1846, the current lighthouse was re-built in 1908 after being damaged during the Spanish – American war. It is currently active, but the actual lighthouse is not open to the public, but you can get some great photos of the square Moorish tower from in and around the fort.

El Morrow is open daily from 9am – 5pm (June to November) and 9am – 6pm (December – May).
787-729-6777

Map It

Fajardo Lighthouse (Cabo San Juan Lighthouse)
Located near Las Croabas on Rd. 987, just north of Fajardo. This active lighthouse was built in 1882 and is now part of the Las Cebeza de San Juan Nature Reserve. The original keepers house is now used as a nature center and marine laboratory operated by the College of Humacao of the University of Puerto Rico

The Nature reserve is open Wednesday – Sundays by appointment
787-722-5882 or 787-860-2560 (on weekends)

Map It

Isla de Cardona Lighthouse
Located on an island just to the South of Ponce, this active lighthouse was built in 1889 and automated in 1962. It marks the entrance to Ponce harbor. Accessible only by private boat, but you can see it from the observation tower on the La Gauncha boardwalk or from the Ponce yacht Club. Currently it is not open to the public

Map It

Punta Borinquen Lighthouse, Aguadilla
The original lighthouse was built in 1889 and was subsequently destroyed in the earthquake and tsunami of 1918. You can walk around the ruins of the original lighthouse and can view the current active lighthouse (built in 1920) from a distance, as it is not open to the public

Map It

Cabo Roja Lighthouse (Faro de Los Morillos)
This active lighthouse was built in 1882 and was restored back in 2002. It is located on a limestone cliff overlooking the Caribbean on Rd. 301 near El Combate and is part of the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge.

Open Wednesday – Sunday 9am – 3pm
787-851-1025

Map It

Rincon Lighthouse (Punta Higuero)
The original was built in 1892 and the main tower was strengthened in 1922 after the 1918 earthquake. Again the actual lighthouse is closed to the public but the grounds are accessible as well as a small gift shop.

Coqui note: this is a great spot for Whale watching during Jan – Marl

Map It

Punta Figuras Lighthouse, Arroyo
Origianally built in 1893, it was in operation until 1938. After years of neglect it was retsired in 2004 and is now part of the Puerto Rico National Parks Punta Guilarte Vacation Center. The lighthouse is currently inactive and is located on Hwy 3 Km. 126.
787-839-3565

Map It

Punta Mulas Lighthouse, Vieques
This lighthouse (photo at the begining of the article) is located on the island of Vieques in the town of Isabel Segundo. It was built in 1895 and was operated until 1949. Currently it is a marine museum and is open 6 days a week to the general public.

Open 6 days a week 8am – 4:30pm
787-741-5000

Map It

Punta Los Morillos Lighthouse, Arecibo
Originally built in 1898 it was restored in 1994 and is now part of the Arecibo Lighthouse and Historical Park. The lighthouse has a hexagonal cylindrical stone tower attached to 1-story stone office and keeper’s house

Monday – Friday 9am – 6pm
Saturday – Sunday 10am – 7pm
787-817-1936 or 787-880-7540

Map It

Punta Tuna Lighthouse, Maunabo
Built in 1892, this active lighthouse was the last one to be inhabited on the island. The grounds are open to the public.

Wednesday – Sunday 9am – 4pm (except holidays)
787-861-0301

Map It

Photo and Article Resources:
Vieques Lighthouse by johnylee
El Morro Lighthouse by jamesxv7
Rincon Lighthouse by oquendo
Puerto Rico Lighthouses at UNC.edu

Explore More

14 Responses

  1. That’s beautiful light house. I always had dream to climb up to the top of the light house. It has the best view of the ocean.

    I guess I should plan my next trip to Puerto Rico.

  2. My wife and I will have to make another trip to Puerto Rico. Sadly it seems our Puerto Rico honeymoon was not nearly long enough. We did rent a car and drive around a bit, but I think we spent too much time at the resort. Is there a light house in San Juan?

  3. Adam, the lighhouse in San Juan, is the El Morro lighthouse (see photo above). It is located inside the El Morro Fort and is not open to the public, but you can view it from within the fort or outside as the photo shows.

  4. If you are going to mention a lighthouse in ruins, then you should mention the one that’s abandon in ruins in Guanicas State Forest. Easy to get to as it is on the road to Guanica Beach. You can actually go up to the door and photograph it. Peter Quinones of the Bronx,

  5. Thanks for the comment – I mentioned the Isla de Cabras lighthouse as most people only detail the 15 lighthouses built by the Spanish and this one makes it 16. I did mention that 5 lighthouses are in poor state and are on the Lighthouse Doomsday List. I am planning a separate article for these 5.

    Thanks for the info on the one in Guanica, it’s apprecaited

  6. We have been coming to Puerto Rico for 25 years and you are opening our eyes to what the island has to offer with your web site. I feel like we can now adventure out and really enjoy this beautiful paradise.

  7. Hi Camille.

    Thanks for the feedback on the site. Glad you found it useful. Enjoy your next trip here

  8. Hi Several years ago I attempted to visit the lighthouse in Maunabo and was not successful. How do I get to the lighthouse? I understand that it is under the Coast guards protection and not open to the public. I have been taking my own pictures of the lighthouses of Puerto Rico and that is one that I have not been able to take. I would appreciate your assistance. Thank you
    Ammie Medina

    1. You can check to see if Rd 7760 is open as it appears to go close to the lighthouse or another option would be to trek along the beach. If you click on the Map It link in the above article you can see the location

Comments are closed.