Bagacay Point Lighthouse

About Bagacay Point Lighthouse

Bagacay Point Lighthouse, locally known as "the Parola," is a Spanish-era navigational tower on an elevated point in Barangay Catarman, Liloan, overlooking the Mactan Channel. Although first commissioned by the Spanish colonial government in 1857, the present octagonal masonry tower was actually built under the American administration by executive order of Governor-General William Howard Taft in 1903, with its light first switched on in April 1905. It is considered the second lighthouse established in the Philippines after the one on Corregidor Island. The tower rises about 22 meters and sits on a hilltop about 45 meters above sea level, giving it a wide vantage over the channel between Cebu and Mactan Island. It still functions as an active aid to navigation for the Philippine Coast Guard, now solar-powered, with a third-order Fresnel lens flashing every five seconds and visible up to 20 nautical miles out. In 2018, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared it a National Historical Landmark. Visitors climb a short uphill path shaded by trees to reach the compound, where the whitewashed tower and surrounding grounds offer sea breezes and views of passing ships and the Mactan-Mandaue coastline. There is no museum or formal display inside; the appeal is the structure itself and the setting, making it a quiet stop for history buffs and a popular spot for locals to relax in the late afternoon.

Highlights

Tips for Visitors

1. 1 Wear comfortable shoes for the short uphill walk from the road. Visit late afternoon for cooler weather and better light for photos. There are no food stalls on site, so bring water. Respect the compound as an active government facility and keep the area clean.

How to Get There

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