Town centre
EverythingAround the square.
Town guide
Things to do in Copán Ruinas
A cobbled hill town beside the Maya city of Copán, with the finest carved stelae and the longest hieroglyphic text in the Maya world, scarlet macaws on the site, a superb sculpture museum, hot springs and coffee farms.
3
Hostels in the city
9.4
Average, from 690 reviews
2,000+
Glyphs on the stairway
2–3
Days
The art of the Maya
Copán Ruinas is a small, cobbled town in the hills of western Honduras, about 12 kilometres from the Guatemalan border. A short walk away is Copán, one of the most important cities of the classic Maya world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.
Copán is smaller than Tikal, but it is famous for its art. Its stelae, tall stone portraits of kings, are carved in deep relief, and the Hieroglyphic Stairway holds the longest known Maya inscription, with more than 2,000 glyphs. The Museum of Maya Sculpture on site has a full-size, painted replica of the Rosalila temple, found buried inside a later pyramid. Scarlet macaws, the national bird, fly around the ruins.
The town itself is relaxed and pretty, with cafes, coffee from the surrounding hills, a bird park and hot springs. Most travellers arrive by shuttle from Antigua or by bus from San Pedro Sula. Give it two or three days.
Where to base yourself
The town centre around the square for everything; the ruins are a 15-minute walk.
Ruins
ArchaeologyA short walk east.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 3 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Copán Ruinas
Explore the ruins with a guide: the Great Plaza and its stelae, the ball court, the Hieroglyphic Stairway and the Acropolis. Visit the Museum of Maya Sculpture to see the Rosalila replica and original carvings, and walk through the excavation tunnels under the Acropolis.
See the residential area of Las Sepulturas, and visit Macaw Mountain Bird Park, a rescue centre for macaws and other birds.
Soak in the hot springs at Luna Jaguar, tour a coffee farm, and ride horses through the hills to nearby villages.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Walking the cobbled streets and the central square costs nothing, and macaws can be seen flying near the ruins entrance.
The view over town from the hill above the centre is free.
The ruins, the museum, the tunnels and the parks charge entry.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Baleadas cost about a euro, and comedores serve plato típico, beans, rice, plantain, cheese and meat, for €3 to €6.
Copán is coffee country, and cafes serve beans from the surrounding farms.
A 10 per cent tip is customary in restaurants; check whether it has already been added.
Nightlife
Going out
Copán Ruinas is quiet at night, with a few bars and restaurants around the square.
It is a town for early nights before the ruins.
Salva Vida beer costs €1 to €2.50.
Getting around
Getting around
Shuttles run from Antigua and Guatemala City in about five to six hours, crossing the border at El Florido. Hedman Alas buses run from San Pedro Sula in about three hours.
The town is walkable, and the ruins are a 15-minute walk. Tuk-tuks cover short trips.
Shuttles also go to Lago de Yojoa.
Costs
What Copán Ruinas costs
Dorm beds start at around €8 to €14 a night. Comedor plates cost €3 to €6.
Entry to the ruins costs about €14, the sculpture museum about €7, and the tunnels about €14 more. Guides are extra and worth it.
Carry cash; there are cash machines in town.
Safety
Safety and scams
Copán Ruinas is one of the calmest towns in Honduras, popular with travellers. Take normal care at night.
Travel between Copán and other cities by day, on shuttles or first-class buses. Use the official crossing at El Florido and keep your entry stamps.
Do not drink the tap water; bottled and purified water is cheap everywhere. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Festivals and holidays.
March or April
Semana Santa
Copán Ruinas
Processions in the town.
Late June
Feria Juniana
San Pedro Sula
The country's big June fair.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Copán Ruinas, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
February to April is the driest time, ideal for the ruins. May to October brings afternoon rain, and the hills are green.
Jan
Dry
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry
Apr
Semana Santa
May
Rains begin
Jun
Rain
Jul
Short dry spell
Aug
Rain
Sep
Wettest
Oct
Wet
Nov
Drying
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Mild in the hills.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Copán Ruinas prices.
Treat these as a guide. Ruins and museum entry cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Copán Ruinas questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Copán worth visiting if I have seen Tikal?
Yes. It is smaller, but its carving and hieroglyphs are the finest in the Maya world.
How much is entry to Copán?
About €14 for the ruins, with extra for the museum and tunnels.
Should I hire a guide?
Yes, guides bring the carvings and history to life.
How do I get to Copán Ruinas?
By shuttle from Antigua or by bus from San Pedro Sula.
Is Copán Ruinas safe?
It is one of the calmest towns in Honduras.
How many days do I need?
Two or three.
When is the best time to visit?
February to April.
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