Copan Ruins, Honduras are a hidden treasure in the middle of the breathtaking jungles of Honduras. They are vestiges that gather the greatest and fascinating artistic legacy of Maya culture, definitely one of the unique places you must put on your list of places to visit before you die. Here are some lists of things you should see and do if you plan to explore this ancient city soon.
Activity Highlights
The Copán Maya Ruins are the largest source of information on the ancient Mayan civilization, and we recommend you to request a guide so you can take advantage of the day, without losing any of these places. The cost of the guides is regulated by the Honduran Institute of Tourism, and they are not negotiable. However, if you do not want to pay for it, these are some of the sites we recommend to visit:
The Ball Court
Considered the social center of the City, it is one of the two best preserved in the world. The rules of the sport played here and how the scoring worked is still yet to be discovered. However, it is still fascinating to admire the macaw head sculptures that were used as markers.
The Great Plaza
Famous for its stelae littering the area, well maintained despite being from the 8th century, and the altars with their distinctive animal-shapes decorating it.
The Hieroglyphic Staircase
Considered the main attraction of the Copán Maya Ruins, this staircase formerly leads to a temple. Nowadays, you can climb the 10-meter-wide steps, and admire more than 1,250 individual glyphs, which constitute the longest Maya inscription known.
The Acropolis
Divided into two large squares, the eastern court and the western court, the Acropolis is the place where royalty used to stay. In the western court, you can find Temple 11, built by the last Maya King Yax-Pac as an altar.
Additionally, in the western court, Temple 16 was built over the remains of another temple, and at its base you can see the famous Altar Q.
The Altar Q
Which represents the succession of all 16 members of the great Copan dynasty, starting from Yax-Kuk-Mo. For some reason, the previous temple was not shut down when building on it. On the contrary, great care was taken to not damage it, and the result is an archaeological jewel, unique in the world: the Rosalila temple also known as Temple of the Sun.
You can enter the ancient Rosalila Temple through a tunnel that archaeologists dug, and admire its reddish exterior, as you imagine how Copán was in the past.
How to get there
First of all, Copán Ruins is located 11 kilometers from the border with Guatemala. The site is 0.5 miles (0.8km) east of the town of Copan Ruins, which is 100 miles (160km) by car or bus from San Pedro Sula, the closest international airport.
When to go
The site is open daily and year-round. Certainly, the best time to visit is during the dry season, from December through April. Avoid exploring at midday, when the sun is hottest. In addition, please be wary of visiting in the wet season from May to October, as there may be a risk of flooding by rain.
How long
If you take the bus from Antigua, Guatemala, keep in mind that it takes 7 hours to arrive. And you have to pay taxes to cross these countries.
You can also make the trip from Honduras. From the coastal area of La Ceiba and Roatan, you can take one of the many excursions that go to the ruins. The tour lasts almost 8 hours.
Opening and closing hours
We recommend you start the trip very early. Also with the help of local guides, you can see everything you want in just one day. Because the ticket is only valid for one day, keep in mind that the park is open from 8 am to 5 pm.
Planning
Throughout the valley, there are vestiges of what was this beautiful city. The Copán Maya Ruins have special places that you should schedule if you plan your visit in one or two days:
Give yourself several hours to tour the site. Your admission ticket also includes entry to ruins of Las Sepulturas, where the Copan aristocracy lived, 1 mile (1.6km) away. As for the main archaeological park: the entrance costs $15 per person.
Just 45 minutes from the main park, Los Sapos is on the other side of the Copán River. A small site with one of the best views of the valley. This place is inside the Hacienda San Lucas, and there is a small entrance that must be paid to enter.
There are two museums: the Museum of Mayan Archeology, located in the Central Plaza of Copán Ruinas, and the Mayan Sculpture Museum, located in the Copan Archaeological Park. Both have an entrance of $8 per person.
Inside information
Undoubtedly, this is one of the most inhospitable destinations you should visit in Honduras. It’s easily accessible by a tuk-tuk, a locally popular three-wheeled mototaxi, or walking from the town of Copán.
While you plan your trip, don’t forget to bring a lot of water, sunblock, and glasses, since the sun and heat tend to be very strong. And of course, get ready because Copán Mayan Ruins promises to envelop you in mythical stories between nature and man.
History
The occupation of the ancient city lasted more than two thousand years, with the greatest achievements taking place between the 5th and 9th centuries. The ancient Mayans replicated nature through art. They built pyramids as symbols of mountains, squares as lakes, and portals as caves.
Websites
Other nearby attractions
There are some tunnels that you can visit in the archaeological park, but you should check first in the ticket office which are available and what price they have to enter.
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