Castillo de San Felipe
In 1652, Spanish colonists built this stone fort at the narrowest point of Lago Izabal, where it begins its life at the Río Dulce and flows down to Livingston. The fort was built here to dominate the waterway access into the lake and defend the Spanish from British, French, and Dutch raiders. While the stone battlements and cannons offered good protection from a water-launched attack, land attacks were a different story, and the fort was destroyed in 1686 and subsequently rebuilt.
A bilingual guide will be on hand when you enter to give you a quick 20-minute tour. The cost is included in the admission price, but be sure to tip a little. In addition to tours of the fort, there are picnic tables on the grounds and even a swimming area on the lake. The easiest way to get here is by boat. Boats leave throughout the day from the main dock and charge Q15 ($2/£1) each way.
In 1652, Spanish colonists built this stone fort at the narrowest point of Lago Izabal, where it begins its life at the Río Dulce and flows down to Livingston. The fort was built here to dominate the waterway access into the lake and defend the Spanish from British, French, and Dutch raiders. While the stone battlements and cannons offered good protection from a water-launched attack, land attacks were a different story, and the fort was destroyed in 1686 and subsequently rebuilt.
A bilingual guide will be on hand when you enter to give you a quick 20-minute tour. The cost is included in the admission price, but be sure to tip a little. In addition to tours of the fort, there are picnic tables on the grounds and even a swimming area on the lake. The easiest way to get here is by boat. Boats leave throughout the day from the main dock and charge Q15 ($2/£1) each way.
Details
Bookstore
Available as paperback
and as e-book.
