Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Around Retalhuleu
Parque Acuático Xocomil & Parque de Diversiones Xetulul
If you have children along, or the heat is simply getting to you, head out to the
Parque
Acuático Xocomil
( 7772-9400;
www.irtra.org.gt
; Carretera CITO, Km 180.5; adult/child Q100/50; 9am-5pm
Thu-Sun)
, a gigantic water park in the Disneyland vein, but with a distinct Guatemalan
theme. Among the 14 water slides, two swimming pools and two wave pools are re-cre-
ations of Maya monuments from Tikal, Copán and Quiriguá. Visitors can bob along a
river through canyons flanked with ancient temples and Maya masks spewing water from
the nose and mouth. Three real volcanoes - Santiaguito, Zunil and Santa María - can be
seen from the grounds. Xocomil is very well executed and maintained, and kids love it.
It's at San Martín Zapotitlán on the Quetzaltenango road, about 12km north of Reu.
Next door to Xocomil on the same road is the even more impressive
Parque de Diversiones
Xetulul
( 7722-9450;
www.irtra.org.gt
; Carretera CITO, Km 180.5; adult/child Q100/50; 10am-6pm Thu-Sun)
. It's a theme park with representations of a Tikal pyramid, historical Guatemalan build-
ings and famous buildings from many European cities, plus restaurants and many first-
class rides. You need a bracelet (extra Q50) for unlimited rides.
These two attractions are both run by
IRTRA
(Instituto de Recreación de los Traba-
jadores de la Empresa Privada de Guatemala; Guatemalan Private Enterprise Workers'
Recreation Institute), which administers several fun sites around the country for workers
and their families. Between them, Xocomil and Xetulul comprise the most popular tourist
attraction in Guatemala, with over a million visitors a year.
If you'd like to stay close to all this action, there are a few hotels along this stretch of
the highway, but none so nice as the IRTRA-run
Hostales
( 7722-9100;
www.irtra.org.gt
; Carretera
CITO, Km 180; r with fan/air-con from Q400/440; )
, right across the road. It's set on lush,
tropical grounds that feature swimming pools, spa bath, various sports fields and probably
the most impressive mini-golf course in the country. There are seven main buildings with-
in the complex, each decorated in a different style - Colonial, Mediterranean, Asian,
African, Maya - but rooms are spacious, modern and comfortable throughout. The best
time to come is Sunday to Wednesday - otherwise the place packs out and prices rise con-
siderably. There are a few restaurants (mains from Q50) on the premises, serving Guatem-
alan staples at reasonable prices.
