Castillo de San Felipe de Lara, Spanish colonial fort at Rio Dulce entrance, Guatemala
The stone fortress features nineteen cannons, thick defensive walls, and a central tower overlooking Lake Izabal at the mouth of Rio Dulce.
The Spanish Crown ordered construction of the fortification in 1644 to defend against pirate attacks on trading vessels navigating between Guatemala and Spain.
The fortress represents Spanish colonial military architecture in Central America, incorporating local building materials with European defensive design principles.
Visitors can access all areas of the fortress daily from 8 AM to 5 PM, with guided tours available in Spanish and English.
The fortress served three distinct functions simultaneously: military defense, customs checkpoint for maritime trade, and prison for captured pirates.
Location: Izabal Department
Inception: 1644
GPS coordinates: 15.63742,-88.99338
Latest update: May 27, 2025 13:27
Guatemala offers Maya ruins, volcanoes and colonial buildings for photographers. The landscape features lakes, rainforests and beaches. Cities display Spanish architecture and indigenous markets.
Guatemala offers diverse settings for photography. Maya temples emerge from rainforests, while lakes mirror volcanoes. Colonial cities display painted facades and cobblestone streets. Nature reserves, thermal springs, and caves add to the photographic range of the country.
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