Last Updated on: 30th March 2025, 10:35 am
The stunning ruins of Copán in western Honduras attract visitors from around the world. Yet out of all the top tier Mayan sites, it’s by far the most difficult to reach. That’s where this practical planning guide comes in. In the following guide, we’ll be going into detail on how to get to the Copán ruins from elsewhere in Central America, along with how to plan your time at the site.
Confusingly, the ruins of Copán are situated just outside a charming colonial-era town that’s simply named Copán Ruinas. To avoid confusion, when we say ‘Copán Ruinas,’ we’re specifically talking about the town itself. And when we mention the ‘Copán ruins’ or ‘ruins of Copán,’ we’re referring to the archaeological site.
Copán Ruins Planning Guide
- The Basics of Transport in Central America
- Getting to Copán Ruinas From Within Honduras
- Coming From Outside Central America
- Getting to Copán Ruinas From Guatemala
- Getting to Copán Ruinas From El Salvador
- Honduras Immigration Procedures
- Itinerary Suggestions
- The Best Time of Year to Visit
- Where to Stay in Copán Ruinas
- How to Get to the Copán Ruins From Town
- Copán’s Complicated Ticketing System
- Tours to The Copán Ruins
- Other Things to Do in Town
- How Many Days Do You Really Need?
- Is Copán Ruinas Safe?
The Basics of Transport in Central America
If you’re new to the Central America region, there’s some things you should understand about how domestic land transport works.
All in all, the transport system is much less developed than Mexico, which is home to a plethora of private bus companies offering countless routes in comfortable and modern buses.
While you can sometimes find luxurious coach buses in Central America, they typically only connect a country’s major cities. And when it comes to international travel, the routes are pretty much restricted to capital cities.
But Central America is somewhat unique in the sense that most travelers actually avoid the capital cities altogether. As a result, fancy coach buses often won’t be an option to get where you want to go.
That basically leaves travelers with two main choices: ‘chicken buses’ or private tourist shuttles.
The term ‘chicken bus’ usually refers to converted US school buses that have been imported to Central America and are then used for both local and long-distance routes. However, the term is sometimes used more generally for any bus with first-come, first-served seating.
While chicken buses can be an easy and cheap way for day trips, they tend to take ages to reach their final destinations, as drivers will often stop frequently to pick up as many passengers as possible. And during busier times, things can get incredibly cramped and uncomfortable.
And if you’re traveling with precious valuables, chicken buses can sometimes be risky, as each particular bus is going to have its own method of storing luggage.
Sometimes there will be adequate space on the roof or below the bus, but other times you may be stuck taking it all on the bus with you. When the buses get extremely crowded, this is far from ideal for a number of reasons.
Furthermore, chicken buses can’t take you directly across international borders. Though you may be able to find buses or shared minivans to and from each side of a border, changing buses and figuring everything out amidst the chaos is not something many foreign travelers would want to deal with.
Understanding the inconvenience of chicken buses, numerous private companies in the region have established what are commonly known as ‘tourist shuttles.’
These are typically in the form of minibuses, though advanced reservations are required for all passengers. They don’t depart from a bus terminal, but typically pick you up right at your hotel and then drop you off at (or at least near) your hotel in your destination.
Conveniently, many of these companies also offer international routes, with more of a focus on cities that are popular amongst tourists rather than just the largest ones.
So when it comes to taking direct transport to Copán Ruinas from elsewhere in Central America, a tourist shuttle is often going to be your only option. But they don’t come cheap.
Note that on many companies’ websites, they also mention an additional fee for bringing more than one large bag or suitcase. But from personal experience, I’ve never actually been asked to pay extra for luggage on any of the tourist shuttles I’ve ridden.
As we’ll discuss below, those who are really short on time can also book a tour from various Central American cities that include roundtrip transportation.
After reading all of this, you may be wondering: Why not just rent a car? While I’m no expert, it sounds very difficult to rent a car in one Central American country and then drive it through the others, as each crossing comes with a slew of complicated rules and regulations. Learn more here.
Now that we’ve described the basics of local transport in Central America, let’s go over the different options regarding transport to Copán Ruinas from various other destinations.
Getting to Copán Ruinas From Within Honduras
Considering how Copán Ruinas is a town in Honduras, getting there from within Honduras should be easy and straightforward, right? Well, not quite.
At the time of writing, there are no direct buses running between Copán Ruinas and the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa.
Previously, a bus company called Hedman Alas ran direct routes between the two cities, but it’s currently out of business due to ‘Incidents of extortion towards our company,’ according to their website (Welcome to Honduras!).
Unfortunately, you won’t find any private tourist shuttle routes between Copán Ruinas and the capital, either. A large majority of tourists skip Tegucigalpa altogether due to safety concerns, so tourist shuttle companies don’t even bother.
In terms of major Honduran cities, Copán Ruinas is currently only directly linked by bus with San Pedro Sula. These buses are run by the Casasola company, and you can find their latest timetables here.
Alternatively, you can also book a guided day tour from San Pedro Sula if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of public transportation.
But what if you’re coming from La Ceiba? La Ceiba is the port town connecting the popular Caribbean islands of Utila and Roatán with the mainland. Roatán is even home to an international airport which is surprisingly well-connected, so a number of travelers might enter the country there.
Unfortunately, visitors traveling between La Ceiba and Copán Ruinas are typically going to need to transfer in San Pedro Sula.
Technically, there is one shuttle company running private minibuses between Copán Ruinas and La Ceiba called Berakah, which is also the name of a local bed and breakfast. In my case, I was headed to La Ceiba following my visit to Copán and was hoping to take a tourist shuttle directly there.
Despite contacting Berakah in advance and hearing from them that shuttles were running, I arrived in Honduras only for them to tell me that no, they actually weren’t. The reason, supposedly, was ‘not enough tourists.’
While you might get lucky and find these shuttles running during your visit, Berakah does not seem like a very serious or professional transport company, and most travelers should anticipate having to transfer in San Pedro Sula.
A few different companies run between La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula, such as Diana Express and Transportes Starbus. Looking up timetables in this region can be confusing, but many companies post the latest updates on their Facebook pages.
From experience, I can confirm that it is indeed possible to depart from Copán Ruinas and arrive in La Ceiba on the same day, even with a transfer in San Pedro Sula. But you’ll want to depart as early as possible by taking the 6:00 bus.
Coming From Outside Central America
If you’re coming from outside the region specifically to visit the Copán ruins, the best option would be to fly into the San Pedro Sula airport. And from San Pedro Sula, you can take a direct bus to Copán Ruinas.
Notably, San Pedro Sula’s airport is actually better connected than that of the capital, and many international travelers will end up arriving there regardless.
As a side note, flying from one Central American country to another can often be just as expensive as flying to or from the US! So if you’re already in the region, land transport is your best option.
Getting to Copán Ruinas From Guatemala
Most international travelers visiting Copán seem to do so from Guatemala. And depending on where you’re coming from, you have a couple of different options.
The most straightforward and hassle-free option would be to take a private tourist shuttle from Antigua or Guatemala City. The journey should last roughly six hours.
Adrenalina Tours is currently offering tourist shuttles from both Antigua and Guatemala City to Copán Ruinas for $55. While I’m in no way associated with Adrenalina Tours, I used them on numerous occasions for transport within Guatemala and always had good experiences.
The same company also offers return trips to Antigua and Guatemala City for the same price.
To make things even easier, you could also book guided tours that take you from Guatemala to Copán and then back again. This overnight tour departs from Guatemala City, while this overnight tour picks you up and drops you back off in Antigua.
If you don’t want to shell out the money for a tourist shuttle, it’s also possible to visit Copán Ruinas from Guatemala via a series of chicken buses. This helpful article provides more details.
Getting to Copán Ruinas From El Salvador
It’s also possible to take a tourist shuttle from El Salvador (either San Salvador or Santa Ana) to Copán Ruinas for about $65. The only company offering this route is called Gekko Explorer, and this was the way I ended up visiting Copán.
Note that even though El Salvador and Honduras border one another, this shuttle will actually briefly take you from El Salvador to Guatemala and then over to Honduras. That means that you’ll have to deal with two border crossings.
Fortunately, Guatemala is the easiest country in Central America to enter and leave, as they don’t require any entrance or exit taxes.
In my case, we departed at 4:00 and ultimately arrived in Copán Ruinas a bit after 10:00 (the reason for such an early departure remains unclear to me).
Our driver was friendly and helpful with the border crossing procedures. But unfortunately, he was looking at his phone for much of the journey (texting and watching videos) which made me feel quite uneasy.
Ultimately, nothing happened and we arrived safely. But I would be hesitant to book Gekko Explorer again in the future, as I never had such an experience with Adrenalina Tours.
Amazingly, for not much more, you can actually book a roundtrip tour that takes you from San Salvador to Copán in a single day.
But what if you don’t want to shell out so much money? As with Guatemala, it’s also possible to reach Copán Ruinas from El Salvador via a series of chicken buses (no less than six!). Check out this helpful guide for more info.
Honduras Immigration Procedures
In regards to entering Honduras by land, numerous sources online mention needing a pre-check form and a customs form.
And while a yellow fever card is typically asked of travelers who’ve recently been to Panama, some of the tourist shuttle websites mention needing one even if you’ve been to Belize, despite Belize not appearing on any WHO lists.
I can only speak from personal experience, but in 2024, I was not asked for a single form or card upon entry to Honduras – only the $3 immigration fee.
One good (albeit imperfect) way to stay up to date on the requirements would be to check the latest Google Maps reviews for the border crossing you plan to enter.
Another important thing to keep in mind when traveling in Central America in general is that four countries – Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua – all share a joint visa system.
Known as the CA-4 border agreement, it means that visitors only have a total of 90 days for all four countries. And the only way to reset it would be to exit to a non-CA-4 country, such as Belize or Costa Rica, before returning again.
Some people compare it to Europe’s Schengen system, though the CA-4 system lacks any of the Schengen Area’s advantages. For example, in much of Europe, you can cross borders without dealing with customs and immigration.
But when traveling from one CA-4 country to another, you’ll still have to go through immigration and even pay immigration fees in many cases.
When planning out your Central America itinerary, be sure that your total stay in the CA-4 won’t exceed 90 days, as immigration officers will indeed examine your stamps.
While not related to immigration, note that if you already have a SIM card that you got in Guatemala or El Salvador, it should work fine in Honduras on roaming. Otherwise, you can just get a new prepaid SIM in Copán Ruinas.
Itinerary Suggestions
Now that we’ve covered the various ways in which one can reach Copán Ruinas, you may still be wondering which way will be right for you. Of course, that’s going to depend on your overall itinerary.
But for most travelers who will be traveling through multiple Central American countries, here’s what I’d suggest:
Visit Copán Ruinas from Antigua or Guatemala City, then return to Guatemala and resume your travels. As inconvenient as that sounds, there are a couple of reasons why this is probably the easiest option for most.
First of all, the Guatemalan border is the most simple and hassle-free to cross in the region. And once you’re back in Guatemala, it will be easy to continue traveling throughout the region, whether that’s down to El Salvador or up to Tikal.
Even if you’re planning to visit Nicaragua during your travels, it would be best to just visit Copán Ruinas as a side trip from Guatemala. The main reason is the lack of both bus and tourist shuttle routes across Honduras.
While there is a tourist shuttle route between La Ceiba and León, Nicaragua, it would be quicker and easier for most to take a shuttle between León and El Salvador, even if that route does briefly pass through Honduran territory.
Of course, a major exception would be if you’re also traveling to or from Roatán or Utila. In that case, you’ll want to transfer in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba as described above.
The Best Time of Year to Visit
Honduras is warm all year round and basically has two seasons: the dry season, which runs from November to April, and the rainy season, which runs from May to October.
I happened to visit during the rainy season and unfortunately, it did indeed rain during my tour of the ruins. If you do visit during the rainy season when accommodation is also a bit cheaper, it would be wise to give yourself one or two more days than you think you might need in case of bad weather.
Where to Stay in Copán Ruinas
As mentioned, the ruins of Copán are situated just outside the confusingly-named town of Copán Ruinas. It’s quite a charming small town with plenty of accommodation options.
I stayed at a hotel called Hotel Brisas de Copan, which was a short walk from the central square. The positives were that I had a private bathroom and management responded promptly to all my questions before my arrival. The negatives were that it was quite noisy in the evenings, while the internet barely functioned.
Other popular options to consider include Berakah B&B- Central Park, Hotel Acropolis Maya and Hotel La Escalinata.
How to Get to the Copán Ruins From Town
Fortunately, despite what a terrible hassle it is to reach the town of Copán Ruinas, once you’re there, reaching the ruins is very easy. You can simply walk there in about fifteen minutes. At the time of writing, the ruins are open daily from 8:00.
The area is also home to another site called Las Sepulturas which you can access for free with your basic Copán entry ticket. From the main ruins entrance, Las Sepulturas is another fifteen minutes or so further down the same road.
If that sounds like too much walking for you, then you could perhaps work something out with a local taxi driver in town.
Copán's Complicated Ticketing System
The ticketing system for the Copán ruins is rather complex, as there are a number of different add-ons to choose from. At the time of writing, the basic entry ticket costs $20. This includes the central Copán ruins in addition to Las Sepulturas, a former elite residential area.
It’s worth noting that you’re allowed to visit Las Sepulturas the following day. Just be sure to bring your original ticket and present it at the entrance there.
Visitors also have the option of paying an extra $15 to enter archaeological tunnels which offer glimpses of some of the Copán’s oldest structures.
While you can learn more about what to expect in our dedicated historical and archaeological guide to Copán, most visitors won’t find the extra $15 worth it.
The masks can only be viewed via glass windows that reflect the harsh fluorescent light used to illuminate the tunnels. And the main decorations can mostly only be viewed via strange angles, so forget about taking decent pictures. Dedicated ancient history enthusiasts, however, probably won’t regret the extra purchase.
While there’s no clear written information about this, at the time I purchased all of my tickets, the staff member told me that I also had the option to visit the tunnels – which are situated in the middle of the main ruins – the following day.
While I did not end up returning to the main site, one wonders if a visitor could use this as a sneaky way to explore the main ruins twice. If you’ve tried this, feel free to leave a comment!
Yet another extra you can purchase is entry to the Sculpture Museum, which costs an extra $10. While not located within the main archaeological site, you can find the entrance on the other side of the large parking lot. The Sculpture Museum will indeed be worth the extra $10 for most visitors.
Tours to The Copán Ruins
While we already discussed different tour options for those coming from elsewhere in the region, you may already be based in Copán Ruinas and still want a guide.
In that case, this tour will take you to all of the site’s main landmarks in addition to the Sculpture Museum.
Additionally, you may also be able to arrange something at one of the tourism offices in town.
Other Things to Do in Town
While the archaeological ruins and museum should be everyone’s top priority, Copán Ruinas has some other things in store for those with some extra time.
Attractions include the Museo Casa Kinich, a cultural museum situated in an old fort. However, it seems largely geared toward children.
Further north is the Macaw Mountain Bird Park which, as the name suggests, is a local macaw sanctuary. While I was hoping to visit, I didn’t end up getting a chance due to weather.
The town center is home to a few additional archaeological museums, though they’re closed at the time of writing.
Attractions aside, Copán Ruinas is a surprisingly charming and attractive little town that you’ll enjoy walking around in during your stay.
How Many Days Do You Really Need?
Most visitors should be fine with two full days in the region. A good visiting strategy would be to visit the main Copán ruins and Sculpture Museum on the first day, followed by a trip to Las Sepulturas on the second day.
And then if you have any energy left over in the afternoon on either day, you could visit some of the local attractions in town.
Or, if there happens to be heavy rain on one of the days, you could technically visit the main ruins, the museum, and Las Sepulturas all on the same day.
I gave myself three full days in the area, as I also took a day trip to an additional archaeological site known as El Puente. You can learn more about it in our dedicated guide, but I’d only recommend El Puente to the most hardcore archaeology enthusiasts.
Is Copán Ruinas Safe?
Honduras has a reputation for being one of Central America’s – if not the world’s – most dangerous countries. And unlike neighboring El Salvador, Honduras has yet to seriously tackle its crime and gang problems.
With that said, a lot of the danger seems to be in Honduras’ big cities. Copán Ruinas, in contrast, has a reputation for being quite safe.
Of course, you’ll still want to take the same basic precautions as you would anywhere else in Latin America. But don’t let Honduras’ reputation scare you away from visiting these fantastic ruins.
Any other important points you think we missed? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.
