Major city · Honduras
Copán Ruinas
Go for 2 nights: the ruins need a full morning, and the town is calm and walkable. Skip if you only have 3 days in Honduras.
Copán Ruinas is a small cobblestone town in western Honduras, 700 m up in a river valley, next to the sculptural high point of Maya art. The archaeological park and its sculpture museum are the reason to come; the town itself is a pleasant, safe base with cheap local food and a handful of nature stops within a mototaxi ride. Two nights covers it well; three if you add hot springs or a coffee farm.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- HNL
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry season)
- avoid Sep–Oct (wettest), and the May–Jun start of the rains
- Airports
- SAP · GUA
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 6Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) giv…
- Central America ↗Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) give one shared entry allowance, usually 90 days in total; leaving for Belize, Costa Rica or Mexico and coming back does not always reset it — check with immigration before a long stay.
- Central America ↗Cross land borders in daylight and early in the day; many posts close or empty of transport by late afternoon, and the approaches are where robberies happen.
- Central America ↗Several borders charge entry, exit or municipal fees in US dollars (Belize exit, Nicaragua entry and exit, Honduras entry); carry small, clean US notes and ask for a receipt.
- Honduras ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Honduras's migration authority or a Honduran consulate; the CA-4 agreement with Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua can make your permitted stay count across all four.
- Honduras ↗Transit San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa by day and with pre-arranged transport; do not use public buses between cities.
- Honduras ↗Do not travel to Gracias a Dios (La Mosquitia) except with a specialist operator; several governments advise against all travel there.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Copán Ruinas911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Copán Ruinas, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Honduran lempira (HNL, L).Honduras-wide
- SIM or eSIMTigo and Claro sell SIMs at airports and shops; passport required.Honduras-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; bottled and refill jugs.Honduras-wide
- TippingRestaurants: 10%; sometimes on the bill.Honduras-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Honduras-wide
- SafetyThe town is calm and the streets are considered safe after dark, with normal precautions.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPaper in the bin.Honduras-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysSemana Santa and Semana Morazánica close offices; banks shut Saturday afternoon and Sunday.Honduras-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportSAP Ramón Villeda Morales, San Pedro Sula (About 4–5 h by road; the usual arrival point for Copán.
- Getting aroundThe town is small enough to walk end to end in about 15 minutes, including the cobblestone route to the ruins.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at a caféL40–80
- BeerBeer at the German brewerycheckL60–100
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Mototaxi in town / to the ruinsL10L20
- Metro or bus rideBus to La EntradaL40
- Budget bedPrivate double room, a night, per roomHNL 250
- Mid-range bedPrivate double room, a night, per roomHNL 600
- High-end bedPrivate double room, a night, per roomHNL 1,500
A day, not counting the bed: Budget HNL 600 · Mid HNL 1,200 · High HNL 2,500
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SAP Ramón Villeda Morales, San Pedro Sula (About 4–5 h by road; the usual arrival point for Copán. The small airstrip near town has no commercial flights.) · GUA La Aurora, Guatemala City (Shuttle via the El Florido border, about 6 h door to door.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Feb
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Mar
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Apr
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
May
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jun
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jul
not flagged
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Aug
not flagged
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Sep
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Oct
Avoid
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Nov
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Dec
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)), coolest Jan (15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C) low), wettest Sep (16 rain days), driest Mar (4). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Copán Ruinas: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6 rd
Feb
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
5 rd
Mar
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
4 rd
Apr
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
5 rd
May
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
11 rd
Jun
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
15 rd
Jul
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
14 rd
Aug
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
14 rd
Sep
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
16 rd
Oct
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
14 rd
Nov
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
9 rd
Dec
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
7 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is small enough to walk end to end in about 15 minutes, including the cobblestone route to the ruins. Mototaxis (three-wheeled rickshaws) cover any in-town trip for around L10, and L20 to the ruins or Macaw Mountain. Buses to La Entrada and San Pedro Sula leave from the small terminal by the river on the east side of town.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Luna Jaguar hot springs
goDoor to door: About 1 h each way
Pickup or minibus from the soccer field near the bridge; about 25 km (16 mi)Pickup or minibus from the soccer field near the bridge; about 16 mi (25 km)
Entry about US$12; minibus seats are far cheaper than a tour. Bring your own food.
Macaw Mountain bird sanctuary
goDoor to door: 10–15 min
Mototaxi from the centre, about L20
Entry about US$10; ticket valid 3 days and there is a swimming hole.
Las Sepulturas
goDoor to door: About 30 min from town
Walk past the ruins, about 20 min further
Covered by the main ruins ticket; most visitors miss it.
Santa Rosa de Copán
cautionDoor to door: 2–3 h
Bus via La Entrada, or a direct service
A long half-day; better as a stop on the way to or from San Pedro Sula.
Guatemala City or Antigua
overnightDoor to door: 6–7 h
Private shuttle from your hotel via El Florido
A border crossing, not a day trip.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Around Parque Central
Most hotels, cafés and restaurants sit within two blocks of the square; walk to everything.
Calle Rosalila and the road to the ruins
Quieter, a 10–15 min walk from the square and closer to the park entrance.
Barrio Buena Vista / El Mirador
Slightly uphill, with the German brewery and a few guesthouses; still walkable.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- L500–900 excl. bed
- Mid
- L900–1,800 excl. bed
- High
- L1,800+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Private double room1 × 2 nights × HNL 600 | HNL 1,200 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × HNL 1,200 | HNL 4,800 |
| Ruins entry, foreign adult2 × HNL 1,100 · Priced in US$; check | HNL 2,200 |
| Sculpture Museum entry, foreign adult2 × HNL 250 · check | HNL 500 |
| Mototaxi around town2 × HNL 10 | HNL 20 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × HNL 250 | HNL 500 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | HNL 922 |
| Trip total≈ HNL 2,536 per person per day, bed included | HNL 10,142 |
2026 estimate in lempiras; long-distance transport and the ruins ticket excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Local meal (plato típico, comedor) | L80–120 |
| Licuado (fruit smoothie) | L30 |
| Coffee at a café | L40–80 |
| Beer at the German brewerycheck | L60–100 |
| Mototaxi in town / to the ruins | L10 / L20 |
| Bus to La Entrada | L40 |
| Bus to San Pedro Sula | L110 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The CA-11 road from San Pedro Sula is potholed and slow: pad your schedule and avoid arriving after dark.
- Bus times printed on schedules are unreliable; check the time on your ticket or ask at the counter.
- Ruins entry is priced in US dollars for foreigners and is much higher than the local rate; bring cash.
- The archaeological tunnels are an extra fee and were dug by archaeologists, not built by the Maya: many visitors skip them.
- Afternoon heat at the ruins is strong; go at the 08:00 opening.Afternoon heat at the ruins is strong; go at the 8:00 AM opening.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
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Copán RuinasCopán Ruinas
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No embassies in Copán Ruinas; the US embassy is in Tegucigalpa and most others too. Consular help for the west usually comes from Tegucigalpa or San Pedro Sula (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Mototaxi in town: L10
- Mototaxi to the ruins or Macaw Mountain: L20
- Bus Copán Ruinas → La Entrada: L40, 1–2 h
- Bus Copán Ruinas → San Pedro Sula: L110, 4–5 h
Say or show
- Buenos días — Hello (BWEH-nos DEE-as)
- Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-see-as)
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-to KWES-ta)
- La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (la KWEN-ta por fa-VOR)
- ¿Dónde está la entrada a las ruinas? — Where is the ruins entrance? (DON-de es-TA la en-TRA-da a las RWEEN-as)
- Necesito ayuda — I need help (ne-se-SEE-to a-YU-da)
Carry small lempira notes; many small places are cash only.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Copán Ruinas. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season) · avoid Sep–Oct (wettest), and the May–Jun start of the rains · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SAP and GUA: shuttle times, El Florido border hours, taxi fallback.
- Walking clusters: Parque Central, Calle Rosalila, the ruins road, Barrio Buena Vista.
- Place pages with verified entry prices and opening hours for the park, the sculpture museum and Macaw Mountain.
- Eat pages with last orders for the comedores and the brewery.