The town of Copan Ruinas is situated just over the border from Guatemala, in western Honduras.
Most visitors come to see the Mayan ruins found just outside town. The city dominated the region from AD 250–900 before meeting a mysterious downfall, leaving some amazing ruins for modern-day visitors to enjoy.
© Presse750 | Dreamstime
While the ruins at Tikal, Guatemala, draw bigger crowds and feature more impressive architecture, Copan is arguably more culturally important thanks to some breathtaking sculptures and hieroglyphs. The Mayan art work is well-preserved, and visitors can marvel at the stonework.
Another benefit of Copan is the site is rarely crowded, meaning you can lose yourself in the atmosphere accompanied only by the famous red macaws that populate the park. Take a guide to get the inside track on the ancient city before heading to the visitor’s center, sculpture museum and gift shop.
© Vojtech Vlk | Dreamstime
When you are back in town, there is plenty to do. For a town of its size, Copan has a wonderful selection of restaurants. Once you’ve eaten yourself into a coma at Twisted Tanya or Jim’s Pizza, relax in the beautiful town square until you are ready for another stroll.
Copan is well-connected to both Guatemala City and San Pedro Sula, both of which offer a huge number of onward connections for your next adventure.
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