Isla de Isabel II Lighthouse

Isla de Isabel II is the main and largest island of the Chafarinas Islands (Islas Chafarinas), a small Spanish archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea sitting only a few kilometers off the coast of Morocco, near the city of Melilla. The island's lighthouse is one of the archipelago's few permanent structures, alongside a small chapel and a military garrison.

Where exactly are the islands and the lighthouse located?

The Chafarinas archipelago is made up of three islets — Isabel II, Congreso and Rey — with Isabel II covering roughly 15 hectares, making it the group's largest landmass. The islands have been under Spanish administration since 1847 as a plaza de soberanía (sovereign territory), a status Morocco continues to dispute. The only permanent presence on the archipelago is a small military garrison of a few dozen troops; there is no civilian population and no tourist infrastructure.

How do you get there?

Because of the islands' military and environmental status, access is tightly restricted. There are no scheduled ferries or commercial excursions to Chafarinas — practically the only people who set foot there are soldiers on active duty, researchers studying the protected ecosystem, and visitors holding special authorization from Spanish authorities. For nearly everyone else, the island remains something to view from a passing boat or from the air rather than a place you can simply visit.

What will you see on the island?

The lighthouse on Isla de Isabel II was first lit in 1899. Its tower stands around 18 metres tall near the island's northwestern tip, and thanks to its position on elevated ground, the light itself shines from a focal height of about 52 metres above sea level. It still guides ships through the narrow, rocky stretch of water between the Spanish and Moroccan coasts. Beyond the lighthouse, the island holds a small church and the garrison's buildings, all set against the steep, rocky shoreline typical of this volcanic archipelago.

When is the best time to see it?

Since ordinary tourism to the island isn't really possible, timing matters mainly to anyone viewing it from the water in the wider Alboran Sea. The Mediterranean climate here means hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters, and sea conditions along this stretch of coast tend to be calmest in spring and autumn, when winds and swell are gentler than during the winter months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can visitors tour the Isla de Isabel II lighthouse? Not in any conventional tourist sense. The island is a restricted military and nature-protection area, and setting foot on it requires authorization from Spanish authorities.

Who lives on the island? The only permanent presence is a small Spanish military garrison; there is no civilian population.

Which country administers the Chafarinas Islands? Spain has administered the archipelago since 1847, though Morocco disputes this and claims the islands as its own.

When was the lighthouse built? It was first lit in 1899, and its tower rises about 18 metres above the island's northwestern point.