Copan Ruins & Museum Travel Guide
Travel to Copan Ruins & Museum -
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Copan, located in the western part of Honduras, about 15 km from the border with Guatemala, is the most studied Maya city in the world and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Known as Xukpi to the Maya, it was the dominant Mayan city in the south of their territory and flourished from the 5th century A.D. to the early 9th century A.D.
The site contains impressive structures, stelae and carvings which are mainly found around the principal group, made up of the Acropolis, the Tunnels, the Ball Court, the Hieroglyphic stairway and the Great Plaza. As well as the main Maya site, located about 1 mile away is the smaller site of Las Sepulturas, evidence here suggests that a non-Maya population was living here in what was believed to be a residential area.
During the city’s 400 year existence, seventeen rulers governed this Classic period site including Eighteen Rabbit, whose portrait appears on most of the stela in the Great Plaza. Of its impressive buildings, the Ball Court is one of the largest and most elaborate of the Classic period, it is dedicated to the macaw deity and features sculptured macaw heads. The famous Hieroglyphic Stairway has 2,200 glyph blocks forming the 72 steps of an open stairway on the western side of Temple 26 and the Acropolis has superb carved reliefs of the 16 kings of Copan.
Artefacts found at the Copan Ruinas archaeological site can be seen at the Copan Museum in Copan Ruinas and the Museum of Mayan Sculpture houses original pieces of sculpture and stelae recovered from the site including a full-sized replica of the Rosa Lila temple. Part of the original Rosa Lila Temple, buried by the Maya beneath Temple 16, can be viewed via a special tunnel.
Attractions in Copan Ruins & Museum
The Copan Museum, located on the main square of Copan Ruinas, houses a collection of artifacts found at the archaeological site, amongst which are the burial ground of a scribe, and a complete original carved bench of the house excavated at Las Sepulturas.
Santa Rita de Copan, located close to the Guatemalan border, is a picturesque mountain village by the Copan River. At the time of writing the village is unfortunately strictly off limits for visitors due to security reasons.
The museum of Mayan Sculpture houses a series of original pieces of sculpture, stelae and altars recovered from the archaeological site. One of the most amazing pieces is the full-sized replica of the Rosa Lila temple, discovered intact under structure 16 in the acropolis.
Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Nature Preserve is set in natural botanical gardens and provides an opportunity to see the exotic tropical birds of Honduras.
Enchanted Wings Butterfly House and Nature Exhibit is home to over 30 species of butterflies native to Honduras, and an orchid collection containing almost 200 species.
Activities in Copan Ruins & Museum
You should spend at least a day or two to visit the ruins, the nearby museums and the Macaw Mountain Bird Park.
Relaxing
Lush jungle surrounds Copan and while taking time out from the ruins you will be able to see monkeys, colourful guacamayas (large parrots), tree sloths and peccaries, which look like very large, short-haired guinea pigs.
Getting Around
The easiest way to get around the site is by foot.
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