Entallada Lighthouse a unique building in Fuerteventura

During your trip to the spectacular southern part of the island of Fuerteventura, you cannot miss a visit to the Entallada Lighthouse.

The Entallada lighthouse is located 6 km east of the village of Las Playitas and approximately 12 km east of Gran Tarajal.

It is located on top of a cliff 200 m high, and is the geographical point of the Canary Islands closest to Africa (about 100 km).

It takes its name from the mountain of Entallada, “the serrated mountain”, a small volcanic cone that looks like the serrations of a sword.

The Punta de Faro de La Entallada was built in 1953-1954, the work of engineer Carlos Alcón.

The building is U-shaped, the facade facing the sea has three square towers, connected by a single level body.

The side towers have two levels and the central tower is higher than the side towers (its height is 11 m) and carries the lantern.

The structure of the Entallada Lighthouse

The structure of the Entallada lighthouse resembles a cylindrical lantern, topped by a glass dome.

Its optical system emits one or two flashes every 18 seconds and on the sides, the two wings of the building enclose a courtyard open towards the interior of the island.

At this magical lighthouse at Fuerteventura, a gallery with arches along the entire building stands out.

The entire construction was made of masonry leaving the stone, sealed with a white mortar that contrasts with the dark stone.

Corners, doors, windows and the base of the building were made in a reddish color – cut stone, coming from quarries in the village of Tetir.

The function of this historical building is to mark the eastern coast of the island of Fuerteventura, from Puerto del Rosario to Morro Jable .

To accommodate tourists, a large parking lot and a gazebo that can be reached by a wooden bridge have been created.

Some tips 

Before visiting the Faro de Entallada it is essential to follow some recommendations to make the trip more pleasant and comfortable.

The road to get there is a bit rough, narrow and made of dirt and hairpin bends and in the last stretch a bit steep,  so you need to pay a lot of attention when driving.

Since the wind blows strongly in this place, it is necessary to wear a sweatshirt and comfortable shoes to visit one of the most beautiful natural places at Fuerteventura .

The whole island of Fuerteventura, a Biosphere Reserve, enjoys a wild and uncontaminated nature and for this reason it is essential to preserve its natural state.

It’s a place where the sky and the sea meet, a unique building that hides a centuries-old history.

Besides acting as a guide for sailors, it was also used to guide military aircraft during the Sahara War.

The lighthouse’s viewing platform offers spectacular views of the coast of Fuerteventura and the silhouettes of the mountains draw sinuous curves that characterise the landscape.

How to get to the Entallada Lighthouse?

You can reach the Faro de Entallada from Puerto del Rosario with a rental car or taxi, taking the FV-3 and FV-2 towards Caleta de Fuste. 

We then continue on FV-2 towards Tequital and then Las Playitas, taking a road that goes left in a north-east direction for 6 km (the road up to this point is in good condition and asphalted).

Then you enter the Los Cuchillos de Vogán Natural Park, and then southeast towards Punta de Entallada .

The view is breathtaking and it feels like being suspended in the middle of the sea, offering incredible views.

From this point you can enjoy a magnificent view of the coast and the Natural Monument of Los Cuchillos de Vigán, a protected natural area of ​​great scientific interest.

Los “cuchillos” (translated – knives), are mountains elongated between two valleys with a smooth appearance, hence the similarity with knives. 

These are large accumulations of volcanic lava remains.