Last updated: September 2026
The Hope Town Lighthouse (officially the Elbow Reef Lighthouse) is an 89-foot red-and-white striped tower on the west side of Hope Town Harbour on Elbow Cay. Lit in 1864, it is one of only three hand-wound, kerosene-burning lighthouses still operating anywhere in the world, and visitors can climb it for free.
Why the Hope Town Lighthouse is famous
Most lighthouses were electrified or automated decades ago. Elbow Reef was not. Every evening a keeper climbs the tower, lights a kerosene mantle that burns roughly a gallon of fuel a night, and hand-winds the weight-driven clockwork that turns the first-order Fresnel lens. The light flashes five times every fifteen seconds and is visible far out over the reef it was built to warn ships away from.
The result is the most photographed object in the Abacos: five horizontal bands of red and white above the pastel cottages of Hope Town, best seen from a boat in the harbour or from the ferry as it rounds the point.
A short history
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1862 | Construction begins by the Imperial Lighthouse Service, over the objections of locals whose livelihood included salvaging wrecks on Elbow Reef |
| 1864 | The light is first lit |
| 1900s | Kerosene replaces whale oil; the hand-wound mechanism remains |
| 2019 | Hurricane Dorian (Category 5) devastates Elbow Cay; the tower survives and is restored by the Elbow Reef Lighthouse Society |
| Today | Still lit by hand nightly; maintained by the Society with volunteer keepers and donations |
How to get to the lighthouse
The lighthouse sits across the harbour from Hope Town's main settlement, so you cannot simply walk to it from the shops. You have two options:
- By water: the easiest route. Take a short water-taxi hop across the harbour, or tie up your rental boat at the lighthouse dock. If you arrive by ferry from Marsh Harbour, ask the captain about a lighthouse stop.
- By golf cart: follow the road around the south end of the harbour to the lighthouse side, park at the end of the road, and walk the last stretch. Allow about 15 minutes from the White Sound area.
Climbing the tower
You can climb the spiral staircase, roughly a hundred steps, to the gallery just below the lamp room. The view takes in the whole of Hope Town Harbour, the Sea of Abaco to the west, and the Atlantic reef line to the east. There is no ticket office and no admission fee; a donation box supports the Society that keeps the light burning.
Tips for your visit
- The stairs are steep and the gallery is narrow: hold small children by the hand and skip flip-flops
- Bring cash for the donation box and for the water taxi
- The tower is generally open during daylight hours, but hours are informal; ask locally if you are making a special trip
- Combine the visit with lunch at one of the harbour-side restaurants across the water
Catch A Wave sits on the Atlantic side of Elbow Cay near White Sound, a short golf-cart ride from Hope Town. From the house you can see the lighthouse beam sweep the sky on clear nights.
Frequently asked questions
- How tall is the Hope Town Lighthouse?
- The Elbow Reef Lighthouse tower is 89 feet (27 metres) tall. The light itself stands roughly 120 feet above sea level because the tower sits on a rise.
- Can you climb the Hope Town Lighthouse?
- Yes. Visitors can climb the spiral staircase (about a hundred steps) to the gallery during daylight hours. There is no admission fee; donations to the Elbow Reef Lighthouse Society are welcome.
- Is the Elbow Reef Lighthouse still in use?
- Yes. It is a working navigational light and one of the last three hand-wound, kerosene-burning lighthouses in the world. A keeper lights it every evening.
- How do you get to the lighthouse from Hope Town?
- The lighthouse is across the harbour from the main settlement. Take a short water taxi or boat ride across, or drive a golf cart around the south end of the harbour and walk the final stretch.
