Yes. Both sit within a short drive of central Retalhuleu in opposite directions, so a private transfer can take you to the ruins in the morning and the parks in the afternoon without backtracking through Guatemala City.
Retalhuleu is about 190 km (118 miles) from Guatemala City and around 155 km (96 miles) from Antigua. A private transfer typically takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours from either city, descending from the highlands to the Pacific coastal plain.
A half day comfortably covers Takalik Abaj, or the central plaza and cathedral at a relaxed pace. Adding the IRTRA parks turns it into a fuller day, roughly 6 to 8 hours on the ground, enough time for ruins, rides, and a leisurely lunch without feeling rushed.
Xetulul is a theme park built around miniature recreations of European landmarks, with rides and roller coasters for all ages. Next door, Xocomil is one of Latin America's largest water parks, with wave pools and slides set into a volcanic-rock landscape. Both are about 12 km (7 miles) from central Retalhuleu and easy to combine in one visit.
Takalik Abaj is a Preclassic archaeological site about 25 km (15 miles) from Retalhuleu, known for massive carved stone monuments that blend Olmec and early Maya styles, a rare physical link between the two civilizations. Shaded trails wind past plazas, altars, and boulder sculptures, with far fewer visitors than Guatemala's better-known ruins.
Retalhuleu pairs an elegant, palm-lined colonial-era plaza with two very different worlds nearby: the ancient Olmec-influenced ruins of Takalik Abaj and Guatemala's largest amusement and water parks. Warm Pacific-lowland weather year-round makes it a refreshing change of pace from the country's cooler highland cities.
