Castillo de San Felipe de Lara

The Castillo de San Felipe de Lara guards the narrow point where Lake Izabal drains into the Río Dulce. The Spanish built the first tower in the 1590s to stop pirates sailing up to raid the warehouses that supplied the colony; after pirates burned it in 1686 it was rebuilt as the stone fort you see today, with thick walls, cannon platforms and a maze of small rooms and stairways. The fort sits in a shady park with lawns and a small beach on the lake, and kids love clambering over the ramparts. It is a long day from the port (around 1.5–2 hours each way), so combine it with lunch in Río Dulce town or a boat ride on the river, and agree a firm return time with your driver.