The coast of Chiapas is one of the few places in Mexico that still holds countless secrets eager to be shown to the world. Inside these secrets is Puerto Arista, the main destination for sun and beach in the state of Chiapas. Walking down its main street you will find the guardian of the boats, a lighthouse towering 30 meters high at the focal level, with an age of 110 years.

The use of flares, in order to guide the sailors, goes back to ancient times. It used to be made of burning fires on top of a hill near the coast, so it was visible enough from the sea. The ancient Greeks built columns and towers in which they placed bonfires in honor of gods and semi gods. These fires are considered ancestors of the headlights. The Tower of Alexandria is considered as the first lighthouse built in the third century B.C.

The coastal lighthouse was built to show the nearby ships that in their surroundings there are shallow waters and they can run aground. This marine signal has evolved in its lighting, from coconut oil, petroleum, gas acetylene, battery banks and electricity now days.

An inside tour of the lighthouse is filled with history, going up and down the small concrete and iron stairs takes you about 30 minutes. The narrowness of the walls covered with stonemasonry (with small holes to allow ventilation and prevent moisture from damaging the concrete) distracts you from vertigo. The effort is worth it, your reward is to contemplate the immensity of the sea, village streets and palm trees, and the daily lives of people, all from a privileged spot.

Among new terms and stories, Rodolfo Mendez Guzman, headlight custodian, letís know that our Giant White is considered a beacon of location or beacon of a step flashing light that has a 16-glass dome in a triangular cut, marine band radio antenna and a grounded lightning rod pole. The lighthouse or beacon as it was called in the past depends on the SCT, and reports to the Captaincy of Ports based in Tapachula. It has under its safeguard the daily logs since 1905.

The Modern satellite navigation systems like GPS, have taken down the importance to the lighthouses but they continue being important for the safety of night navigation because it allows the positioning verification on the navigation chart.

LOCATION Puerto Arista Chiapas

GETTING HERE From Tuxtla Gutierrez, take the toll road Ocozocuautla – Arriaga and then take highway 200 until you find the detour to Puerto Arista. 22 km away from Tonala.