Cape Santa Maria Lighthouse (Faro Cabo Santa María) is the perfect attraction for visitors who wish to enjoy spectacular views of La Paloma and its coastline. The light stands on a peninsula at the town’s waterfront, where it guides seafarers around a bay of protruding and submerged rocks and sandbanks. The motivation for the lighthouse came after a French ocean liner sank in 1868, taking its entire crew and hundreds of immigrants with it.
A heavy storm in 1872 tore the new lighthouse and a temporary shelter to the ground. The storm killed about 15 workers some of the remains were later recovered and buried in a nearby cemetery. See today’s lighthouse, which opened in 1874 and has lasted more than 150 years.
From the outside, this 100-foot-tall (30-meter) lighthouse and its ocean backdrop present a perfect photo opportunity. The structure has a whitewashed exterior and cylindrical design crowned by a red and white striped cupola. Picturesque by day, the lighthouse is just as impressive when illuminated at night. The beacon shines bright and projects a light visible for up to 20 nautical miles (38 kilometers).
Climb the 143 steps of the spiral staircase to the summit and then walk out onto the open-air viewing platform. Have your camera ready to snap more memorable shots. Look east to Bahía Grande and west to La Balconada, the town’s central beaches. Watch as cargo ships and rickety fishing boats travel around the bay to La Paloma Port.
Cape Santa Maria Lighthouse is just a 10-minute walk from La Paloma’s town center. Free parking is available next to the landmark. From here, walk along the coastline in either direction to the town’s beaches. The golden sand and rolling waves are ideal for sunbathing and watersports.
The lighthouse is open to visitors from Friday to Sunday and on public holidays. Inquire at the tourist information office on Avenida Solari for more information.
