Copan On a Budget
Copan, Honduras
Occupied by the Maya for 2,000 years, Copan was the ruling city in the southern Mayan kingdom. Settled nicely in a fertile river valley among rolling hills, this city is absolutely fascinating and the perfect place to explore history.
Sights
Hands down, the highlight of Copan is Las Copan Ruinas. The core of this ancient city is 600 by 300 meters of stunning archaeological discoveries. Between the carved constellations and preserved hieroglyphics, there is no shortage of things to see. There are smaller structures and, of course, the Acropolis. Once the royal complex, the Acropolis consists of two plazas and extensive, hieroglyphic-lined tunnels running underneath.The Hieroglyphic Stairway is believed to represent the most important rulers in the dynastic history of the site. With a total of 62 steps, the stairway is covered in 2200 glyphs that form the longest known Maya hieroglyphic text. And, the Ballcourt is a sculpture built in the year 738, and is dedicated to the great macaw deity.
The Altar Q is the most famous monument at Las Copan Ruinas. The Copan dynasty is carved around its side. Each king is depicted seated on his own name glyph and the order of the carvings visually portrays the political succession of early classic Maya culture.
The Motmot Capstone is a memorial to the first two kings of the Copan dynasty. The inscribed stone placed over a tomb names mythological locations underneath the feet of the two kings â thereby putting them in a supernatural realm.
Take a visit to the Mayan Museum for a deeper look into the history that surrounds you. The museum houses a reconstructed temple and fantastic artifacts.
A word of warning, try to get to Las Copan Ruinas early in the morning as it gets very hot by midday. Also, if you're there near the opening hours, you might catch the guards feeding the macaws. While history buffs can easily make two days last in Las Copan Ruinas, but many people can see the whole place in 2 - 4 hours.
Neighborhoods
The town that encompasses the ruins is located to the west of the park area, and is home to many restaurants, hotels, and other tourist amenities. Almost everything is a short walk from the center of town.Activities
After you have explored all you can find in the ruins, there are lots of other things to do in Copan.The Macaw Mountain is a fascinating bird sanctuary set in a gorgeous backdrop of Honduran jungle. There is a swimming hole for a quick chance to cool down, and the birds are brought out for tourists to hold, providing the perfect photo opportunity, around 3 pm.
If the swimming holes just were not enough for you, head over to Luna Jaguar Aguas Termales for the natural hot springs spa. There are several pools of differing temperatures to please any tourist. Be sure to bring your own food!
It wouldn't be Central America without at least one zip-line trip. Copan is a great spot for the zip-lining adventurer given that it has one of the world's longest sip-lines. At 1,000 meters long, this zip-line should be on the top of every thrill-seeker's bucket list.
Or you could take an afternoon to enjoy a leisurely horseback ride from La Pintada to Maya Chorti to Los Sapos â a small ruin not included in the Los Copan Ruinas.
Food and Dining
While you will find many places with traditional, tropical dishes, you'll also find plenty of "North American" meals. At most restaurants you'll find the Plato tipico de Honduras which includes beef strips, beans, fried plantains, tortillas, cabbage and sour cream.Also, don't miss out on licuados â a water or milk-based fruit smoothie that is well worth the money you'll spend on it every morning.
Transportation
The city of Copan is very small so getting around is not really a concern. The area is completely walk-able and safe. If the cobblestones make you nervous, or you'd rather not walk, there is a Honduran version of a rickshaw called mototaxis. They'll take you in anywhere in town and are fairly inexpensive.Related:
Looking for a party hostel in Costa Rica or Cancun? Looking for a budget hostel in Mexico or Costa Rica?
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.