Copan

Located in western Honduras near the border with Guatemala is Copán Ruinas, a small and picturesque town that is a short walk from the Pre-Columbian ruins of Copán. These ruins became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 and are a very popular tourist destination when on a Honduras vacation.

Archaeological evidence from the ruins dates back to as early as 1000 BC, however, it is believed that the Mayans did not begin to build the city until around 100 AD. The Copán dynasty reached its peak beginning in 553 however, towards the end of the 8th century, the dynasty had begun to fall. While the city centre was abandoned, many people still inhabited the surrounding area until around 1200 when smaller villages were established. It was these smaller villages that the Spanish found when they arrived in 1570. The ruins did not gain the attention of the international community until the 19th century with the work of American explorer John Lloyd Stephens.