Castle of San Felipe de Lara
| Castillo de San Felipe de Lara | |
|---|---|
| Izabal, Guatemala | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Redoubt |
| Controlled by | INGUAT |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Condition | Restored (1955) |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 15°38′15″N 88°59′36″W / 15.63742°N 88.99338°W |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1644 |
| Events | Piracy in the Caribbean |
The Castle of San Felipe de Lara (Castillo de San Felipe de Lara) (often referred to simply as the Castillo de San Felipe) is a Spanish colonial fort at the entrance to Lake Izabal in eastern Guatemala. Lake Izabal is connected with the Caribbean Sea via the Dulce River and El Golfete lake. The fort was strategically situated at the narrowest point on the river. The Castillo de San Felipe was used by the Spanish for several centuries, during which time it was destroyed and looted several times by pirates.
The fort is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List and is a popular regional tourist destination.