I don’t know who gave the name of Copan Ruinas to the gateway town to the Copan Archeological Site.
Maybe authorities wanted to make clear the town is close to the Mayan ruins. Or maybe they wanted to differentiate the municipality from the department of the same name or other nearby cities (like Santa Rosa de Copan).
Anyway, there is nothing ruined about this town. The list of positives outnumbers the negative connotations the name may bring to mind.
I was able to walk in quiet and clean streets. The coffee was strong and bitter (I am tired of bland mochas). And I don’t know how to communicate this: there is free European soccer everywhere (Why we don’t have this in the United States?). It is so cool to chow down great food while people around you scream every time the ball gets close to the goal cage.
Additionally, there are cheap accommodations, tons of activities to participate in (hiking, horseback riding, biking) and connections to other cities in the country.
I could have stayed in Copan Ruinas a month. Here are other aspects I loved about this small town located at the Western part of Honduras.
Buildings painted in bright hues
Corner building
Blue and orange building
Doors framed in surprising colors
Blue and Orange Frame
Light blue and burnt orange frame
Green door framed by earthy tones
Cute cobbled streets (with tuk-tuks zooming by at the speed of light)
Town entrance
Cobble-stoned Streets
Quiet central plaza where locals stroll when the sun is going down
Central Plaza
Restaurants and eateries offering typical dishes like:
- Anafres: bean and cheese dip served in hot terracotta pot
- Typical plate: choice of meat, refried beans, rice, fried plantains, cream, cheese and salad
Try: Llama del Bosque, Pupuseria Mary and Super Jugos (for fruit and nut shakes)
Typical plate
Anafre
Euro-style establishments offering international food, excursions and a lounge with TV
Try: Via Via Cafe
Nachos
Chicken garnachas
Cafes offering varied coffee concoctions and fresh pastries.
Try: Café Welchez, Espresso Americano
Coffee Shop
Open air cafe
Breakfast at the Espresso Americano Coffee Shop
Colorful Murals
Mural located at the entrance of town
Canines with attitude
Dog in the Central Plaza
Dog in living the high life
Have you experienced Copan Ruinas? Let me know in the comments section below.
How very colorful Ruth, the town as well as the food. Certainly nothing ‘ruinous’ about this.
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Great photos. I live in Copan Ruinas, and you made me want to visit the place.
Copas Ruinas does look beautiful Ruth, and with football on tv and the food you showed, I think I could easily spend a lot of time hanging out around here!
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