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All About Copan, Honduras

Copan Ruinas is a charming town in many ways and is often overlooked by the hectic traveler as nothing more than a stopover point for the ruins. This is an unfortunate phenomenon and it is the goal of this website to inform people of the other attractions that Copan Ruinas offers beside its namesake.

About the town

Copan Ruinas is a town of roughly 12,000 people. The town, like most in Latin America, is organized around the central square, which is home to the market, a Catholic church and the municipal government office. The streets around the city center are cobblestone and the most commonly seen vehicles are the three wheeled moto-taxis, which look something like a mix between a motorcycle and a mini. The buildings in the center are typical Spanish-colonial, one story or two stories with no space between them and large central courtyards. The city center of Copan Ruinas can easily be walked from end to end in 20 minutes but within the small area are many restaurants, shops and attractions that shouldn’t be missed.

Geography

Copan Ruinas is located in a river valley formed by the Copan River. The valley is very fertile, and it was this fertility and availability of water that supported the ancient Mayan Civilization from which Copan gets its name. Many small tributaries join the main river from the hills that surround the central valley and following these tributaries back to their source one finds some of the best coffee growing regions of Honduras and Central America.

Climate

Located high in the Western Highlands of Honduras, Copan has a very pleasant climate. During most of the year Copan experiences sun and warm-but not hot- weather. The mornings are usually cool and sometimes fog hangs over the river. By mid day temperatures usually rise to the high 20s (Celsius), cooling again after the sun has set. The rainy season lasts from May-September, during which time one can expect sudden, short-lived showers at any time during the day or night. The rainy season is no reason to put of a visit to Copan, however, because during the 23 hours a day when it isn’t raining the weather is quite pleasant and cooler than the dry months. The sun can be quite intense in Copan and travelers are advised to cover up and wear sunscreen even on cloudy days.

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Food

There are a wide variety of dining options within the city center of Copan Ruinas. Many small to medium-sized comedores serve platos tipicos, traditional Honduran food such as Baleadas (a large corn tortilla filled with beans, cheese and meat or eggs), Anafres ( a heated mixture of beans and cheese served in what can only be described as a Honduran fondue pot with a side of nacho chips), Pupusas (a tortilla prepared with meat or vegetables inside and other local fare. Many restaurants also have spaghetti, hamburgers, Mexican food(such as burritos and Nacho chips) and some Chineese dishes such as Chow Mein and fried rice. Cafe Via Via, a restaurant/hotel located near the central plaza, even serves excellent Pad Thai and Thai curry. For those not afraid of eating food prepared by street vendors, a good selection of grilled meats and dishes can be bought around the central plaza and adjoining streets.

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