Copan

• Address: CA 11, Copán Ruinas, Honduras
• Tel .: +504 2651-4108
• Website: copanhonduras.org
• Status: protected area
• Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 - 16:00, Sat-Sun 8:00 - 18:00

If you are interested in the Indian tribes of Maya, their treasures and the foundations of statehood, then your road lies straight to Honduras . It is here that there is a huge archaeological site - the city of Copan.

What is Copan?

Copán is an archaeological city in Honduras. Due to its huge size, Copan is often called a hillfort. And one of his ancient names is Hushvintik. Copan is located near the border with Guatemala, just one kilometer from the small town of Copan Ruinas, where archaeologists and tourists stay to explore the Mayan antiquities. The archaeological city is geographically located in the western part of the Republic of Honduras, in the center of the valley of the same river.

It is believed that the city of the great Maya - Copan - was founded in about V-IV centuries BC. It was the main center of the independent Maya kingdom - Shukuup, whose power extended to the south-western part of modern Honduras and the southeastern part of modern Guatemala. During the entire period of Copan's existence, sixteen kings ruled in it. Archaeologists link the crisis and the desolation of the city of Kopan with the general fall of the Maya state in the 9th century (after about 822). The causes of the disappearance of such a great civilization have not yet been established.

Archaeological data

For the first time the ancient city was discovered and described by the Spaniards in the 16th century, and a deeper interest in Kopan arose already in the nineteenth century, as well as the beginning of archaeological excavations. Until now, scientists of many countries are trying to explore and restore the image of the ancient kingdom, its development and its impact on the environment. Through the center of the Copanian Acropolis, archaeological tunnels have been dug, allowing one to touch the history that took place more than two thousand years ago. The length of all the tunnels is about 12 km, in most of the digging there is a special climate, so that the ancient structures and finds are not destroyed until they are completely analyzed and restored.

The city of Copan in our days

The ancient settlement of Copan occupies 24 square kilometers. km. It is known all over the world for its interesting ancient buildings and structures. There are about 3,500 different buildings and structures in the town. It is believed that this is the best archaeological museum in Central America. Many art historians compare its structures with the architecture of Ancient Greece, calling Copan "Athens of the Ancient Maya." In addition, the government of Honduras gave Kopan the status of a reserve, which. is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the protected area there are already studied and restored objects and structures of the Mayan settlement, as well as unexplored temples, squares, houses, roads, stadiums and other structures.

What to see in Kopan?

The first thing that tourists are offered to explore is the Main Square, famous for its stele, as well as the palace complex and temples. This is all called the Acropolis of Copan. Interestingly, new buildings were erected on top of old ones. Thus, for more than ten centuries, a whole hill has grown up with an area of ​​600x300 m. This is where the network of tunnels laid by archeologists for 150 years of fruitful work begins. Some of them are available for excursions.

Please note that the river bed is man-made to some extent to stop the natural influence and destruction of the eastern and central part of the site. But thanks to this washout, the ancient city for visitors appears as if in a cut, which is wonderful and surprising.

Of particular interest is the stadium for playing ball, it is decorated with images of parrots of macaw and a whole staircase of hieroglyphs - the longest inscription of the times of the ancient Maya. In the unchanged form, only the first 15 steps out of 63 are retained, the rest have been incorrectly restored and built by the first prospectors.

In the ancient city there are a lot of temples and tombs of the first kings. In some temples there are sacrificial altars. There are administrative buildings for the government, in one of them the throne room has been preserved, and there are also separate buildings for celebrations. And do not forget about the preserved dwellings of the nobility and ordinary inhabitants. Also at Copan there is the Maya Sculpture Museum, where you can get acquainted with strange and valuable artifacts. Here you can see the restored to life size Temple 16 with all its color ornament. The second museum with decorations and household items was opened in the town of Copan Ruinas.

How to visit Copan?

The most convenient way to get to Copan is from Guatemala. In the capital of this country successfully organize tours to the ancient city of Copan, designed for one or two days. From the capital to the border with Honduras, the village of El Florida is only 280 km. It can be reached by car or by local airlines. Border control is fairly formal. From the customs to the town of Copan Ruinas about 12 km, and there is already the city of the ancient Maya within sight.

From Copan Ruinas to the city of Maya there is a regular bus, you can also take a taxi. We recommend to become a member of the tour or at least take a local guide with you, otherwise a visit to Kopan will turn into an ordinary walk. The cost of visiting for all - $ 15, if the museum is interesting, then you will have to pay $ 10 extra. If you want to go down in the tunnels - it costs another $ 15.