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La Pilota Lighthouse

5s🇨🇴Buenaventura, COOperational

Location & Light Range

About La Pilota Lighthouse

Also known as: La Pilota (Directional Light)

La Pilota is a cylindrical lighthouse standing 30 meters tall, with its focal height also at 30 meters. The structure is a repurposed water tower featuring a large round tank, with the light positioned at the center atop this tank. It is silver in color with a red top. This facility guides ships approaching Buenaventura within the estuary, offering a geographic range of 15.3 nautical miles. Its flash characteristic is described as Dir.Fl.Bu. While the tower itself is closed to the public, the site remains open, located 1.2 kilometers from the nearest port.

Why it matters: La Pilota was instrumental in ensuring safe passage for ships navigating the Buenaventura estuary, a critical gateway for trade into Colombia. Its unique design as a repurposed water tower, rather than a conventional lighthouse, highlights an adaptive approach to maritime navigation infrastructure.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
5s
Interval
5s
Raw Code
Dir.Fl.Bu
Focal Height
30m
Geographic Range
15.3NM

Location

City
Buenaventura
Country
🇨🇴Colombia
Region
Valle del Cauca
Sea Region
Buenaventura estuary, Colombia, guiding ships approaching the city.
Latitude
3.8833°
Longitude
-77.0698°

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Buenaventura(1.2 km)
Admiralty No.
G3133
NGA No.
0202

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
30m
Tower Shape
cylindrical
Tower Color
a silver color with a red top

Structure: water tower with a large round tank; the light is centered atop the tank

Visiting

Open to public
Site open, tower closed

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which ports and harbors does La Pilota Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
La Pilota Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 2 nearby ports. The closest is Buenaventura at 0.5 NM to the ENE. Other ports served include Yumbo (40.4 NM ESE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is La Pilota Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, La Pilota Lighthouse is currently operational. It is actively maintained and continues to emit its characteristic light signal for marine navigation. Most modern lighthouses are automated and monitored remotely by the national maritime authority.
How can I track vessels near La Pilota Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near La Pilota Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.