Xetulul Theme Park
Encyclopedia
Xetutul Theme Park is a theme park in Guatemala
. It is located in the Retalhuleu Department in the southwest of the country. Opening in 2002, 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
. 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.
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.
s; Avalancha, a steel roller coaster
with 8 inversions (one of only six roller coasters in the world with 8 or more inversions, and Central America's largest roller coaster); and Choconoy a smaller family roller coaster. Xetutul also features the only double-decker carousel
in Central America.
, Moulin Rouge
, and the Tikal
Temple of the Great Jaguar
. 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.
The name "Xetulul" originates from the K'iche' language
, and means "under the sapote
s". There are currently plans to expand Xetulul with the addition of a golf course and a convention center.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. It is located in the Retalhuleu Department in the southwest of the country. Opening in 2002, Xetutul is the third largest amusement park in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, after Beto Carrero World
Beto Carrero World
Beto Carrero World is the largest theme park and multi-theme park in Latin America, located in the municipality of Penha, Santa Catarina state, in Brazil. The park is a venture of the late Beto Carrero. The inauguration took place in 1991 and in 2009 already has more than 150 attractions to suit...
in Penha
Penha
For the neighborhood in São Paulo, see Penha . For the neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, see Penha Circular. For the convent in Espírito Santo, Brazil, see Penha Convent....
, Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Six Flags México
Six Flags México
Six Flags México is an amusement park owned by Six Flags Inc. and the only Six Flags park operating in Latin America. It is located in the Tlalpan forest and borough, on the southern edge of Mexico City, Mexico. Six Flags México has become one of the most important theme parks in Mexico and the...
near Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Xetutul is associated with the nearby Xocomil
Xocomil
Xocomil is a water park in Guatemala. It is located in the Retalhuleu Department in the southwest of the country.It is the largest and most-visited water amusement park in the country...
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.
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.
Rides
Xetutul features two roller coasterRoller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
s; Avalancha, a steel roller coaster
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
with 8 inversions (one of only six roller coasters in the world with 8 or more inversions, and Central America's largest roller coaster); and Choconoy a smaller family roller coaster. Xetutul also features the only double-decker carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
in Central America.
Architecture and history
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 FountainTrevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is a fountain in the Trevi rione in Rome, Italy. Standing 26 metres high and 20 metres wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world....
, Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge is a cabaret built in 1889 by Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Olympia. Close to Montmartre in the Paris district of Pigalle on Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement, it is marked by the red windmill on its roof. The closest métro station is Blanche.The Moulin Rouge is...
, and the Tikal
Tikal
Tikal is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala...
Temple of the Great Jaguar
Tikal Temple I
Tikal Temple I is the designation given to one of the major structures at Tikal, one of the largest cities and archaeological sites of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in Mesoamerica. It is located in the Petén Basin region of northern Guatemala...
. The park is divided into seven total plazas, which feature architecture from a total of six countries, including France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Each national architecture style is featured in its own unique plaza.
The name "Xetulul" originates from the K'iche' language
K'iche' language
The K’iche’ language is a part of the Mayan language family. It is spoken by many K'iche' people in the central highlands of Guatemala. With close to a million speakers , it is the second-most widely spoken language in the country after Spanish...
, and means "under the sapote
Sapote
Sapote is a term for a soft, edible fruit. The word is incorporated into the common names of several unrelated fruit-bearing plants native to Mexico, Central America and northern parts of South America....
s". There are currently plans to expand Xetulul with the addition of a golf course and a convention center.