Copan
Honduras' most important Archeological site is the Mayan ruins of Copan. In the world of Maya archaeology, the name Copan stands out like that of Athens in Ancient Western Civilization. Indeed, Copan has been called the Athens of the New World. Copan is considered the Maya's crowning artistic achievement because of its unique and abundant, high relief style of stone sculpture. If Tikal in Guatemala, with its towering temples, could be compared to New York, Copan, it is said, would be Paris.
The Ruins of Copan lie in a pretty valley in Honduras' western extreme. The subject of exploration and investigation since the 1830s, archaeologists are digging deep into its massive temples, uncovering an intriguing buried dynasty. Their remarkable discoveries represent a Maya resurrection, and have made Copan the most thoroughly researched and understood of all Maya sites.
The Ruins are accessed most easily from the town of Copan Ruinas, located on the Western side of Honduras, very near the border with Guatemala.
Once just a stopover to visit Copan, today the combination of quality accommodations, good food and organized tours, the quaint charm and friendly people of this small town, and the wide variety of outdoor activities available make Copan Ruinos a destination in an of itself. In addition to the Principal Group of the Archaeological Park, there are other interesting sights nearby: the amazing sculpture museum at the ruins, hot springs, nature trails, horseback riding, cloud forest hiking, tubing and rafting, caving, bird watching, a Spanish school, and Chorti Maya villages. to bath in a crystal clear pool under a 30 ft. waterfall.
