Ponta do Boi Lighthouse: History and Significance

Published on November 23, 2013 · Updated on June 27, 2025

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Ponta do Boi lighthouse: History, importance and access

Ponta do Boi Lighthouse is located on Brazil’s largest sea island – São Sebastião, opposite the city of the same name. Ilhabela, part of the municipality of São Sebastião, is known for its natural beauty, beaches, mountains and rich biodiversity, as well as its vibrant culture.

So named by Américo Vespúcio in 1502, the now famous Ilhabela, a paradise for tourists, was once hell for many who lost their lives in its waters.

Farol Ponta do Boi em Ilhabela — Ponta do Boi lighthouse in Ilhabela

Dangers of navigation

Farol Ponta do Boi em Ilhabela

A dangerous combination of fog and a strong southerly wind (which earned Bonete beach the nickname of Ilhabela’s “Cape Horn”) turned the island into a graveyard of nearly 100 boats.

Construction of the lighthouse

Inaugurated on 10 April 1900, the third lighthouse in the State of São Paulo was built at Ponta do Boi, a rocky coastline that was extremely difficult to access – the reason for the delay of more than a year in completing the work and the overrunning of the original budget. The Ponta do Boi lighthouse played a crucial role in the safety of navigation in the region, helping to guide ships and prevent accidents in the treacherous waters.

Structure of the lighthouse

The 17 metre high white brick tower of Ponta do Boi lighthouse was built under the general direction of Admiral Graduado Joaquim Antônio Cordovil Maurity and still houses the lantern and the 3rd order dioptric system, originally of the BBT brand, ordered in 1892, which gave it a range of 20 miles.

Tower model and electrification

The tower model flanked by houses for the lighthouse keepers was used in other lighthouses of the same period, such as the Macaé, Castelhanos and Ilha da Paz lighthouses. In the 1960s the lighthouse was electrified with the installation of diesel engines.

Access to the lighthouse

Despite its relative proximity to the town of Ilhabela (formerly Vila Bela da Princesa), the lighthouse can only be reached by boat or, as the maintenance team currently does, by helicopter. There are also sightseeing tours that take visitors to the lighthouse, allowing more people to get to know this important landmark.

Restoration and maintenance

The Ponta do Boi lighthouse has undergone various restoration and maintenance works over the years to preserve its structure and functionality. These interventions ensure that the lighthouse continues to operate and serve as a safe guide for navigators, as well as preserving the history and cultural importance of the region.

The isolation of lighthouse keepers

This shows the isolation that so many lighthouse keepers and their families have bravely faced for over 100 years.

Written by Willy Sievert

Editor of Bahia.ws since its founding in 2009. Based in Salvador, he travels frequently across the Northeast and all of Brazil to keep the guides up to date. Learn more about Willy Sievert →