Close-up of a Red Macaw at the Macaw Mountain Bird ParkJeanie suggested that we spend a couple of days (which included the New Year) in Copan, Honduras, the site of the third most famous Mayan ruins in Central America. It was too late to catch a shuttle (shuttles are basically buses between two destinations, extremely affordable throughout Central America). Jeanie has a Chevy Blazer which she bought from a American teacher who returned to teach in New York City. Consequently, we packed light and disembarked on a journey to Copan Ruinas from Guatemala City. The drive was about four hours. Copan Ruinas is Honduras’s best-known archaeological site. It was even dubbed “Athens of Central America.” All of its treasures have yet to be discovered. Interestingly, Japan formed an alliance with the Honduran government in 2001 to send their own archaeologists there to continue excavating on the site.
The town where the ruins are located outside of is also named Copan Ruinas. It is a quaint town with cobblestone roads and a main plaza called Parque Central. We found a hotel close to the Parque Central for 30 dollars a night which included breakfast. The room was rather claustrophobic but we survived. We went to the hot spot in town, Via Via, which we found to be overrated by The Lonely Planet. The New Year’s Eve buffet was a hodge-podge of pseudo gourmet European dishes and the band played 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s British and American oldies. We never made it to midnight, but we could hear the constant machine-gun explosions of fireworks outside the hotel way into the night.
Copan Ruinas has two eco-touristic reserves, which we took delight in visiting: the Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Nature Reserve (Parque de Aves y Reserva Natural) and the Enchanted Wings Butterfly Park. The mission of the Macaw Mountain Bird Park is to rescue birds native to Honduras, such as macaws, toucans, and parrots. Many of the birds have been rescued from sites where they were captured and sold by poachers. All of the birds are cared for in very large humane cages in which they have ample space to fly around.
Another highlight for me in this charming town was Las Tejitas, a local restaurant we stumbled upon where looking for a place for lunch. The “plato typico” of Honduras consists of meat, rice, beans, cheese, plantains. I ordered one of the restaurant’s typical dishes which consisted of chicken seasoned in “flower water.” Jeanie ordered a vegetable soup which she later declared was one of the most delicious soups she has ever eaten. What I have learned about eating in Central America is that meals are served 45 minutes to an hour since they are literally cooked from scratch. If you order a dish, it is never pre-made. Only at the request of the customer does the cook begin putting it together. In the meantime, you sip on your drink (in this case a cervesa), absorb the atmosphere and fairly loud music, and talk- actually shout- to your companion. I find this custom in Central American restaurants delightful since you really get into the dining experience. No hurry here and the food is worth the wait.
Another highlight for me in this charming town was Las Tejitas, a local restaurant we stumbled upon where looking for a place for lunch. The “plato typico” of Honduras consists of meat, rice, beans, cheese, plantains. I ordered one of the restaurant’s typical dishes which consisted of chicken seasoned in “flower water.” Jeanie ordered a vegetable soup which she later declared was one of the most delicious soups she has ever eaten. What I have learned about eating in Central America is that meals are served 45 minutes to an hour since they are literally cooked from scratch. If you order a dish, it is never pre-made. Only at the request of the customer does the cook begin putting it together. In the meantime, you sip on your drink (in this case a cervesa), absorb the atmosphere and fairly loud music, and talk- actually shout- to your companion. I find this custom in Central American restaurants delightful since you really get into the dining experience. No hurry here and the food is worth the wait.
Lush Honduran Countryside
One of the stunning stellae at the Mayan Copan Ruins
One of the stunning stellae at the Mayan Copan Ruins
Tropical Plant at Enchanted Wings Butterfly Park
Butterfly at the Enchanted Wings Butterfly Park
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