Utmost Information to Copan, Honduras
Copan, Honduras (complete identify Copan Ruinas) is a pleasing petite the town situated within the western a part of Honduras, simply ten mins from the border with Guatemala.
It’s most famed for its namesake, the Copan Ruinas, which can be an notable number of ruins from an historical Mayan town. Alternatively, there are enough of alternative issues to do in Copan. Even if it’s petite, you are going to by no means be bored when visiting this scenic Honduran the town.
Right here’s the whole thing you want to grasp to plot to very best travel to Copan.
Getting There
There are a lot techniques to get to Copan, Honduras.
The nearest world airport is San Pedro Sula. Even if San Pedro has a infamous recognition, it’s completely secure to transit via. You’ll shoot two other buses from the San Pedro bus terminal (the one one among its type in Central The usa – it’s fairly arranged and simple to navigate!)
- Hedman Alas: That is the posh bus with AC, snacks, comfy seats, and negative stops. You’ll get from San Pedro Sula to Copan in round 4 hours, for the cost of 445 lempiras (about $22.)
- Casasoles: This can be a much less fancy bus without a AC and that’s extra cramped, nevertheless it best prices 140 lempiras (about $6.) It takes round 5 hours as a result of you may build a number of stops.
Casasoles has extra departures each and every year, generation Hedman Alas best has one or two, so relying on whilst you begin in San Pedro Sula, Casasoles may well be your best choice.
It’s additionally conceivable to succeed in Copan through hen bus, however it is going to shoot means longer and also you’ll have to modify buses. For the few greenbacks, it might save, I might skip the trouble and simply shoot Casasoles rather.
In case you are touring from the coast or the Bay Islands of Honduras (Roatan and Utila) after it is very important transit via San Pedro Sula to get to Copan.
In case you are touring round Guatemala after Copan is a regular first ban in Honduras. You’ll get an immediate trip from Antigua to Copan for round $30, and the pressure takes about seven hours.
Is Copan Secure?
Copan, like all alternative touristy segment in Honduras, is fairly secure.
Honduras will get a name for being bad, and generation it’s true that the rustic as a complete suffers from some very sinful issues like gang violence and femicide, you’re not going to peer any of that as a vacationer in Honduras, particularly in a park like Copan.
It’s secure to progress round the entire the town and outdoor of the town (to the ruins or the chicken sanctuary, for instance.) As with anyplace, you must at all times keep watch on, however the worst factor it’s important to concern about in Copan could be pickpocketing or even this is extremely not going.
I might additionally suggest now not strolling round rejected at night time, however alternative than that, there aren’t any specific protection precautions you want to shoot when visiting Copan.
The public are very pleasant, and pleased with Copan’s building as a cultural vacation spot.
Issues to Do in Copan
Even if Copan itself is fairly petite, there’s a dozen to do across the the town. You’ll simply spend a couple of days in Copan and now not running over of items to do generation you’re there.
Listed here are one of the most very best actions that you simply shouldn’t omit:
1. Discover the Mayan ruins.
One of the most highlights of Copan is its notable Mayan ruins.
Positioned a twenty-minute progress outdoor of the town, there’s a great pedestrian strolling trail alongside the principle highway that you’ll shoot to get to the doorway of the ruins. You’ll additionally get a tuk-tuk from Parque Central, which must now not value greater than 20 lempiras ($0.80.)
To go to the principle web site of the ruins, you’ll need to pay $15 or 360 lempiras. There are extra websites/museums that value difference. I discovered the access value good-looking steep, so I didn’t do the rest. The principle web site is slightly petite (in comparison to Tikal in Guatemala) and you’ll see all of it in 1-2 hours.
2. Aim native chocolate.
Copan is situated in an excessively productive segment of Honduras with many farms round.
One of the most regular plants grown is cacao, worn to build chocolate. The most efficient park to aim locally-made chocolate is at Lugar de Té y Chocolate (“Place of Tea and Chocolate.”) As its identify suggests, you’ll in finding tea and chocolate right here. Age I will be able to’t talk for the tea, the chocolate is scrumptious!
They’ve independent chocolate samples that you’ll aim (negative gross sales tone or power to shop for) and you’ll additionally know about their sustainable manufacturing practices. You’ll line numerous tea and chocolate beverages, in addition to some petite snacks like brownies, to devour inside of or outdoor on their stunning terrace with a number of hammocks and comfortable seating disciplines overlooking the mountains.
I had the chocolate frio which used to be type of like a frozen sizzling chocolate. Actually the most productive drink I’ve ever had and it used to be very best for sipping on a sizzling year within the silhoutte of the terrace!
3. Progress horseback using.
One frequent process in Copan is horseback using.
The climate nation-state could be very scenic and frequent for exploring on horseback. You’ll spend a pair hours on a horseback excursion for $15, which any lodge can prepare for you.
One park to move is Los angeles Pintada, a petite Mayan village outdoor of Copan. Another choice is the Paseo de los Girasoles, a ravishing sunflower grassland within the nation-state outdoor of the town.
4. Seek advice from the sunflower grassland.
The Paseo de los Girasoles (“Sunflower Walk”) is a pretty grassland of sunflowers situated in a valley a couple of miles outdoor of the town. The sunflowers are extremely picturesque and feature develop into a frequent vacationer appeal. You’ll get there through tuk-tuk from the town, or on a horseback excursion which I did.
Front to the sunflower grassland is 25 lempiras ($1.)
5. Wander across the chicken sanctuary.
Macaw Mountain is a chicken sanctuary outdoor of Copan that rescues, rehabilitates, and releases birds again into the wild. It’s a ravishing component in a forest-like atmosphere, with shady strolling trails going month the chicken enclosures. There also are some birds who’re not able to are living within the wild as a result of they had been raised from captivity that you’ll stand akin and private with.
One of the best ways to get to Macaw Mountain is through tuk-tuk, which prices 30 lempiras ($1.10.) Front to the chicken sanctuary is $10 or 240 lempiras, which used to be neatly utility it personally.
6. Tug Spanish categories.
Certainly one of my favourite issues to do in Guatemala used to be taking Spanish categories. You’ll be told Spanish one-on-one for an excessively affordable value there, and the similar is right in Copan.
I determined to shoot a moment of Spanish categories with Copan Spanish Faculty and in reality loved it. For $150 a moment you get 20 hours of one-on-one Spanish courses adapted in your stage and pursuits.
7. Seek advice from the butterfly ground.
One alternative factor to do in Copan is go to the Mariposario, or butterfly ground, on the Mayan Hills Lodge.
Even if it’s now not very large, there are lots of butterflies inside of, and a few species that I had by no means not hidden earlier than. I particularly liked the shining blue butterflies flitting round.
The Mayan Hills Lodge is at the fringe of the town (a few fifteen-minute progress from the middle) and front to the butterfly ground prices 100 lempiras ($4.) Even if I discovered this value a little top for a way petite the butterfly ground is, it used to be nonetheless a pleasing process, and the lodge has a pond which you’ll utility. (Now not positive if it’s formally allowed for non-guests, however some public had been the use of it.)
How Lengthy Do I Want?
At minimal, I might suggest spending 3 days in Copan.
There may be enough to peer and do on this petite the town! In case you have extra life, it’s essential to simply spend a number of weeks in Copan taking Spanish categories or doing volunteer paintings.
Since Copan isn’t in particular akin to any alternative locations and also you’ll be having a look at 4 to 8 hours in a bus/trip for anyplace you need to move then, it’s utility spending a minimum of a couple of days right here!
The place to Keep
Since Copan is an excessively tourist-centric the town, there are lots of lodging choices to make a choice from.
You’ll in finding choices for any price range. Luxurious lodges vary from $100-120 in keeping with night time, generation mid-range lodges prices round $30-50 an evening, and price range hostels have dorm beds for as little as $8 an evening.
Listed here are one of the most very best choices for each and every price range in Copan:
It’s additionally conceivable to do a homestay with a neighborhood nation, which is $15-20 a year and contains all foods. This will also be organized via Copan Spanish Faculty.
Visiting Copan, Honduras
Copan is a gorgeous, secure, and ingenious vacation spot in Honduras.
Even if it’s touristy, it’s now not as touristy (or pricey) because the Bay Islands of Roatan and Utila. Even if many public who go to Honduras best come for the islands, seashores, and scuba diving, it’s neatly utility your life to move inland and discover Copan too.
This the town has such a lot to deal and is a must-see whilst you’re in Central The usa!
