The Copan ruins are located in the western part of Honduras, about 60 kilometers from the border with Guatemala. Copan, known as Xukpi to the Maya, was the dominant Mayan city in the south of their territory, and its rich stone sculptures and intricate hieroglyphs make Copan a feature attraction.
The Hieroglyphic Stairway includes the longest single glyphic text found at any Maya site. When it was discovered, the blocks had tumbled down on the ground in disarray, and archaeologists struggled to assemble the blocks in their correct positions. It now appears that the stairway commemorates Copan Rulers 1 through 15 and was built.
Two archeological tunnels are also able to be toured in Copan, the Rosalina Tunnel and the Jaguar Tunnel. Visitors can see parts of old temples that the Mayans had built over when constructing newer temples from these underground tunnels.
Aside from visiting these highly decorative ruins and the local museums, visitors can tour coffee farms in the area. The fertile valley in which the town sits is one of the main tobacco-growing areas of Honduras, producing a fine leaf used in the manufacture of cigars. Visits to hot springs and rain forest hikes are also available.