Copán Ruins
THE PARIS OF THE MAYAN WORLD
Copán Ruins are located in western Honduras, in the department of Copán, just 14 kilometers from the El Florido border with Guatemala. For many years, Copán Ruins have been famous for its magnificent Mayan ruins, declared by UNESCO as Archaeological World Heritage Site in 1980. Today Copán Ruins is considered the Paris of the Mayan world in Central America.
Discovered in 1570 by Diego García de Palacio, Copán is one of the most important remnant sites of the Mayan civilization. The vestiges of the city and the imposing public squares reveal the three main periods of its development, before the city was abandoned at the beginning of the ninth century A.D. The Plaza of the Hieroglyphic Staircase has a monumental staircase, one of the exceptional structures of the Mayan culture. On the 10-meter-wide steps, there are more than 1,250 individual glyphs, which constitute the longest known Mayan inscription. After the city was abandoned, it was swallowed by the jungle which helped its conservation.
One of the most researched archaeological sites from another natural phenomenon is caused by the Copán River, which circles the eastern part of the main site, causing erosion and leaving an archaeological cut naturally, the largest in the Americas, which served to obtain the information of the different phases of construction of the acropolis. A few kilometers away are also the sites “Las Sepulturas” and “Rastrojón”, both with their importance and history.
Copán Ruins is the most important cultural destination in Honduras. Not only is it full of history, culture, but also many natural attractions such as the bird park, and the hot springs. In short, Copán Ruins offers something for all travelers.
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