The Best Things to Do in Copan Ruinas from a Local Expat

Honduras is a beautiful, affordable, and incredibly biodiverse country that also happens to be rich in Mayan history. On the west side of the country, near the border of Guatemala, lies a gem of Central America. Ruins, macaws, and hot springs are only a few of the best things to do in Copan Ruinas!

Copan Ruinas is the perfect example of the beauty, serenity, and rich history of Honduras. If you’re interested in things like Mayan ruins, scarlet macaws, chocolate, and incredibly affordable cuisine—you’re not going to want to miss out on the city of Copan. Keep reading for the best things to do in Copan Ruinas de Honduras!

The Lazy GIrl’s Guide to Copan Ruinas

Short on time and don’t feel like combing through this entire post about what to do in Copan Ruinas? No worries—grab the condensed version below! 

The Best Things to Do in Copan Ruinas

During my year of Roatan living, I decided I needed a break from scuba diving with Sun Divers, eating way too many baleadas, and drinking way too much at the best Roatan bars. I know—shocking, right? I carved out two weeks, grabbed my roomie, and headed out for the trip of a lifetime through mainland Honduras.

We started at the beautiful Omega Tours Eco Lodge in Pico Bonito, made our way to Tela on the coast, took the “chicken bus” to Copan Ruinas, and finished in Lago de Yojoa with some tranquil bird watching at brewskies at the D&D Brewery. Ready for the best things to do in Copan Ruinas? Let’s go.

1. Take a Copan Ruins Tour

Let’s start with the most obvious activity on my list of the best things to do in Copan Ruinas. Since the town itself is named after the Mayan ruins, it would be a serious travel fuck up to leave Copan without visiting the archaeological park.

The land that once belonged to the Mayan people consists of parts of Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico and all of Guatemala and Belize. Although it was not the largest city by any means, Copan was particularly advanced when it came to stone carving and ancient arts, which makes it very popular among historians, archaeologists, and tourists (this contributed to its modern status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

One of the most exciting ruins you’ll tour is the Acropolis—a building complex that served a dual-purpose as the royal residence and administrative center of the city. However, my personal favorite stop was the Ball Court—where the Mayans would show off their skills on the playing field. For the rest…you’ll have to take the tour!

How to Visit the Copan Ruins

A tuk tuk to the ruins of Copan from the city center takes less than five minutes and—let’s be honest—it’s super fun. The archaeological park is open every day from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and the Copan ruins entrance fee is $15.

If you plan on visiting the ruins, I would highly recommend booking one of the Copan Ruinas tours! Without someone to explain the history and significance of the ruins…you’re basically just looking at a pile of rocks and statues. If you don’t book one in advance, it’s easy to book a guide on-site when you arrive—but you might want to shop around for the best price.

If you’re interested in visiting the Copan ruins tunnels, you can visit the Rosa Lila Tunnel and Los Jaguares Tunnel for an additional $15. Although we didn’t have time to explore the tunnels, the earlier structures and tombs you’ll see under the Acropolis sound well-worth the additional charge. 

2. Visit the Copan Sculpture Museum

The Sculpture Museum of Copan is located just across the parking lot from the best Mayan ruins in Honduras. It’s easy to see both during your visit to the archaeological park! A ticket will only cost you an extra $7 and it’s worth it to see some of the best-preserved stone sculptures from the ancient city up close and personal. 

The building itself was designed to reflect an ancient Mayan worldview. The entrance resembles a mythological serpent and symbolizes a portal from one world to the next. Upon exiting this tunnel, visitors will be met with a fantastic reconstruction of an early Classic Temple nested beneath an open roof and decorated ceiling.

3. Macaw Mountain

Copan’s famous bird park, Macaw Mountain, actually started as a bird sanctuary in Roatan. Tourists would often adopt exotic birds, but donate or abandon them when they left the island. In the early 2000s, the owners packed up their 90 birds, chartered a plane, and moved the sanctuary to Copan Ruinas.

General admission costs $10 per person (or 240 HNL) and, upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by the bird park’s official greeter, Polly the Parrot. Be warned: she bites, but she’s also low-key hilarious.

4. Visit the Luna Jaguar Spa Hot Springs

No Copan Ruinas travel guide is complete without a half-day trip to the Luna Jaguar Hot Springs.

For around $25 per person, you’ll gain access to the spa and the use of their transport service* that departs from Cafe Via Via in the middle of Copan. The shuttle leaves at 2:00 PM, arrives at 3:00 PM, and departs the spa around 6:00 PM to arrive back in Copan by 7:00 PM.

You can book tickets with cash or credit card at Cafe Via Via before boarding the shuttle. In the on-season, it may be smart to book tickets ahead of time at the Luna Jaguar Office in town.

*If you have a rental car, you technically could drive there yourself, but I highly advise against it. The roads are pretty rough and you’ll need a vehicle that can handle the terrain.

For a trip to these Copan Hot Springs, I recommend packing flip-flops, bug spray, a swimsuit, a towel, and a light jacket. The springs are situated in the middle of the jungle—so the bugs get pretty bad as the sun sets. Towels are not included in your entrance ticket so be sure to bring your own.

Also…BE CAREFUL! That place is gorgeous but slippery as hell.

👉🏼 Shop my favorite pair of adventure shoes—the Midform Infinity Tevas!

5. Sip & Snack at the Tea and Chocolate Place

A tiny tea and chocolate shop nestled in the hills of Copan, The Tea and Chocolate Place (El Lugar del Té y Chocolate) has earned its place on the list of the best things to do in Copan Ruinas. All of the tasty chocolate is processed and made on-site. They also serve a wide variety of natural teas made from the native plants on Mayan land.

In addition to tea and chocolate, the little shop sells soap, cosmetics, hot sauces, honey, and light snacks. The views of Copan are beautiful and it’s a tranquil place to spend an afternoon of chocolate tasting—or escape a rainstorm like we did during our visit.

The Tea and Chocolate place is only about a 15-minute walk from the center of town, but if you don’t feel like climbing any hills you might want to grab a tuk tuk.

6. Check Out the Weekend Market

If shopping for local souvenirs is on your list of things to do in Copan Ruinas, then you’d be remiss not to check out the Weekend Market. The market is open only on Saturdays and Sundays near the central park and is a great way to spend a couple of hours enjoying the charm of Copan. 

Here, you’ll find local vendors selling jewelry, trinkets, clothing, fresh produce, coffee, honey, spices, flowers, and more. You’ll also find some street food vendors in the area selling hot ticket dishes like baleadas, elote, pupusas, and more culinary highlights from Honduras.

7. Explore the Charming Old Town

Copán Ruinas town has no shortage of ambiance, views, and charming souvenir shops. The colorful streets, stellar coffee culture, and overall quaintness of the town actually reminded me a lot of my trip to Hoi An, Vietnam.

Whether you’re looking for a bite to eat, on the search for the perfect Insta-worthy wall mural, or just trying to get your steps in—make sure to leave plenty of time for wandering on your Copan Ruinas itinerary. 

P.S. You can find the colorful mural below outside of Vamos a Ver Restaurante in the old town! 

8. Shop for Local Souvenirs

If you’re looking to buy some handmade Mayan souvenirs on your trip to Copan Ruinas, be sure to check out La Boutique del Artesano. The adorable shop is filled with handmade items like jewelry, statues, scarves, shoes, and more as well as books and guides full of fun facts about Copan and Mayan history.

Another great option for souvenirs is La Casa de Todo. They also have a fantastic restaurant.

We also fit in some major thrifting during our trip (one of the best things to do in Honduras). The white dress I’m wearing above was thrifted in Copan! Not to mention all the steals we found shopping around the streets of Tela earlier in our trip. 

9. Eat at the Tastiest Restaurants in Copan

Central America is home to some seriously delicious local cuisine and the Copan Ruinas restaurants are no exception. Screenshot the list below for the best eats in town!

• La Llama del Bosque: A huge restaurant with a few cages of cute parakeets, we enjoyed a lunch of massive burritos here that were so good I still think about them sometimes (below—right).
• Cafe San Rafael: This is a North American-style cafe smack dab in the middle of Honduras. They serve tasty breakfast options, sandwiches, salads, cheese boards, and more alongside their delicious coffee drinks. 
• Cafe Welchez: Their upstairs outdoor patio was the perfect place to set up with coffee, a sandwich, and my laptop to people-watch and get some work done. We visited Cafe Welchez on more than one occasion during our trip (below—left).
• Comedor y Pupuseria Mary: If you’re a fan of authentic Honduran pupusas…then don’t miss out on visiting Comedor Mary. The cheese and jalapeño pupusa was to die for.

10. Enjoy Authentic German Beer at Sol de Copan

I’m not ashamed to say that our favorite restaurant in town is actually a German brewery! Sol de Copan is the only authentic German brewery between Mexico and Colombia—and let me just say, the vibes here are exquisite.

The owner, Thomas, is from Germany and he brews all the beer on-site. I’m not kidding when I say this is the best German food I’ve had since trying out all the best restaurants in Munich. We ate dinner at Sol de Copan twice during our 5-day stay…but we showed up for the beer every single night. I’m not joking—rain or shine, when the sun went down, we were at Sol de Copan. In my opinion, even though it’s somewhat culturally irrelevant, visiting this brewery is one of the best things to do in Copan Ruinas.

11. Horseback Ride or Hike the Surrounding Hills

Due to a crippling allergy to horses, horseback riding is not an activity I partook in during my trip to Copan Ruinas. But if you love horses and beautiful countryside views, it might be the perfect activity for you! 

For only $15, you can book a 3-hour horseback riding tour with a guide from ViaVia Copan. The horses are calm, perfect for beginner riders, and the tour will take you through mountains, across rivers, and to a little Mayan village called La Pintada for a well-deserved break. 

If horseback riding isn’t your jam (or you’re extremely allergic like me), then consider taking to the hiking trails around Copan Ruinas. The most popular trail will take you from Copan Ruinas to Hacienda San Lucas to the Las Sapos Archeological Site to your last stop at the La Pintada village.

From here, you can either retrace your steps back to Copan Ruinas or grab a taxi. The only cost along the way is the entrance fee into Hacienda San Lucas for 30 HNL or $1.21, so hiking is definitely one of the most budget-friendly things to do in Copan Ruinas. 

You can also hire a hiking guide through ViaVia Copan for as little as $10 per person!

👉🏼 Be sure to pack some lightweight hiking boots and a hiking pack (check out my favorite packable backpack from LL Bean)!

12. Go on a Coffee Plantation Tour

Central America is known for growing some of the best coffee in the world. If you’re like me and can’t get enough of that sweet-sweet bean water in the morning, then you might want to add a coffee tour to your list of the best things to do in Copan Ruinas.

Although we didn’t have time to do a coffee tour on our trip to Copan, I was able to fit one in during my 4-day trip to Ubud. Although the coffee that comes out of these two regions is very different (the Luwak Coffee in Bali is actually digested by the animal before it’s roasted and made into coffee), a coffee tour is a fun activity to add to any destination itinerary!

Cafe Welchez offers a half-day coffee tour that includes round-trip transportation, a guided tour of Finca Santa Isabel, and a 3-course meal with plenty of coffee. If you book a rental car, you could also drive out to tour one of the most popular coffee plantations in the area—Finca El Cisne. However, it’s located an hour and 45 minutes outside of Copan Ruinas, so I would recommend booking this day trip through ViaVia Copan.

13. Book a Canopy Tour

If you’re not afraid of heights (unfortunately, I am), a Copan canopy tour is a great activity to add to your list of things to do in Copan Ruinas. 

You can book directly with Canopy Copan Ruinas and spend the day zipping through the jungle on 14 different ziplines. You’ll fly past waterfalls, rivers, and lots of lots of jungle—witnessing tons of tropical wildlife on the way. Perfect for adrenaline junkies! 

Canopy Copan is actually located right across the street from Macaw Mountain, so it’s common for tourists to package the two into a full-day activity which you can book with ViaVia Copan for around $45 (including transportation). Expect each activity to take about two hours. 

How to Get to Copan Ruinas

From San Pedro Sula

Copan is unfortunately wayyy too small to have its own airport, so the easiest way to get there tends to be through San Pedro Sula. If you’re flying into SAP, grab an Uber to the Metropolitan Grand Central bus station. Although San Pedro Sula is partially responsible for Honduras’ unsafe reputation, *the bus station is inside a shopping mall and is perfectly safe. However, the territory is ripe for pickpockets so keep an eye on your belongings.

When we visited in 2021, the best option was booking a seat through Hedman Alas. Tickets went for about $20 each and the bus departed from the bus station at 11:15 AM every day of the week except Tuesday and Saturday. As of 2024, it’s unclear whether Hedman Alas has gone out of business or not. Rome2Rio seems to think they are still operating, while Google says they are permanently closed. 

The other option is the Casasola Bus or the “chicken bus.” This bus is extremely unreliable, usually packed with way too many people, and takes a lot longer…but it’ll get you there. Be sure to keep your valuables and electronics on your person—luggage is piled on top of the Casasola Bus and there’s no waterproof covering (expect your bags to be soaked by the time you arrive). At least tickets are only $5!

Thankfully, none of these options need to be booked in advance. My advice for visiting Copan Ruinas in 2024 is to arrive at the San Pedro bus station as early in the day as possible and ask around for the best option when you arrive. Be sure to only ask official, uniformed workers at the bus station to make sure you don’t get scammed. Renting a car is always an option as well! 

*A quick heads-up about the San Pedro bus station. If you’re clearly a tourist, be prepared to get stared at…a lot. I would also suggest downloading Spanish on Google Translate before departing. Unlike Utila and Roatan, it was difficult to find English speakers on the mainland.

From Roatan, Utila, or La Ceiba

If you’re visiting Copan Ruinas from Utila or Roatan, you have two options for getting to the mainland: 

1. Hop on the Galaxy Wave Ferry to La Ceiba.
2. From Roatan only: buy a flight to SAP—San Pedro Sula International Airport. If you choose this option, see directions to Copan above. 

If you decide to take the ferry to La Ceiba, you’ll have one of the following options: 

1. Rent a car and drive to San Pedro Sula, or all the way to Copan Ruinas. 
2. Take a flight from La Ceiba to SAP (see above instructions).
3. Take a bus from La Ceiba to San Pedro Sula then follow the instructions above. This is the option that we chose when traveling to and from Roatan in 2021. Book a bus ticket with Transportes Cristina—a reliable, if not a little rugged, bus company with routes all over mainland Honduras.

From Antigua, Guatemala

Copan Ruinas is only a 20-minute drive from the border of Guatemala which makes it a popular destination for tourists already visiting Antigua. Most shuttles from Antigua depart very early (we’re talking 3:00-4:00 AM), since the journey takes six or seven hours.

You can book these shuttles through your hotel or on popular booking sites like Bookaway. 

Where to Stay in Copan, Honduras

📍 Budget-Friendly: Hotel Brisas de Copan

Hotel Brisas de Copan was the perfect accommodation for two budget-conscious travelers. Centrally located and charming as hell, the hotel only cost us $100 for our five-night stay. That’s $10 per person per night! (I promise it’s way cuter in person than the horrible/borderline dangerous photos they chose for their Booking.com listing.)

We had our own private room with twin beds, a clean washroom, daily maid service, and clean drinking water in the lobby. My only complaint was the one employee who decided to blast music on a Saturday morning at 7:30 AM, but you can’t win them all.

You can book Hotel Brisas de Copan on Booking.com, but in 2021 we were asked to pay for our stay in cash upon checkout. However, if you’re looking for a more solo-traveler-friendly vibe, you might be better off checking out Hostel Iguana Azul—the top-rated hostel in Copan Ruinas.

👉🏼 Book your stay at Hotel Brisas de Copan!

📍 Mid-Level: Terramaya Boutique Hotel

If you’re not a budget, but still don’t want to break the bank, the Terramaya Boutique Hotel might be the perfect mid-level accommodation for your trip to Copan. Priced at around $100/night, this hotel is still a steal compared to the inflated North American and European prices we’re used to, and is incredibly charming to boot. 

Terramaya offers an on-site restaurant and spa, free parking, in-room balconies, and shuttle service for an additional charge (this could be a great option for those having trouble getting to Copan). The rooms are spacious and clean and feature hammocks on the balconies—perfect for relaxing with a good book to the sounds of the Honduran jungle. 

👉🏼 Book your stay at Terramaya Boutique Hotel!

📍 Luxury: Hotel Marina Copan

If you’re in the market for somewhere a little more luxurious, Hotel Marina Copan is one of the oldest and nicest hotels in the area. This luxury property boasts an outdoor swimming pool (perfect for that humid jungle weather), room service, an on-site restaurant, a fitness center, free parking, and more—all in the center of Copan. 

These rooms go for around $160/night—a splurge by Honduran standards but still incredibly affordable compared to other destinations. You’re guaranteed to fall in love with this hotel’s old-world charm and gorgeous balcony views of the surrounding countryside. 

👉🏼 Book your stay at Hotel Marina Copan!

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Final Thoughts

Reflecting on my trip to Copan Ruinas in October of 2021, I’m struck by how much the experience has stayed with me and how much I miss it. We dove headfirst into exploring the myriad things to do in Copan Ruinas, starting with the awe-inspiring Mayan ruins. Wandering through the ancient structures and Hieroglyphic Stairway with our ruins guide was one of the most fascinating cultural experiences I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing in my travels.

Macaw Mountain was another clear highlight of our trip, where we wandered around for hours enjoying the brightly colored birds and having a laughing attack (or two) over Polly the Parrot. And who can forget all the nights we spent munching on German food and drinking beer after beer at Sol de Copan? If you’re considering a visit to Copan Ruinas, book it—I promise you won’t regret it.

If you enjoyed my list of the best things to do in Copan Ruinas, you may also enjoy my related guides and travel tips for visiting other destinations in Honduras below. And don’t forget to follow along for the adventure on Instagram @madisonsfootsteps.

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