The Lighthouses of Panama

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This page currently shows the beginning of the documentation of the Lighthouses of Panama. In addition, the pictures below are linked to the relevant photo on the web (thus making available to you a higher resolution picture.) I am very grateful to Russ Rowlett at the University of North Carolina for his excellent Lighthouse Directory for the outline. Each lighthouse is linked to (in our editorial opinion) the best reference site for that light.

Atlantic Coast

PN 1	Isla Grande	The lighthouse is a twin of the Toro Point Light (see below). This is a landfall light for ships arriving at the Canal from the northeast. Located at the highest point of Isla Grande, a resort island off Punta Manzanillo, about 80 km northeast of the Canal entrance. Accessible by a 30 minute walk from the town and from nearby resorts.
PN 2	Farallón Sucio Rock	The original tower was a 20 ft white, pyramidal steel framework tower on a tank house. Located about 6 mi west northwest of Isla Grande. Accessible only by boat.
PN 3	Toro Point	This elegant lighthouse was built by the French during their efforts to construct the Canal. It is a familiar landmark for everyone passing through the waterway. Located on the west side of the entrance to Limon Bay from the Caribbean. Accessible by road

PN 4

Atlantic Entrance Range Middle

Located about 100 m east of the Canal near the southbound entrance to the Gatún Locks.

Photo courtesy snowey2 [webshots]

PN 5

Atlantic Entrance Range Rear

This lighthouse faces southbound (Pacific-bound) ships approaching the Gatún Locks from the Atlantic side. Located on Lighthouse Road in the town of Gatún, roughly 500 m east of the Gatún Locks and 1.2 km south of the middle range light.

Photo courtesy tispwisp [webshots]

PN 6

Gatún Northbound Rear (Gatún Locks)

This lighthouse is the rear light of the range for northbound (Atlantic-bound) ships approaching the Gatún Locks from Gatún Lake.

Photo courtesy tispwisp [webshots]

Gatún Lake Range

PN 7	Gatún Southbound Front latitude 9º 10' 27.6" N longitude 79º 55' 26.9" W	Located on a concrete pier just off a peninsula projecting into the south side of Gatún Lake; this is the peninsula separating the two principal branches of the lake. Accessible only by boat.
PN 8	Gatún Southbound Rear latitude 9º 10' 2" N longitude 79º 55' 26.8" W	This substantial lighthouse is located deep in the jungle about 1/2 mi south of the front light; a cleared corridor connects the two lights. The site is accessible by boat along a twisting side channel of the lake.
PN 9	Peña Blanca Southbound Front latitude 9º 10' 21.9" N longitude 79º 51' 24.5" W	Located on a peninsula projecting into the lake on the north side of Barro Colorado Island.
PN 10	Peña Blanca Southbound Rear	Located at the end of a cleared corridor on the north side of Barro Colorado Island, about 600 m southeast of the front light.

PN 11

Buena Vista Northbound Front

Located on the east side of the canal near the end of the Bohio Peninsula projecting into the central part of Gatún Lake

PN 12

Buena Vista Northbound Rear

Located about 300 m behind the front light.

Photo courtesy sparijs [webshots]

PN 13	Tabernilla Northbound Front	Located on a peninsula projecting into the lake northwest of Frijoles.
PN 14	Tabernilla Northbound Rear	Located on the south side of the Bohio Peninsula near its base, northwest of Frijoles and about 800 m north of the front light.
PN 15	Buena Vista Southbound Front	Located in the open waters of the lake southeast of the Buena Vista Range.
PN 16	Buena Vista Southbound Rear	Located at the base of a forested peninsula on the east side of the lake, about ¾ mi southeast of the front light.
PN 17	San Pablo Northbound Front	Located just offshore of Caño Quebrado Point near the southeast corner of the lake; this is where northbound ships enter the wider waters of the lake and southbound ships enter the narrow section of the Canal.
PN 18	San Pablo Northbound Rear	a skeletal tower with white panels as a daymark.
PN 19	Tabernilla Southbound Front	Located near the waterline at the head of a bay in the southeast corner of the lake.
PN 20	Tabernilla Southbound Rear	Located surrounded by the jungle about ¼ mi south of the front light.

Gamboa Area

PN 21

Mamei Curve Northbound Front

The range helps guide northbound ships through the middle portion of the Mamei Curve, which connects the San Pablo and Gamboa Reaches. Located on the east side (really the north bank) of the Canal about 1000 m west of the Gamboa Northbound Front Light.

PN 22

Gamboa Northbound Front

Located about 6 km west of Gamboa, marking the end of the Gamboa Northbound Reach leading into Gatún Lake.

Photo courtesy clyger [webshots]

PN 23

Gamboa Northbound Rear

Located a short distance east of Darien marking the end of the westward Gamboa Reach leading into Gatún Lake.

PN 24

Gamboa Southbound Front

Located on the west side of the Chagres River, at the entrance to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, in the town of Gamboa.

Photo courtesy jimbochap [webshots]

Milaflores & Balboa Area

PN 25

Balboa (Miraflores) Northbound Front

Located on the east side of the Canal just south of the Miraflores Locks. The view from ships passing through the locks is excellent.

Photo courtesy sparijs [webshots]

PN 26

Balboa (Miraflores) Northbound Rear

The lighthouse is located about 500 m east of the Miraflores Locks in an area crossed by powerlines. The main road paralleling the canal passes the lighthouse.

PN 27

Pacific Entrance Range Rear
latitude 8º 56' 40.7" N longitude 79º 34' 5.4" W

Located about 1000 m west of the Canal in the area of the former U.S. Navy Depot.

Photo courtesy Becky Gravenmier [pbase]

PN 28

Pacific Entrance Range Front
latitude 8º 56' 24" N longitude 79º 33' 5" W

Located on the west side of the Canal just south of the Bridge of the Americas in Balboa.

PN 29	Balboa Southbound Front latitude 8º 56' 38" N longitude 79º 34' 3.5" W	This range guided ships leaving the Miraflores 4 Locks and departing the Canal. The range was probably deactivated around 1962, when the Bridge of the Americas was completed, since the lights of the bridge now dominate this area. Located on the west side of the Canal channel just north of the bridge in Balboa
PN 30	Balboa Southbound Rear	This light is located perhaps 100 m south of the Pacific Entrance Range Front Light. Located on the west side of the Canal just south of the Bridge of the Americas in Balboa.
PN 31	Flamenco Island (Pacific Signal Station)	The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge and causeway, but we do not know if this crossing is open to the public.

Pacific Coast

PN 32	Punta Mala (1914)	The abandoned lighthouse was in very poor condition until the government of Panama restored it in 2000. Located at the foot of a headland at the west entrance to the Gulf of Panama about 175 km southwest of the Canal entrance.
PN 33	Punta Mala (new)	Located atop the headland at Punta Mala.
PN 34	Frailes del Sur	Located on a rocky islet about 25 km southwest of Punta Mala.

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