HN
Copan
A Maya city celebrated for its sculpture and the longest known Maya hieroglyphic text, beside a friendly hill town
A Maya city celebrated for its sculpture and the longest known Maya hieroglyphic text, beside a friendly hill town
⚠️ Travel advisory: check before you go
The US asks travellers to reconsider travel to Honduras because of crime, and advises against travel to Gracias a Dios. Tourist areas such as the Bay Islands and Copan see many visitors; take usual precautions.
Latest official advice: UK FCDO · US State Department · Reviewed September 2026
A staircase carved with over 2,000 glyphs recording the city’s royal history.
Photo: Hans Birger Nilsen, CC BY-SA 2.0
A wide grassy plaza with intricately carved stelae of Copán’s rulers and the ball court nearby.
Hire a licensed guide at the entrance to understand the carvings.
Photo: Talk2winik, Public domain
A bird park and rescue centre near town with scarlet macaws, toucans and parrots, which also helps reintroduce macaws to the ruins.
Photo: Sarah and Jason, CC BY-SA 2.0
Try baleadas, grilled meats, plato típico and local coffee.
Copán Ruinas has a good range of restaurants and cafés around the central square.
Copán Ruinas is about 3 hours by road from San Pedro Sula, and about 12km from the El Florido border with Guatemala; shuttles run from Antigua (around 6–7 hours). The ruins are a 15-minute walk or a short tuk-tuk ride from town.
Citizens of the UK, US, EU, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit Honduras visa-free; the CA-4 agreement allows up to 90 days in total across Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. The US government rates Honduras at Level 3 (reconsider travel) and advises against travel to Gracias a Dios department. Check current advice before you travel.
Copán Ruinas is inexpensive; the ruins have separate fees for each section.
Ruins, sculpture and macaws.
Visit the Great Plaza, the Hieroglyphic Stairway and the Acropolis with a guide, then the Sculpture Museum.
Visit Macaw Mountain in the morning, then the Luna Jaguar hot springs in the afternoon.
Use hotel-arranged or app-based taxis, avoid walking at night in cities, and keep valuables out of sight.
Foreign visitors pay US$20 for the park, US$10 for the Sculpture Museum and US$15 for the tunnels.
Arrive at opening time for cooler temperatures and fewer visitors.
The El Florido border with Guatemala is close by; check crossing hours and fees.
Quick answers for planning time in Copán.
Citizens of the UK, US, EU, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free; the CA-4 agreement allows up to 90 days across Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
Foreign visitors pay US$20 for the archaeological park, US$10 for the Sculpture Museum and US$15 for the tunnels.
Yes, shuttles run from Antigua via the El Florido border; it is a long day, so most people stay at least one night.
Yes, the Maya site of Copán is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A stairway carved with over 2,000 glyphs, the longest known Maya inscription.
Google Maps works in towns; use it alongside local advice on which areas to avoid.
Free
Spanish is the main language; English is widely spoken in the Bay Islands.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Honduras travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.