La rivista ufficiale di IAAPAOur industry is guided by north stars. Some are widely known, while others are behind the scenes. Many may not receive the recognition they deserve. But that should change, because these leaders are often benchmarks for excellence, purpose, and innovation.
I recently had the honor of spending time with one of these legends: Ricardo Castillo, the visionary force behind IRTRA in Guatemala. Established in the 1960s, IRTRA is a public-private initiative created to provide recreational opportunities to Guatemalan workers and their families. It’s a model of accessible leisure that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world.
IRTRA’s largest destination is in Retalhuleu, about five hours from Guatemala City, where multiple parks and hotels operate at an incredibly high standard. Attractions here are supplied by large global manufacturers and are beautifully themed in a lush, tropical setting. All of this can be an extraordinary example to facility operators worldwide. What sets IRTRA apart isn’t just the scale—it’s the passion, innovation, and drive for excellence.
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Ricardo Castillo: la leggenda mondiale dei parchi IRTRA mette in mostra le migliori attrazioni del Guatemala
IAAPA President and CEO Jakob Wahl shares how the Latin American operator continues to impress and raise the bar.
A rare moment when Ricardo Castillo slows down just long enough to pose for a photo at the entrance of Xejuyup with IAAPA President and CEO Jakob Wahl.
The Xocomil water park is a lush environment—and growing. An USD $80 million expansion will bring more than a dozen new slides to the facility.
A few of my observations:
Cleanliness: Every part of the resort—front and back of house—is spotless. Their commitment to quality is second to none. During our visit, we toured IRTRA’s lab and learned about the rigorous quality control systems in place for food and workers.
The Retalhuleu facility includes behind-the-scenes facilities where employees test food products to guarantee their quality.
Courtesy: The warmth, professionalism, and pride of every team member is unmistakable. While many parks offer friendly service, at IRTRA it feels like a mission-driven culture rooted in joy and purpose. You can sense the pride in working for this organization.
The interior of rooms of IRTRA’s tree house hotel feature theming that brings the outdoors inside.
Innovation: The investment in continuous improvement is obvious—from the creation of their newest park, Xejuyup, to the incredible treehouse hotel and the current $80 million USD (!) expansion of their water park, Xocomil. You can notice how every ride was designed to keep as many trees intact as possible. It’s no surprise that Xetulul received the prestigious Applause Award in 2008.
Support columns of roller coasters are designed to appear like tree trunks.
Atmosphere: IRTRA doesn’t take any shortcuts. There’s no asphalt anywhere to be found—Ricardo doesn’t like it. Every piece of waste is hand-sorted for recycling. Their theming is outstanding—with special attention dedicated to painting coaster supports and track or disguising water ride columns as hand-sculpted trees.
What I experienced left me in awe. IRTRA is a masterpiece for excellence in our industry. I visited Ricardo in part to celebrate his upcoming 90th birthday—and I’ll admit, it was hard to keep up with his energy. For more than 50 years, Ricardo has led IRTRA without a computer and without drawing a salary. He does this out of a deep commitment to bringing joy to the people of Guatemala—giving them access to experiences they might not otherwise have. You notice their gratitude by how Ricardo is stopped every few minutes. Visitors recognize him and want to take a picture with “Don Ricardo.” It’s not about making money for the owners. It’s about making money to further grow the attraction, bring even more joy to the guests, and create more jobs.
Ricardo has earned IAAPA’s highest honors, including Service Awards and a well-deserved place in the IAAPA Hall of Fame. But beyond accolades, he is a national treasure—a principled, demanding, and deeply kind leader who has shaped not only an organization, but a nation’s sense of possibility.
A sneak peek inside Xocomil’s expansion. Water side support columns are designed to look like tree trunks.
What an extraordinary group of parks. What an extraordinary organization. What an extraordinary team. And what a remarkable life of leadership.
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