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Town & Municipality in Copán, Honduras
Photo: ButteBag, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Copán was one of the great centers of Maya civilization over a thousand years ago. The beautiful ruins have some of the most impressive pre-Columbian art anywhere. Near the ruins is the village of nearly the same name - Copán Ruinas, with hotels and other facilities for visitors. Due to their proximity, both locations are covered by this article.
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Ruinas de Copán
Museo de Esculturas
Tuneles
Archeological site adjacent to the Ruinas de Copán.
A natural hot springs spa under an hour's drive (25 km) from Copán Ruinas. Several man-made pools of differing temperatures mimic Mayan structures and are fed by the hot springs. A variety of adventure tour companies will take you there for US$10/person plus $60/group, which is outrageous considering the alternatives. For cheaper transportation, pickups and minibuses congregate at the soccer field (right before the bridge on the way to the ruins). Gather a group together, and you might negotiate a pickup for US$50. They may be willing to wait up to 3 hours for you. Even better, be patient, and a (tiny) seat in a minibus is only L35 each way. To get back to town, start walking, and a minibus will pass before long. The drive is very scenic, so enjoy it! One can easily spend the whole day at Luna Jaguar, but bring your own food. Massages available.
An excellent bird sanctuary a short (L20/person) mototaxi ride from el Centro. The price may seem steep, but the sanctuary is commendable for its beautiful location, free tours in English, swimming hole, and obviously healthy, well cared-for birds. As of November 2023, the birds that are being rehabilitated are brought out for holding at 15:00. The ticket is valid for 3 days, so come back and swim for free.
A butterfly sanctuary just outside town.
Copán has one of the world's longest zip lines, including one about 1,000 meters (3,200 feet) long.
Horses can take you to La Pintada, a Maya Chorti village, and to Los Sapos, which is a small ruin not included in the archaeological park. La Pintada is interesting but overrated, while Los Sapos, though very small, is fascinating with a good guide. It's a 10-minute walk down to the river where you can swim for free.
The Casa K'inich Children's Museum (Museo Escolar) is a unique museum that was opened in 2002. It has exhibits and interactive displays in three languages (English, Spanish, and Maya Chorti). It is the only children's museum of its kind near a Maya Ruin. The museum's totally interactive exhibits will help the visitor (adults and children alike) understand the glyphs at the ruins, what happened to the Maya, and shows how the Maya built their buildings along with a description of the famous Maya ballgame among many other subjects. Not to be missed, the museum only takes an hour or two to visit and the location has a beautiful view of the Copan Valley. Groups are welcome and student groups can call for and appointment or even have food set up during their visit.
The best local restaurant in town for delicious, cheap, clean Honduran food. Great tipicos and pupusas. Unpretentious and authentic.
Second only to Comedor Mary for dependable local food. Larger and busier, but an excellent value and good service. The chorizo burrito and fajitas de res are huge and delicious.
Great food. Homemade bread, yogurt, organic coffee, etc. .
Excellent coffee and panini sandwiches, but best known for their farmstead hand-made gourmet cheese, available nowhere else in Honduras.
Good selection of breakfast, Honduran, Mexican and international food in a nice friendly environment. Recommended.
inside Hotel Marina Copan
Local and international cuisine, the highest quality steaks, pastas, soups, salads, affordable buffet breakfast and delicious desserts.
A restaurant a little ways off the parque central that offers a wide variety of delicious food and has a good happy hour. Service can be either excellent or quite slow.
A local "steakhouse" that offers the traditional carne asada in a variety of ways (with onions, jalapeño sauce, on a kabob, etc.) The restaurant is located up the hill from Picame, just one block behind the Banco Occidente on a large open-air wood deck. An entree runs L100-200.
An open restaurant with garden patio and full service menu. The steaks are best known, but there is a large à-la-carte menu with special dishes and snacks.
Brewery, German beer on tap, German & Honduran cuisine.
Among the best coffee to be had in Copan Ruinas, possibly in all of Honduras. On the corner of the town square, downhill from the Marina Copan. You can go on a coffee tour, just outside of town, to see where and how their coffee is grown and processed.
The Honduran chain, serving coffee roasted with brown sugar.
It serves excellent gourmet coffee, grown from their own farms.
In a beautiful tropical garden, it serves fresh roasted organic coffee.
German brewery & restaurant
Very good German food, but the real attraction is the beer - excellently crafted, filtered, and some of the best you'll have, anywhere.
El Lugar del Té & Chocolate
Amazing selection of teas and artisan chocolates. Relaxing environment with a nice view.
The cheapest place in town. The rooms are unattractive but clean with shared (and not so clean) bathrooms.
Clean rooms with private bathrooms and fans. Also has more expensive rooms with A/C.
An excellent hostel a short walk from el Centro. Dorm beds in small rooms L170, private single US$16, private double L380. Run by an American couple, free purified water and good information on the area. Very quiet at night. Highly recommended!
Friendly place with guest lounge and kitchen, good shower, 450m from centre of town.
This hotel surrounds a pool, bar and atrium area. 20 rooms with private bath, TV and A/C.
10-room B&B in two wings each with private hot water bath, wood-panelled ceiling, ceiling fan, writing desk, night table w/ reading lamp and an oversized picture window which looks out onto a great view of the Copán River Valley, the distant mountains and La Casa de Café's own lovely tropical garden.
Hotel Marina Copán
A family-owned and -operated property established in 1945, this hotel is known for its history, nice architecture and good services. It has 49 rooms.
Two blocks from central park and 1 km (0.6 miles) from the Mayan archeological site. The hotel has 5 rooms. All rooms have private baths with steam showers, dual head showers, bidets, and a selection of natural hand-made soaps and shampoos. Each room has a DVD/CD player, flat screen LCD TVs with cable, a small refrigerator, A/C and ceiling fan, and 100% cotton linens. The place is beautifully decorated and creates a very relaxing atmosphere. Guests are offered a selection of cigars and fine wine.
2 km (1.2 miles) from Copán Ruinas and Sepulturas. A little far away from town (3 km - 2 miles). Big rooms, private bath with hot water. Restaurant and Pool & Jacuzzi. Free scheduled shuttle service to town and Ruinas/Sepulturas.
Six rooms each with either private full size terrace, private garden or private balcony. Hammock, a/c, ceiling fan, Egyptian cotton linens, lovely handcrafted hardwood furniture, wood beamed ceilings, library, massage pavilion, outdoor shower, free wireless internet, internet jack in each guest room, garden, complimentary coffee, tea and iced tea. Spectacular views from guest rooms.
It's two blocks west from the central park. Pool, free breakfast, restaurant, cocktails, wifi.
This shop has a really good variety of gifts, t-shirts and souvenirs from the Copan area. Located inside the Visitors' Center of the Ruins of Copan they also sell water and soft drinks.
By bus
Copán Ruinas is not well connected to the rest of the country.
By car
Your only option here is the same as the bus, driving down CA-11. This "highway" is riddled with potholes, and has certainly seen better days.
Copán is a small community, so don't worry about mapping sights before you get there. If you are a walker and sure-footed, it is safe to walk the cobblestone streets anywhere in town or walk to the ruins on foot.
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Puerto Barrios · Regional · PBR
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