The Cabo Falso lighthouse: Cabo's 1905 Faro Viejo, and the best way to see it

The Cabo Falso lighthouse, known locally as El Faro Viejo, is the old lighthouse on the Pacific dunes west of Cabo San Lucas, 3.6 miles (5.7 km) from the marina by sea. It was inaugurated on May 5, 1905. The land around it is private with restricted access, so the simplest way to see it is from the water, on the 2 hour Pacific sunset route that starts at USD 519 (MXN 9,799) per boat.

Cabo Falso is the westernmost point of the cape. The lighthouse stands on a rise above the beach, with dunes all around it.

Where is the Cabo Falso lighthouse?

The Cabo Falso lighthouse is on the Pacific side of the cape, past Land's End. From Marina Cabo San Lucas a boat runs out across the bay, around the Arch, and then west along the open coast.

This stretch faces the open ocean to the west, so the sun goes down over the water. That's why our sunset routes on the Pacific side head this way.

A short history of the Faro Viejo

The story starts in 1896, when Mexico's federal communications ministry commissioned engineer Joaquín Palacios Gómez to build a lighthouse at the cape. Construction began in 1904, and the lighthouse was inaugurated on May 5, 1905.

Its French prismatic lenses reached 10 nautical miles out to sea, about 11.5 miles (18.5 km).

A hurricane in the 1960s damaged the mechanism, and an automated lighthouse was built on a higher hill nearby. The old building stayed on the dunes. INAH, Mexico's national heritage institute, restored it in 1996, and a second restoration followed in 1999.

Can you visit the lighthouse on land?

Sometimes, with caveats. The land around the lighthouse is private, and access has been restricted since 2004. Local groups have pushed for free public access, most recently in May 2025.

Most people who reach it by land go through the dunes on horseback or on an off-road tour. If you plan to do that, check the current access rules before you book.

If you do go by land, stay on the marked tracks. Heavy vehicle traffic has damaged both the dunes and the monument. The beaches below are also turtle nesting beaches. Olive ridley, leatherback and black turtles nest in Los Cabos, mostly from July to December, so stay away from marked nests.

Seeing Cabo Falso from the water

From a boat there's no access question. On the 2 hour Pacific sunset route, the captain heads around Land's End to the Pacific side and runs along the coast toward Cabo Falso as the sun drops. The route covers 12 miles (19 km) round trip, with these stops:

1. Marina Cabo San Lucas
2. The Arch, 1.2 mi (1.9 km)
3. The sea lion colony, 1.3 mi (2 km)
4. Divorce Beach, 1 mi (1.7 km), seen from the boat
5. Cabo Falso lighthouse, 3.6 mi (5.7 km)

From the water you see the old lighthouse with the dunes around it and the newer light on the hill above. On the way back you pass the Arch again. Your captain adapts the route to the sea that day.

Sunset times for the Cabo Falso route

Sunset moves by about an hour and a half over the year. These are the times on the 15th of each month, Cabo time, from our trip guide:

As a rule of thumb, leave about an hour and a half before sunset so you're on the Pacific side when the sun gets low. Departures run from 7 AM to 7 PM, and the yachts sail until 8 PM, so even the late July sunset fits. Cabo is on Mountain Standard Time all year, with no daylight saving. For more on timing and the bay alternative, see our guide to the best sunset cruise in Cabo.

The Pacific side means more swell

The bay and Land's End are usually calm. The Pacific side and open water have more swell, and once you round Land's End, the run to Cabo Falso is on the open Pacific.

Two things help. A bigger, heavier boat rides the swell more smoothly than a small one. And if anyone in your group gets seasick easily, a bay sunset is the gentler option: you still get the Arch in golden light, just without the open-ocean stretch. Our article on seasickness on a Cabo boat covers routes, boat size and what to do on board.

For this route, these are the boats we'd look at first:

The Chaparral 28 is the lowest price for the route. The Sea Ray 40 is a 40 ft flybridge yacht with a captain and deckhand, bottled water and ice, a cooler, towels and snorkel gear. The Sea Ray 55 is a 55 ft flybridge motor yacht for up to 15, with air conditioning, cabins and heads, and bottled water, sodas and ice.

Prices are per boat with the 16% tax included. The customary 15% crew tip is not included. Split among a full boat, 2 hours on the Sea Ray 40 come to about USD 73 a person for 12, and 3 hours on the Sea Ray 55 to about USD 142 a person for 15.

Whales off the Pacific side

From late fall into spring, the run to Cabo Falso can double as a whale trip. Humpback and gray whales are the species most seen in Los Cabos. Humpbacks start arriving in November, and the official whale-watching season, set each year by SEMARNAT, ran December 15 to April 30 for 2025 to 2026. The peak is January and February. SEMARNAT publishes the 2026 to 2027 dates in October.

Boats must follow the official whale-watching norm, NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010. Boats under 10 m (33 ft) keep 60 m (197 ft) from humpbacks, and larger boats keep 80 m (262 ft). The crews we book don't chase whales or cut in front of them.

If whales are the main goal, our whale season trips typically run 3 hours, which gives the captain time to look for them instead of racing the sunset. Our whale watching guide has the details by month.

Planning a Cabo Falso sunset trip

Pick 2 hours if the lighthouse and the sunset are the point. Pick 3 hours in whale season, or if you want a swim stop on the bay side on the way back. For a group that worries about the swell, the Sea Ray 40 or Sea Ray 55 is the better ride.

Send your date and group size through the planner and tell us you want the Pacific side. We reply in writing within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time, with a departure time matched to that day's sunset. Once the date is confirmed, you pay through a secure Stripe link.

Yachts in this guide

Chaparral 28Sport boat · up to 10 guestsfrom $519 / 2 hSea Ray 40Flybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $879 / 2 hSea Ray 55Flybridge motor yacht · up to 15 guestsfrom $2,129 / 3 h

Questions people ask

How old is the Cabo Falso lighthouse?

Construction began in 1904 and the lighthouse was inaugurated on May 5, 1905. It was replaced by an automated lighthouse on a higher hill nearby after a hurricane in the 1960s damaged its mechanism.

Can you visit the Cabo Falso lighthouse?

It stands on private land, and access has been restricted since 2004. Visitors usually reach it through the dunes on horseback or on off-road tours, so check the current situation before you go. From the water you can see it on a Pacific sunset route.

How far is the Cabo Falso lighthouse from the marina?

About 3.6 miles (5.7 km) from Marina Cabo San Lucas by sea, around Land's End on the Pacific side. The 2 hour Pacific sunset route covers 12 miles (19 km) round trip and passes it.

Can you see whales near Cabo Falso?

Yes, in season. Humpbacks start arriving in November, and the official whale-watching season ran December 15 to April 30 for 2025 to 2026, with January and February as the peak. Humpback and gray whales are the species most seen in Los Cabos.

Plan your day on the water

Pick a yacht, the hours and the food in the planner. A written reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.

Check availabilitySee the fleet