Old Lighthouse

Perched on a cliff high above the restless sea, the par-3 seventh hole at Quivira Golf Club, its deep, elongated green carved into the base of a massive dune, is one of the most dramatic one-shotters Jack Nicklaus has ever built. As Quivira regulars know, the cart path leading from the seventh green to the eighth tee swings past a stunning stretch of seaside cliffs, the ocean surging into the rock-studded shore far below. The path eventually leads to an equally memorable site, the region’s original lighthouse at the tip of the Baja peninsula.

Situated at kilometer zero at true Land’s End--the exact place where the Sea of Cortes meets the Pacific Ocean--the castle-like lighthouse, known as Faro Viejo, dates to 1905 and is the oldest standing structure in Cabo San Lucas. Even the most score-fixated, pencil-and-scorecard golfer cannot help but marvel at the sturdy construction and octagonal stone tower of this National Historic Monument perched more than 200 feet above the thrashing surf. Though no longer operational, this crenelated edifice has staying power.
A source of inspiration for poets, painters and photographers over the years, Faro Viejo 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.

Recently renovated, it was designed and built by Joaquin Palacios Gomez, a Spanish engineer from Madrid. Fully exposed to the elements, including numerous fierce hurricanes over the decades, the lighthouse has survived intact for nearly 120 years.

Embedded into a dune directly below Faro Viejo but entirely hidden from view is the Bunker Bar, an amenity for members of the Old Lighthouse Club, a private gated residential community within Quivira Los Cabos. With its 180-degree views of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean, the Bunker Bar, unveiled last year, is a cliffhanger of a watering hole. It’s also a fantastic place to enjoy a brilliant Baja sunset and to watch migrating whales from mid-December through March.
Crowning a 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.

While manmade, Faro Viejo is every bit as iconic as El Arco, the natural sea arch at Land’s End visible from multiple vantage points.