Mallorca’s lighthouses are another of the great attractions to see on the island. A total of 14 lighthouses watch over and guard the more than 500km of Mallorcan coastline accompanied by beacons, which are another type of smaller light towers with a shorter nominal range.
Lighthouses lend a special magic and mystery to the environment in which they are located, blending seamlessly into the landscape alongside the other wonders that have not been provided by man.
It is therefore normal that, in addition to the charm that characterises them, their architectural characteristics, special location and uniqueness have turned them into places of great tourist, heritage and historical attraction.
If you are staying for a long period of time, we recommend that you do not miss any of the lighthouses in Mallorca, as you will experience different sensations with each one, either because of their appearance or because of their location. If, on the other hand, you only have a few days, we have a clear favourite that we recommend in this article.
Historical protector and guardian of the sea
Lighthouses have always been a very important reference for ships and sailors at night and on days with poor visibility. These are distributed along the entire coastline, usually in steep areas.
Although the operation of the headlamps may seem simple at first glance, it is anything but.
They have lenses at different heights and with different focal lengths, depending on how much light is desired.
Moreover, they have evolved over time. They started out as a lamp with wicks fuelled by coal in the 17th century, and were powered by fish, vegetable and olive oils, paraffin, and gases in the 19th century, until using the electricity grid in 1847 thanks to the First Maritime Lighting Plan.
What also evolved was the nomenclature with which “lighthouse keepers” were designated, from being called lighthouse keepers in 1851 to being called Marine Signal Mechanic Technicians in 1939.
Lighthouses map of Mallorca
The Mallorcan coast has many lighthouses due to its strategic position in the Mediterranean Sea.
To be exact, it has a total of 12 lighthouses, to which the Aucanada Lighthouse (Aucanada Islet) and the Tramuntana Lighthouse (Dragonera Islet) must be added, as both belong, administratively speaking, to the largest island of the Balearic Islands.
Do you want to know where all the lighthouses of Mallorca are located? You can consult them on this map.
The 14 lighthouses of Mallorca
And now we will introduce you to the 14 guardians of the Mallorcan coasts, starting from the north and following the clockwise direction, so that you can find your way around more easily.
We hope you will include some of the lighthouses in your route around the island, and that you will tell us which one or ones have been the lucky ones!
Formentor Lighthouse
We begin with what we consider to be the most majestic and fascinating lighthouse in Mallorca, located in the northernmost part of the island, in the municipality of Pollensa.
Because of its incredible location and surroundings and because of the difficulty of reaching it, as it is a winding mountain road full of curves and gorges, the Faro de Formentor lighthouse is one of the symbols of Mallorca most often portrayed by enthusiasts and artists.
Without any doubt, if we had to choose, the Faro de Formentor would be our clear winner and we always recommend it as one of the must-see places you should not miss in Mallorca, as it is one of the most magical and romantic places.
If you don’t have a rental car to get there, don’t worry! You can visit the incredible Formentor peninsula with this panoramic excursion by bus or from the sea, taking a boat trip from Alcudia.
Punta de la Avanzada Lighthouse
This lighthouse is located at the end of Puerto Pollença, serving as a reference point for boats arriving at this port.
To visit it, take the turn-off to the right that you will find just before starting the climb to the Es Colomer viewpoint, on the same road that leads to the Formentor Lighthouse.
Aucanada Lighthouse
Located at one of the ends of the Bay of Alcudia and situated on the island after which it is named, the Aucanada Lighthouse was inaugurated in 1861. Its surroundings are very beautiful and frequented by families, as it has a shallow beach, with toilets and parking, and a picnic area.
If the tide and waves allow it, you can walk across to the island and visit the lighthouse, as long as you wear crab shells, as it is a rocky area.
It is also located in an ideal area for hiking, since this point is the beginning of routes that run through the peninsula of Alcudia, such as the excursion to Talaia de Alcúdiaor, if you fancy a day at the beach, the excursion that will take you to the wonderful Coll Baix beach.
Another way to visit the islet of Aucanada and its surroundings is by taking a jet-ski tour from the Bay of Alcudia or a catamaran cruise that will take you to the lighthouses of Aucanada and Formentor.
Capdepera Lighthouse
The Capdepera Lighthouse is responsible for keeping watch over the waters of the Menorca channel from the Mallorcan side.
It is also one of our favourites, as it is the lighthouse on the island where you can see the best sunrise, thanks to its eastern location. If you dare, you will be one of the privileged ones to see the new day’s sunrise on the island of Mallorca.
Due to the fact that this lighthouse is located on one of the windier and rougher areas of the island, during the second half of the 19th century, on many occasions the lighthouse keepers had to rescue a number of shipwrecked people in the vicinity of the lighthouse, for which they were even decorated by the Spanish Government.
Portocolom Lighthouse
At the entrance to the charming fishing village of Portocolom stands the lighthouse bearing the same name, which was inaugurated in 1863, a little later than the other lighthouses on Mallorca.
It has a century-old optic that comes from the Tramuntana Lighthouse on the islet of Dragonera. It has undergone variations in height over time to present an imposing appearance rising to 42 metres above sea level.
One of the most remarkable historical facts was the occupation of a German military detachment on November 6, 1937 during the Spanish Civil War.
Torre d’en Beu Lighthouse
The project for the construction of this beacon was drawn up by Rafael Soler at the request of the fishermen of the port of Cala Figuera, who demanded lighting at the entrance to the port at night, so the mayor formalised the request on the 30th of June 1953.
Behind the Torre d’en Beu Lighthouse stands the old watchtower that was once guarded by the coastal lighthouse keepers.
Cap Salines Lighthouse
The Cap Salines Lighthouse is another of our favourite lighthouses in Mallorca. Its location is quite special, as it is the most southerly lighthouse and lies in front of the majestic islet of Cabrera.
This lighthouse is also close to some of the best beaches in Mallorca. It is the starting point for several hiking routes that border the sea and take you to beaches such as Cala Màrmol and Es Caragol, which are simply indescribable.
On the downside, in summer you will find it difficult to find a car park as there is no parking as such. Cars can only park on the verges of the road, so we advise you to go either very early in the morning and enjoy the day at one of the nearby beaches, or arrive late in the evening to see the sunset and a fantastic sky full of stars.
If you are curious to know more about this lighthouse, it was the first lighthouse in Spain to incorporate a photovoltaic system of solar panels in 1983.
Cabo Blanco Lighthouse
The Cabo Blanco Lighthouse, together with the Cala Figuera Lighthouse in Portall Vells, are responsible for marking the ends of the Bay of Palma.
It can be reached by going beside the sea along the road that links the Arenal area of Llucmajor with Cala Pi, which runs along cliffs that offer a beautiful panoramic view of the Bay of Palma.
In the past, when fuel was the main engine of the lighthouse and the electricity grid had not yet arrived, fuel was supplied by a boat service. The difficulty came later, when the fuel had to be carried up the path along the cliff to the lighthouse.
If you like hiking, there is a very beautiful route that goes from Cala Pi to the lighthouse itself.
Portopí Lighthouse
Portopí Lighthouse is the second oldest lighthouse in Spain and one of the longest operating in the world. It is a historic lighthouse and is mentioned in a document dating from the 12th of September 1300 as part of the codicil of King Jaume II of Mallorca.
The location of the lighthouse has not always been the same. It was formerly located on the site now occupied by the Fort of San Carlos on the Dique del Oeste, very close to Maritime Terminal 6. The reason for the move in 1677 was that every time the Fort’s cannons were fired the lighthouse glass would break, so since then the lighthouse has been located on top of the Signal Tower.
It was electrified in 1918 and in 1927 a reverberation optic was installed. It is currently the only lighthouse in Spain that illuminates with an optic of these characteristics.
Inside there is a permanent exhibition of Maritime Signals, with materials used in maritime lighting. Visits can be arranged on the farsdebalears website in different languages.
Cala Figuera Lighthouse
The Cala Figuera Lighthouse is the most difficult to reach, requiring an hour’s walk along the sea from the Cala de Portals Vells cove.
For this reason, and like the Cabo Blanco Lighthouse, the supply had to be done by boat, opening a path to carry fuel and provisions up the cliff. The remains of the wharf and the path used for this purpose can still be seen today.
The same lighthouse keepers of Cala Figuera were in charge of the maintenance of the beacon placed at El Toro in 1926, a tough job given the rough seas in the area, which made it difficult to get the shipment from the boat to the beacon.
Just a couple of minutes away you will find a military coastal battery that was built between 1914 and 1928 and belonged to the Régimen de Artillería de Costa de Mallorca (Coastal Artillery Regiment of Mallorca).
For us, this is one of the most beautiful lighthouses in Mallorca, due to its imposing appearance 45 metres above sea level and its superb design, similar to the Favàritx Lighthouse in Menorca.
La Mola Lighthouse
The Mola Lighthouse of Mallorca is located at 128 metres above sea level and it offers fabulous views of the west coast of the island, making it one of the best places to enjoy the sunset, with the Dragonera islet in the background.
It is a late lighthouse, dating from 1st September 1974, with an automated light system like the Dragonera lighthouses. It was part of a group of lighthouses whose technicians lived in Puerto de Andratx, 2 km away.
As a curiosity, La Mola Lighthouse belongs to a first generation of lighthouses that were already built without accommodation for the lighthouse keepers.
If you are traveling in a group and want to treat yourselves, you could also enjoy a boat tour along the south coast of the island of Dragonera, the lighthouse of La Mola and the lighthouse of Tramuntana.
Cap Gros Lighthouse
The Cap Gros Lighthouse indicates the entrance to the entrance to Puerto de Sóller. It was built under the initiative of the Sóller Town Council, which is why it was not illuminated until 1842, after it was transferred to the Ministerio de Obras Públicas (Ministry of Public Works).
Its electrification was formalised in 1918 but a heavy storm in 1952 destroyed the power line and it was not until 1963 that the electric lighting was reinstated.
Its tower is made up of five sections that become smaller and smaller as it gains in height and stands at an imposing 120 metres above sea level.
Very close by you will find La Muleta hut, which forms part of the refuges that make up the Pedra en Sec route of the Tramuntana mountain range (GR-221), and is the starting point for an infinite number of paths to begin a day’s hiking.
Lighthouse of La Creu
Next to the Cap Gros Lighthouse, La Creu Lighthouse marks the entrance to the Port of Sóller and both were the first lighthouses to be electrified in the Balearic archipelago.
This lighthouse has always been a problematic lighthouse because it is located in the vicinity of a blowhole, a hole in a rock that communicates with the sea, which during strong storms produced a very strong current of water that would rise up to 30 metres and fall violently on the lighthouse. This meant that the lighthouse keeper, during these storms, had to take refuge with his family in other buildings near the lighthouse. As a result, the Cap Gros Lighthouse was built.
Both lighthouses located in the Port of Sóller can be visited with any of the many tours offered in the area, which will take you along the stunning coastline of the Tramuntana mountain range.
Tramuntana Lighthouse
The Tramuntana Lighthouse is the most modern lighthouse in the whole archipelago, the result of the old Na Pòpia Lighthouse, built on the highest part of the islet of Dragonera, being switched off.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the island’s coves were frequently used as a hiding place for smuggling, just as Jaime I also used them to hide and prepare his attack on the Muslims before the capture of Mallorca.
To visit the Tramuntana Lighthouse on the islet of Dragonera you will have to hire a day trip or arrive by private boat. In case you find this last option interesting, we leave you the list of boats, with or without captain, that you can rent in Mallorca.
And so far this is the complete list of the lighthouses of Mallorca and information on which are our favourites. We must admit that we love them and whenever we can we include them in our route, either at dawn or to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
And you, are you going to include any of Mallorca’s lighthouses in your route? Which one(s) are you not planning to miss? We advise you to visit at least one of them. Let us know!
One Response
Hi,
Thank you, this is a really interesting page, my goal for this year is to visit them all!
I’m curious why the faro in Port Andratx isn’t in your list, is it not classified as a lighthouse?
Max