Xetulul Theme Park

View of the Xetulul park

Xetutul is a theme park in Guatemala. It is located in the Retalhuleu Department in the southwest of the country. Opening in 2002,[1] Xetutul is the third largest amusement park in Latin America, after Beto Carrero World in Penha, Santa Catarina, Brazil and Six Flags México near Mexico City, Mexico.[2] Xetutul is associated with the nearby Xocomil waterpark, which opened in 1997, and together the two parks receive over one million visitors every year, making the parks the most popular tourist attraction in the country.[1]

Xetulul and Xocomil are operated by the Institute for the Recreation of Guatemalan Private Industry Workers (IRTRA)—a private company that operates several other parks in Guatemala, as well as nearby hotels.[1]

Rides

Avalancha roller coaster

Xetutul features two roller coasters; Avalancha, a steel roller coaster with 8 inversions (as of October 2013, one of only six operating roller coasters in the world with 8 or more inversions)[3] and Central America's largest roller coaster[1]); and Choconoy a smaller family roller coaster.[4] Xetutul also features the only double-decker carousel in Central America.[2] Also within the park is the 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge[5] Transcostero train ride built by Severn Lamb.

Architecture and history

Replica of the Tikal Temple of the Great Jaguar

In addition to its amusement rides, Xetulul is also known for its architecture. The park features architectural reproductions of many landmarks from across the world, including the Trevi Fountain, Moulin Rouge, and the Tikal Temple of the Great Jaguar.[1] The park is divided into seven total plazas, which feature architecture from a total of six countries, including France, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. Each national architecture style is featured in its own unique plaza.[2]

The name "Xetulul" originates from the K'iche' language, and means "under the sapotes".[2] There are currently plans to expand Xetulul with the addition of a golf course and a convention center.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Argueta, Al (2007). Moon Handbooks Guatemala. Avalon Travel. ISBN 1-59880-057-4.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Morales, María Gabriela Higueros (2006). Caracterización de la Gastronomía del Departamento de Retalhuleu (Business Administration thesis). Universidad del Istmo.
  3. ↑ RCDB list of roller coasters by number of inversions
  4. ↑ RCDB listing of roller coasters at Xetutúl
  5. ↑ Severn Lamb - Lincoln model

External links

Coordinates: 14°35′41″N 91°36′42″W / 14.59472°N 91.61167°W