Santa Bárbara fortress

Santa Bárbara fortress sits on a hilltop overlooking the Caribbean Sea and Trujillo Bay. The site preserves fourteen original Spanish cannons aimed toward the water and houses a museum with objects spanning different historical periods.

Spanish settlers built this fortress in 1550 using indigenous labor and named it after Saint Barbara, patron saint of artillery. Over the centuries it served as a strategic point to control trade and defend against attacks.

The fortress museum displays objects from different periods, ranging from pre-Hispanic artifacts to colonial weapons and masks from Garífuna culture. Visitors can see how various groups shaped the region through the items on display.

The fortress is accessible daily and sits on a hilltop, so wear comfortable walking shoes. Plan to spend one to two hours here depending on how thoroughly you explore the museum and grounds.

The site is connected to William Walker, an American adventurer executed here in 1860. A marble tombstone marks this episode and reflects the region's complicated past during 19th-century political unrest.

Location: Trujillo

GPS coordinates: 15.92109,-85.95259

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:44