The Honduras Mountain Town Of Copan Ruinas

The little mountain town of Copan Ruinas perches neatly on the border between Honduras and Guatemala, the crisp, cornflower blue skies providing a picturesque backdrop to the rolling, green hills of the lush, Rio Copan Valley. It is the gateway town to the famous Ancient Mayan ruins, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Copan. The ruins of Copan may not be as grand in scale as those located in Mexico and Guatemala but they showcase some of the most brilliantly preserved examples of Ancient Mayan sculpture in the world.

Far from the humidity of the tropical, Caribbean coastline and a long, sticky bus ride from the urban sprawl of San Pedro Sula, Copan Ruinas is a simple yet vibrant town with bags of charm. Quaint cobbled streets run into spacious, sunny squares – expect to see men tipping their cowboy hats and school children eating ice-cream under shady palms. With a variety of buzzing bars, budget places to sleep and all of the amenities a traveller might need, Copan Ruinas is a breath of fresh, mountain air.

Why You Should Visit Copan Ruinas

The big tourist draw is, of course, the epic ruins of the Mayan civilisation, dating back thousands of years to a time of exotically named kings and blood sacrifice. Ask any moto-taxi in town to give you a ride to the archaeological park and be sure to get up at ‘temple o’clock’ (nice and early), to avoid the heat of the midday sun. At this time of day you may see the iconic scarlet macaws at the gates, once so prolific in this area but now a protected species, released back into the park to fly free.

It is worth negotiating a fee with a guide to get the full background story to the intricately carved stellae and structures spread out before you, although if you read up on the ruins beforehand, it’s also lots of fun to just take a wander independently. Look out for the Hieroglyphic stairway and the abundance of carved skulls, turtles, jaguar fangs and elephants that make up the architecture, conjuring images of a long-forgotten, Indiana Jones, temple kingdom. You can climb to the highest point of the ruins, the site of a temple believed to symbolise the entrance into the other world, and enjoy panoramic views of the landscape, painted fifty shades of green.

There is also an excellent museum showcasing a replica of the Rosalila temple, found buried beneath the ruins, engraved with skeletons, crocodiles and the mountains of the landscape.

Other fun things to do in Copan Ruinas include investigating the local coffee plantations – you can arrange this through Café Welchez, just off the main, town square and the ideal place to sip some excellent coffee, read a book or people watch. Or you might prefer to go horse riding up in the hills and visit the Maya Chorti people of La Pintada.

Nature lovers will enjoy bird park, Macaw Mountain, with its colourful collection of exotic, protected birds and the opportunity to get up close and personal with bright and inquisitive macaws. Look out for the beautiful toucans and the walk-through aviary and take your swimsuits for a dip in the outside pool.

Where To Eat And Drink In Copan Ruinas

There are plenty of fantastic eating and drinking options in Copan Ruinas – it is quite possible to try somewhere different for each and every meal. Café Balam offers amazing omelettes whilst Café Kappeh offers the opportunity to sip great coffee in a rather Mediterranean inspired courtyard. ViaVia is a popular spot with an ever-changing specials board and Casa del Todo offers a book exchange, cheap water refills and tasty Honduran and international grub.

If street food is more your thing, try out the weekend market by the town square which offers up sizzling BBQ options or venture through the covered market into a courtyard filled with serving hatches, offering budget lunchtime options. It is advisable to bring your Spanish phrasebook as not much English is spoken here.

For a tasty, sweet treat to finish your meal, there’s no better destination than Kobbs, a Honduran ice-cream chain shop offering a delicious array of creamy flavours and crunchy, waffle cones.

Later in the evening, try out Twisted Tanya’s for excellent cocktails and Xiabalba, a pub with live music and a bustling, friendly atmosphere – the ideal place to make new friends and drink on into the night.

Where To Sleep

Despite Copan Ruinas being a popular weekend destination for both foreign and domestic tourists alike, we found no problem in finding accommodation options. Take a wander around town and dust off your Spanish dictionary to get the best rates. Graditas Maya had a large, hidden roof terrace with hammocks ideal for post-lunch lounging and soaking up the view of those Guatemalan hills.

By Alex Saint