Attractions in Copán Ruinas

Copán Highlights

Copán Ruinas is a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its intricate stone carvings and historical depth. This list features the Hieroglyphic Stairway, which preserves the longest Mayan text ever discovered, and the elite residential complex of Las Sepulturas. Visitors can explore ritual ball courts, the underground Rosalila and Los Jaguares tunnels that reveal buried temples, and the tomb of the final ruler, Yax Pasaj Chan Yopaat. The town’s archaeology museum provides additional context with original stelae and artifacts from the site's Classic period peak.

Copán Highlights — Map

A

Hieroglyphic Stairway

Features the longest known Mayan text, with over 2,000 hieroglyphs carved into 63 stone steps detailing the history of Copán's rulers.

B

Ballcourt

The second-largest court in Central America, known for its well-preserved macaw-head markers and its role in ceremonial athletic competitions.

C

Museo de Arqueología

Located in the town square, this museum displays original stelae, altars, and ceramics, including the famous 'Old Man of Copán' sculpture.

D

Las sepulturas

An elite residential area located two kilometers from the main ruins, offering insight into the daily lives and burial practices of Mayan nobility.

E

Tunel Rosalila

An archaeological tunnel providing a view of the buried Rosalila Temple, which was preserved intact beneath Temple 16.

F

Mayan Ball court

Central ceremonial area used for the ritual ball game, featuring stone markers representing macaw heads and three distinct construction phases.

G

Tomb of Yaz Pasaj Chan Yopaat

The final resting place of Copán’s 16th ruler, situated within the Acropolis and marking the end of the city's dynastic sequence.

H

Plaza de Los Jaguares

Part of the East Court, characterized by two prominent jaguar sculptures flanking the stairway leading to Temple 22.

I

Tunel Los Jaguares

One of the primary excavation tunnels, extending over 700 meters to reveal internal structures and earlier versions of the city's temples.

J

Ceiba gigante

A massive specimen of the Maya's sacred tree, symbolizing the connection between the underworld, the terrestrial world, and the heavens.

Other Lists

Copan Ruinas Essentials Religious Heritage