Copan Ruinas-A Mystical Mayan Journey: Day One

Friday we left at dawn on a very special journey to Copan on the mainland of Honduras.  Copan Ruinas is a major source for information on the Mayan civilization and one of the most artistic of all the Mayan ruins.  This park is in the the Copan valley and is a world heritage site.

Roatan Airport

 For that reason alone I was eager to board the plane that flew us to San Pedro Sula where we would meet our bilingual guide Walter who would stay with us as we explored mainland Honduras and Copan.









Upon arrival in San Pedro we boarded a minibus for the three hour ride to Copan. The trip took us through the mountains of Honduras into the Tropical Dry Forrest.

My Own Pulperia in Honduras

 Along the way Walter explained what we were seeing, textile factories, coffee operations, and villages.

Preparing the Coffee Beans

Making coffee is an extended process that requires lots of manual labor to prepare the beans for export. We were fascinated by the way the coffee is laid out along the fronts of buildings to dry.

We arrived in Copan around 12:30 and immediately checked into Casa Rosado,  a charming bed and breakfast. You may not notice anything from the outside, but behind the beautiful wooden door was an enchanting casa where every turn provided beauty from natural scenery to artistic arrangements of flowers, paintings and artifacts.  It is easy to see the Spanish influence at Casa Rosado and the town of Copan from the plaza to the church and more.

Casa Rosada

Llama del Busque a Restaurant in Copan

We freshened up and headed into town for a wonderful lunch at Llama del Busque  then headed to a site called Las Selpulturas.

A Bed in Selpulturas

This is where the Mayan people lived day to day. Many mounds show the large number of Mayan who populated the Copan Valley. Walter, our guide gave us a wonderful explanation for what we were seeing.  The Mayan were very advanced, constructing aqueducts, paved roads and stucco buildings.  At Selpultruas we saw evidence of this. Another interesting fact is there are no Mayan cemeteries, rather the ancestors were entombed under the house where they could be close to their families in death as they were in life. Offerings of food and flowers were made to them.

Burial Spot Under the Casa

We returned to Casa Rosada to freshen up before we headed back up the mountain to begin our journey to Hacienda San Lucas-another highlight of our journey into this mystical Mayan setting. Our Journey will continue!

Slide Show with More Pictures: