Cabo Vilán lighthouse
Camariñas, Spain
A tall lighthouse on a rocky spur, built in 1896 as the first electric lighthouse in Spain, with a small maritime exhibition. The coast road from Camariñas passes the English cemetery from an 1890 shipwreck.
The Cabo Vilán lighthouse stands on a rocky headland of the Costa da Morte near Camariñas. It was inaugurated in 1896, replaced an earlier tower from 1854 and is regarded as Spain’s first electrically powered lighthouse. The tower is 25 m high and stands about 125 to 130 m above the sea; its range is 40 nautical miles. The building houses an exhibition room, an audiovisual room and a centre on shipwrecks, lighthouses and maritime signals.
You cannot climb the tower. According to a regional source the building is open from Holy Week to November; check current times in advance (as of October 2026). Nearby is the English Cemetery for the victims of HMS Serpent, which sank off the cape in 1890; accounts of the death toll vary between 172 and 175.
- Nearest town
- Camariñas, Spain
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 43.1604, -9.2110
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Spain: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Many former toll motorways are now free; some AP roads still charge. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Camping Praia de LeisCampsite6 km from Cabo Vilán lighthouseTentsCaravansShowersToilets
- Área de Autocaravanas de MuxíaMotorhome stopover7 km from Cabo Vilán lighthouse · 15 pitchesMotorhomesDrinking waterWaste disposalFree
- Camping Lago MarCampsite7 km from Cabo Vilán lighthouseTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Camping O'ParaísoCampsite7 km from Cabo Vilán lighthouseTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Área de Autocaravanas de VimianzoMotorhome stopover16 km from Cabo Vilán lighthouse · 11 pitchesMotorhomesDrinking waterWaste disposalFree
- Cámping Ruta FinisterreCampsite24 km from Cabo Vilán lighthouseTentsCaravansElectricityShowersToiletsWi-Fi
All campsites in Spain · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Cabo Vilán lighthouse?
Cabo Vilán lighthouse is in Camariñas, Spain, at GPS 43.1604, -9.2110. It is about 6 km from Muxía.
Can you camp near Cabo Vilán lighthouse?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping Praia de Leis, about 6 km away; within 25 km there are 13 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Cabo Vilán lighthouse?
Cabo Vilán lighthouse is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Costa da Morte: Galicia’s coast of shipwrecks.
What is there to see near Cabo Vilán lighthouse?
Places worth a stop nearby: Sanctuary of A Virxe da Barca (5 km), Ézaro waterfall (29 km), Cape Finisterre (31 km) and Hórreo de Carnota (39 km).
When is the best time to visit Cabo Vilán lighthouse?
The most pleasant months are usually May–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)