El Castillo Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
municipality in Río San Juan Department, Nicaragua
About El Castillo
El Castillo de la Imaculada Concepcion, located on the San Juan river of Nicaragua, was built in the 1670s to protect Lake Nicaragua and its ports, mainly Granada. Construction began shortly after the pirate Gallardino attacked the port of Granada. The local heroine is Rafaela Herrera, the recently deceased fortress commandant's daughter, that directed the defence that repelled an English invading fleet in 1762. In 1780, a young Horatio Nelson (yes,that Nelson) tried to conquer the fort and initially succeeded but had to leave after 7 months due to almost all of his soldiers (probably including himself) getting yellow fever (not a concern in this area any more). Shortly thereafter the Spanish took the empty fort back.
Top Attractions in El Castillo
Explore the best things to see and do in El Castillo:
- ★Fortress
- ★Indio Maiz national park
Where to Eat in El Castillo
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Casa de Huésped – Restaurante Chinandegano
- 🍴Restaurante Daryzu
- 🍴Restaurante Ranchón Las Vegas de San Juan
Where to Stay in El Castillo
- 🏨Hotel Victoria
- 🏨La Casa de los Llanes
- 🏨Posada del Río
El Castillo Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: