Cabo History: Shedding Light on Faro Viejo

As club members and resort golfers at Quivira Golf Club can attest, the cart path that leads from the sixth green to the seventh tee skirts a jaw-dropping stretch of sheer granite cliffs before arriving at an equally unforgettable site—the region’s original lighthouse.

Situated at kilometer zero at true Land’s End--the exact place where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean--the fortress-like lighthouse, known as Faro Viejo, dates to 1905 and is the oldest standing structure in Cabo San Lucas. Source of inspiration for poets, painters and photographers, it is by far the most famous lighthouse in Baja California Sur. It is also an enduring symbol of the region’s navigational history and a cultural marker for the community.

Even the most score-conscious golfer cannot help but marvel at the sturdy construction and octagonal stone tower of this National Historic Monument perched at the edge of a cliff more than 200 feet above the thrashing surf. Recently renovated, it was designed and built by the engineer Joaquin Gomez, a native of Madrid. And while no longer operational, this sturdy edifice, fully exposed to the elements, has survived intact for 114 years.

Peering down on the course from its rocky mountain perch nearly 700 feet above sea level is Cabo’s newer lighthouse, a cylindrical, red-and-white-striped tower that dates to 1959. Faro Viejo may be dark, but this functioning lighthouse emits a white flash at night to guide ship traffic after dark.

Not a golfer? There are other ways for Quivira residents and Pueblo Bonito resort guests to access Faro Viejo. Q Life, a lifestyle club that offers a comprehensive and synergistic approach to overall individual and group well-being, features yoga lessons in this beautiful location as well as guided tours through its natural trails.  While manmade, Faro Viejo is every bit as iconic as El Arco, the natural sea arch visible from vantage points throughout Cabo San Lucas.