Castillo San Felipe del Lara - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

canarymoon · 09-24-2007, 07:09 AM

Castillo San Felipe de Lara

The old Spanish fortress of San Felipe is found near the town of Frontera, where a bridge spans the the Rio Dulce. This small fortress was built in 1651-2 at the lake's mouth, to keep out marauding pirates. Later it served as a prison and was reconstructed as a historical monument in 1956

For a history of the Castillo, see:
The Castillo San Felipe de Lara - English

Early in the Sixteenth Century, trade was established between Guatemala and Spain via what was then called the Golfo Dulce. Constant attacks by pirates in the Gulf of Mexico and incursions into Guatemala through the Rio Dulce made it necessary to defend the entrance to Lake Izabal where warehouses had been set up for goods entering from or leaving for Spain.

canarymoon · 09-24-2007, 07:14 AM

Found this brief review, marked highly recommended, at
iExplore Community: Guatemala Tourism, Things To Do In Guatemala, Guatemala Travel

This mini medieval castle was originaly built in the 1800s to ward off pirates at the entrance of Lake Isabella. It was rebuilt in the 1950s to as close to the original as possible. Now, tourists and locals clamor all over the maze of connecting rooms and climb the stairs for a terrific view of the lake. The price is a whole $1US and is a must see if you are traveling up the Rio dulce or beyond.