The Mayan Ruins of Copán, Honduras

Article from December 2, 2010
By Jamie Douglas

My favorite thing to do while visiting Guatemala is to head over to Honduras to experience the wonders of Copán. There, you will find, in this writer’s opinion, the greatest of all Mesoamerican cultural treasures. Copán is one of the most important Mayan centers, with its large number of stelae (historical stone carvings), the Acropolis, a Mayan ballcourt, and the huge Hieroglyphic Stairway.

The Copán Museum of Sculpture, at the entrance to the site, will take your breath away. Many treasures that were previously subject to weathering and plunder (a persistent problem at the site) are now safely protected there, and a magnificent temple from inside one of the pyramids has been completely reconstructed in the open-air center.

The site is open to visitors year round, and I recommend you take a guided tour at least once, and then go roam around on your own. You will still see deer, rabbits, and monkeys on the grounds, as well as scarlet macaws. Replicas of the stelae stand in their original places, and the jungle is constantly being trimmed back. During my many visits there, I was intrigued by the amount of unexcavated ruins all around the park grounds. The city was quite large, compared to what exists today, but a portion of the site was washed away by the river before it was rerouted.

The little town of Copán Ruinas is quite charming and has a few good restaurants and pizza joints, as well as some comfortable hotels. While in town, as well as at the ruins, little children will offer you mini-reproductions of various things you will see in the park and museum. They are made of gypsum, sometimes of stone, and make for very affordable and portable souvenirs while helping the local economy out.

The best way to get there is to book a tour from Antigua, the best place to base yourself in Guatemala, that leaves early in the morning and gets you back late at night; but I would really recommend at least 2-3 days so you can get to know more about the place. The border crossing from Guatemala has minimal formalities for those leaving and re-entering to visit Copán. Be sure to make arrangements with your mini-bus operator in advance, if you plan on staying overnight. For the really adventurous, you can take buses on your own, but this writer does not recommend that, as some parts in the countryside of Guatemala are still best visited in organized tours.

Just remember that this is tropical jungle, and the daytime temperatures can be very hot and sticky. However, nighttime temperatures are quite comfortable, and the town is relatively safe for visitors.

The entire journey is filled with wonderful sights and sounds. And no matter what time of year you decide to go (November to April is verano, or summer, with less rain and cooler temperatures), you are in for an experience of a lifetime.

Jamie Douglas
At large in South America

All photos by Jamie Douglas

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.