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Mayan pyramid next to a tree at the Copán Ruinas temples in a beautiful orange sunrise
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Copan Vacation Packages and Tours

Copán Ruinas
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Overview

Take a trip to Copan on your Honduras Vacation

Located in western Honduras near the border with Guatemala is Copán Ruinas, a small and picturesque town that is a short walk from the Pre-Columbian ruins of Copán. These ruins became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 and are a very popular tourist destination when on a Honduras vacation.

Archaeological evidence from the ruins dates back to as early as 1000 BC, however, it is believed that the Mayans did not begin to build the city until around 100 AD. The Copán dynasty reached its peak beginning in 553 however, towards the end of the 8th century, the dynasty had begun to fall. While the city centre was abandoned, many people still inhabited the surrounding area until around 1200 when smaller villages were established. It was these smaller villages that the Spanish found when they arrived in 1570. The ruins did not gain the attention of the international community until the 19th century with the work of American explorer John Lloyd Stephens.

Since Stephens, many archaeological expeditions have been undertaken at Copán and the ruins host more sculptures than any other Pre-Columbian city. The ruins are quite substantial and there are temples, plazas and a very distinct sculptural style. The present-day town of Copán Ruinas provides an excellent base from which to explore the ruins on Honduras vacations but is also surrounded by beautiful forests and many adventure tourism opportunities.

At a Glance

Languages

Spanish

Currency

Honduran Lempira (HNL)

What do the experts say?

Ainslee Hanson

Ainslee Hansen

Team Lead
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The Festes Majors are summer festivals held in the villages of Andorra. Each festival is unique to the village, with its own distinct style.
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Ainslee Hanson

Ainslee Hansen

Team Lead
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The Pyrenean Mountain scenery and tax-free shopping are two of my favourite things about travelling to Andorra.
Amanda De Oliveira

Amanda De Oliveira

Destination Specialist
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I love learning about Nicaragua's culture and experiencing its Spanish influence in some cities. I was only there for five days, but I'll never forget how delicious the food was and how welcoming and extremely polite the people were.
Osvaldo Gonzalez

Osvaldo Gonzalez

Destination Specialist
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Nicaragua is well known for its dramatic volcanic landscapes, lakes, rainforests, and colonial cities. I love how friendly the people are and how delicious the food is! There is always something fun to do in Nicaragua!
Osvaldo Gonzalez

Osvaldo Gonzalez

Destination Specialist
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Festival de Los Farolitos is an annual nighttime festival held every September in the town of Ataco, where the streets, houses, and plazas are illuminated with thousands of handmade lanterns (farolitos). Families craft them using colored paper, wood, calabash gourds, or jars, each with a candle inside. Although it's tied to the eve of the Virgin Mary’s birthday, it has evolved into a cultural celebration of community, light, creativity, and town pride.

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