Cape Ortegal Lighthouse

Cape Ortegal Lighthouse stands on the headland of Cabo Ortegal, one of Galicia's four historic capes alongside Finisterre, Prior, and Silleiro, in the municipality of Cariño, Province of A Coruña, in northwestern Spain. Its white cylindrical tower with a red stripe rises above the rocky Atlantic coastline, marking one of the most recognizable points along Galicia's shore.

How do you get to Cabo Ortegal?

The lighthouse sits at the tip of the headland, reached by a local road from Cariño, the nearest town and the natural starting point for visitors. Cariño lies in the Province of A Coruña, within the Rías Altas region of northern Galicia, and the drive out to the cape from town takes only a matter of minutes. The lighthouse's coordinates (43.77098, -7.8695) place it right at the edge of the land, where the cliff-lined coast drops straight into the Atlantic Ocean.

What does the lighthouse look like?

Cape Ortegal Lighthouse is a compact but sturdy structure: a white cylindrical concrete tower 3 metres in diameter and 12.7 metres tall, marked with a red stripe that makes it easy to spot against the sky and sea by day. The tower features two balconies, each 4.7 metres in diameter, running around the shaft — a common lighthouse design that allows access to the light chamber and equipment for maintenance. Its plain, functional shape is typical of Spanish lighthouses built in the second half of the 20th century, when durability and ease of upkeep in harsh coastal conditions mattered more than ornamentation.

When was it built?

The lighthouse was planned and approved in 1982, with construction completed in 1984. Its location was no accident: the cape has long been a critical point along the shipping route down Spain's northern coast, where strong winds, currents, and rocky seabeds have posed hazards to passing vessels. The modern concrete tower took over the navigational role that older, stone-built lighthouses filled elsewhere along the region's coast.

When is the best time to visit?

Because the headland sits fully exposed to the Atlantic, spring and summer offer the best conditions for a visit, with longer days and calmer weather making it easier to take in the views over the ocean and the surrounding cliffs. In autumn and winter, the cape is regularly hit by the strong winds and rain typical of the Rías Altas, which is worth factoring into any visit to this part of Galicia.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Cape Ortegal Lighthouse located? The lighthouse stands on the Cabo Ortegal headland in the municipality of Cariño, Province of A Coruña, Galicia, in northwestern Spain.

When was the lighthouse built? It was approved in 1982 and construction was completed in 1984.

What does the lighthouse look like? It is a white cylindrical concrete tower, 3 metres in diameter and 12.7 metres tall, with a red stripe and two balconies 4.7 metres in diameter.

How do you reach the lighthouse? The town of Cariño is the best starting point, with a local road leading out to the headland itself.

Is Cabo Ortegal an important landmark in Galicia? Yes — it is one of the region's four historic capes, alongside Finisterre, Prior, and Silleiro, and is regarded as a defining landmark of the Rías Altas coastline.