The Faro Viejo
The old lighthouse stands on a rise above the beach. From the water you see it with the dunes around it.
Places · Landmark · Pacific coast
Cabo Falso lighthouseEl Faro Viejo, Cabo San Lucas
The old lighthouse at Cabo Falso stands above the dunes on the Pacific side, west of Cabo San Lucas. Sunset routes head this way along the open coast.
- From the marina3.6 mi 5.7 km
- InauguratedMay 5, 1905
- Seen fromThe Pacific side
- Charters from2 hours
Photo: Shane Smith, CC BY-SA 3.0
What's there
The Pacific side of the cape.
Pacific sunsets
This stretch of coast faces the open ocean to the west, so the sun goes down over the water.
Whales offshore
Humpback and gray whales are the species most seen in Los Cabos, with the peak in January and February 5.
Turtle nesting beaches
Olive ridley, leatherback and black turtles nest in Los Cabos, mostly from July to December 6. The nonprofit ASUPMATOMA runs a turtle camp in Cabo San Lucas 7.
The story
A lighthouse from 1905, on private land.
Mexico's federal communications ministry commissioned engineer Joaquín Palacios Gómez in 1896. Construction began in 1904, and the lighthouse was inaugurated on May 5, 1905 1.
Its French prismatic lenses reached 10 nautical miles, about 11.5 miles (18.5 km) out to sea 2.
A hurricane in the 1960s damaged the mechanism, and an automated lighthouse was built on a higher hill nearby 23. INAH, Mexico's heritage institute, restored the old building in 1996, and a second restoration followed in 1999 3.
The land around it is private. Access has been restricted since 2004, and local groups have pushed for free public access, most recently in May 2025 34.
Photos
What it looks like.
Getting there
On one of our routes.
- 2 h · Pacific sunsetAround Land's End to the Pacific side, facing the sun as it drops toward Cabo Falso.
Experiences that stop here
2 h · Pacific sunset Around Land's End to the Pacific side, facing the sun as it drops toward Cabo Falso. 12 miles (19 km) round trip
Stops, with distance from the marina
MarinaLandmarkBeachSnorkelWildlifeWhale season area
Typical routes. Your captain adapts them to the sea that day. Coastline © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
By private yacht
What it costs to get here.
Every price is per boat for your whole group, not per person. The captain, the crew and the 16% tax are included. The yacht is yours alone, never shared.
| Route | Time on the water | From | Yacht at that price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific sunset12 mi · 19 km round trip | 2 h | $519 | Chaparral 28up to 10 guests |
Good to know
Questions
People also ask.
Can you visit the Cabo Falso lighthouse?
It stands on private land with controlled access, usually reached through the dunes on horseback or on off-road tours 3. From a yacht you see it from the Pacific on a sunset route.
How old is the Cabo Falso lighthouse?
Construction began in 1904 and it was inaugurated on May 5, 1905 1.
Can you see whales from the Pacific side?
Humpback and gray whales are the species most seen in Los Cabos, peaking in January and February 5. Boats must follow the official whale-watching norm, NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010 9.
How much does a private boat to the Cabo Falso lighthouse cost?
A private charter on a route that includes the Cabo Falso lighthouse starts at $519 for 2 hours on the Chaparral 28, for up to 10 guests. The price is per boat, not per person, and includes the captain, the crew and the 16% tax.
See it from the water
Put Cabo Falso lighthouse on your route.
A written reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.
Sources
- Municipality of Los Cabos, a brief history of the Faro Viejo at Cabo Falso
- CULCO BCS, the old lighthouse at Cabo Falso (May 2026)
- Redalyc, academic article on the Faro Viejo and public access
- Península Digital, call for free access to the Faro Viejo (May 2025)
- Visit Los Cabos, whale watching guide
- POSTA BCS, sea turtle season in Baja California Sur
- ASUPMATOMA, sea turtle conservation in Los Cabos
- Diario Oficial de la Federación, whale-watching season notice 2025 to 2026
- Diario Oficial de la Federación, NOM-131-SEMARNAT-2010 whale-watching norm
Photo credits
- Shane Smith, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Shane Smith, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Juan Cruzado Cortés, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Shane Smith, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons