Acropolis detail, West Plaza, Copan, close-up

Copán

by Eve Andersson
Home : Honduras : One Article
Copán is the site of excellent Mayan ruins in Honduras, near the Guatemalan border. If you're in Central America and you only have time to visit one Mayan site, you should visit Tikal, not Copán. But if you have time to visit two sites, don't miss Copán because it has very well-preserved stone carvings, archaelogical tunnels open to the public, and the adjacent town is quite lovely and comfortable.

The Ruins

Gran Plaza, Copan Hieroglyphic Stairway East Plaza detail, Copan Ballcourt, Copan Cementario, Copan Unexcavated ruins, Copan Estela H, Gran Plaza, Copan Stone head, Gran Plaza, Copan Copan, maybe East Plaza Estela in Gran Plaza, Copan View of surrounding landscape from East Plaza, Copan Acropolis detail, West Plaza, Copan Acropolis, West Plaza, Copan Campo de Pelota, viewed from Gran Plaza, Copan East Plaza detail, Copan Model of Copan

The Tunnels

One of the things that makes Copán unusual is that they have two archaelogical tunnels open to the public, the Rosalina Tunnel and the Jaguar Tunnel. Mayan rulers tended to build new temples on top of the old temples, and remnants of these old temples can be seen within the tunnels.

Map of tunnels, Copan Rosalina Tunnel, Copan Baths in Jaguar Tunnel, Copan Picture of Rosalina temple, which can be seen in the Rosalina tunnel, Copan

Macaws

These beautiful parrots are bred at the entrance to the Copán site. Careful, they bite hard!

Macaws, entrance to Copan ruins Macaws, entrance to Copan ruins Macaw, entrance to Copan ruins Macaw biting Eve, entrance to Copan ruins

Las Sepulturas

Las Sepulturas is another archaelogical site, less than 2 km from the main Copán site. This is where the Copán aristocracy lived.

Las Sepulturas, Copan Las Sepulturas, Copan Las Sepulturas, Copan Las Sepulturas, Copan Las Sepulturas, Copan

Sculpture Museum

At the Copán site is a wonderful, 2-story Sculpture Museum. The centerpiece is a colorful, full-scale model of the Rosalina Temple, a beautiful temple which unfortunately had another temple built on top of it. The museum also contains much of the original stonework from the site.

The Museum of Sculpture, Copan, is a 2-story, airy structure containing a full-scale model of the Rosalina Temple and many original stone structures from the Copan ruins Model of the Rosalina Temple, as seen from the entry tunnel, Museum of Sculpture, Copan A picture of the Rosalina temple under a more recent temple, Museum of Sculpture, Copan Bat, Museum of Sculpture, Copan Container, Museum of Sculpture, Copan Estella A, Museum of Sculpture, Copan Eve and skulls, Museum of Sculpture, Copan Altar detail, Museum of Sculpture, Copan Museum of Sculpture, Copan Museum of Sculpture, Copan Museum of Sculpture, Copan

Los Sapos

About an hour's walk uphill from Copán is Los Sapos ("The Toads"), the site of ancient carved rocks in, of course, the shape of toads. This is where women went to give birth. The views along the way are as nice as the Sapos themselves.

Los Sapos, Copan, Honduras View of the town of Copan, Honduras, on the hike to Los Sapos View of the river near Copan, Honduras, on the hike to Los Sapos Sincuya, Hacienda San Lucas, Copan, Honduras Grinding corn for tortillas, Hacienda San Lucas, Copan, Honduras

The Town

The town of Copán (full name Copán Ruinas) is about a kilometer from the ruins. The ruins and the town are connected by a nice, shaded stone path. The town is quite small, but it's beautiful, the people are friendly, and it has plenty of hotels and good restaurants.

The town of Copan, Honduras Boy on horse, town of Copan, Honduras Cathedral, town of Copan, Honduras Town of Copan, Honduras View from the hotel, Casa de Cafe, where breakfast is served outside, Copan, Honduras Hen and chicks, town of Copan, Honduras Internet and laundry, town of Copan, Honduras Market, town of Copan, Honduras Bees in the market, town of Copan, Honduras Fountain in Parque Central, town of Copan, Honduras Parque Central, town of Copan, Honduras Parque Central, town of Copan, Honduras Soccer game, town of Copan, Honduras Town of Copan, Honduras Town of Copan, Honduras Town of Copan, Honduras Woman balancing bucket on head, town of Copan, Honduras

Fauna

Copán is mostly surrounded by farmland, so the most common animal to see is the very cute Central American cow (their ears stick straight out!). There are also many butterflies and a few interesting types of insects like cigar-sized caterpilars.

Caterpilars outside Las Sepulturas, Copan Green and red insect, Hacienda San Lucas, Copan Butterfly, Copan, Honduras Cow looking at me, Copan, Honduras Cows under tree, Copan, Honduras Cows following man on road, Copan, Honduras Two cows on road, Copan, Honduras

Eve Andersson (eve@eveandersson.com)

Comments

breath taking

I've reviewed all your pictures of Guatemala and Honduras. I must say they're all extremely amaizing. Some of them reminded me of when I visited three years ago and it brings me good memories. I'm happy that you are able to share your experience with the world and that we are lucky to see a part of our world through such beautiful pictures. Thank you. Jannet

-- jannet flores

Thank you!

I am living in Copan and I have not seen such beutiful pictures of this great place. You are blessed!

-- Franqui Linarez

copan

I have just returned from visiting Honduras with 20 students from Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA and will contact my friends in Honduras soon. We started our trip in Copan and left our hearts there as we traveled to Tela and finally to Tegas. The warmth of the people and beauty of Copan and mystery of the ruins were unmatched thoughout our journey. We gave concerts at del Campo, the National School of Music and at the National Theater, but singing for Flavia at Hacienda San Lucas was a moment to treasure. I heartily encourage you to visit Copan, stay with Flavia or at the Yaragua Hotel in town. We ate at Tunkel and Tipicos and both restaurants were excellent!I will return and my choir will sponsor one child to attend the bi-lingual school for a year.....maybe you might wish to join us! Till we meet again....Becky Ryan

-- rebecca ryan

Gracias

Gracias, Eve por mostrarme imágene (fotografías) de mi pueblo querido.

Soy un joven copaneco, trabajando como editor (film) en Los Estudios Churubusco (México) y para mi encontrar tu página web con fotos de Copán es marabilloso porque pocas personas muestran imagenes del pueblo.

Gracias y Felicidades

-- Gustavo Madrid


Beautiful pictures

Hi:

I'm from the city of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, but I live in Ohio I was very proud to see such a wonderful pictures of my dear country. We have so much to offer. Your pictures are amazing, they just represent the beauty and the history of our country..well done.

Muchisimas Gracias

Marbella

-- Marbella Caceres


Copán

Es un tesoro del mundo , todas las fotos son bellas , me siento orgullosa de esta tierra hondureña, gracias por darnos otra visión que muchos aún no conocen por su condición económica.

-- Olivia Dominguez

memories

It is more than fifteen years since I visited Copan, probably my favourite Mayan site. This was before the tunnels were fully open. The great photos remind me of a superb site which I would love to re-visit.

thank you

-- David Taylor


The Beautiful Copan!

Hi Eve!

I just signed up to thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures of Copan in my beautiful country of Honduras, although, I live in Arizona, USA, I hope someday I can go visit Copan and experience the history with my own eyes. Your pictures are beautiful and its somewhat "magical" I should say, it sure put a smile on my face just to see all that beauty. Like the rest of the users in here, I thank you as well for sharing these pictures!, stay cool! and God bless you!!! good luck with all the adventures you have planned in your future!.

-- Carlos Baquedano


great make more

gracias yo amo a estas fotos yo soy de honduras la lima cortes

hagan mas fotos de todo honduras porfavor

-- ingrid flores


Nuestras Maravillosas Ruinas Mayas

Hola.... Solo quiero decirles que visiten nuestras Ruinas Mayas, en Copan Ruinas.. es algo excepcional... si algun dia tiene la oportunidad de venir a centro america visite Honduras, sus playas y sus lugares culturales... Belkys Hernandez

-- Belkys Hernandez

COPAN RUINS

Hi, Eve, I am from Honduras and live in Tegucigalpa, the capital. I visited Copan ruins for the first time seven months ago with all my family. It was an amazing experience. The place is very nice and peaceful. I recommend all Honduras to visit this interesting place and thank you for publishing such beautiful photos

-- Miriam Zavala

Never been there

My friend & I are planning to visit Copan in August, and this is a very nice introduction to what we may find there. Thanks for putting this site together and I look forward to seeing it all. MLE

-- Emilie Daniel

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